NURS 602 ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT
MODULE 3 (Assessing Head and Neck)
LEARNING STUDY GUIDE RATED A
, Assessing Head and Neck Learning Guide
Head, Face, and Neck
* Head and neck assessment focuses on the cranium, face, thyroid gland and lymph
nodes.
1. What equipment would the nurse use in performing an assessment of the head
and neck?
• Small cup of water
• Stethoscope
• Penlight
• Gloves in the presence of drainage
2. What would the nurse inspect in an assessment of the head, face, and neck?
• Head
o Inspect for size, shape and configuration
▪ Small head = microcephaly
▪ Acorn- Shaped, enlarged skull bones are seen in Paget disease of the bone
o Inspect for involuntary movement
▪ Head should be held still and upright
▪ Neurologic disorders may cause a horizontal jerking movement,
▪ Involuntary nodding movement may be seen in clients with aortic
insufficiency,
▪ Tilted to one side may indicate unilateral vision, hearing deficiency or
shorting of the sternomastoid muscle
o Palpate head for consistency
▪ Normal head is hard and smooth, w/o lesions
• Face
o Inspect for symmetry, features, movement, expression and skin conditions
o Symmetric is round, oval , elongated or square appearances
▪ If dropping = sign of stroke
• Neck
o Observe the client’s slightly extended neck for position, symmetry and lumps or
masses.
▪ Neck is symmetric, with head centered w/o bulging masses.
▪ Swelling, enlarged masses – or nodules – may indicate an enlarged thyroid
gland, inflammation of lymph or a tumor
o Inspect mint of the neck structures.
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