Teaching Strategies for Online Nurse Practitioner Physical Assessment and Telehealth Education

Nurs Clin North Am. 2022 Dec;57(4):589-598. doi: 10.1016/j.cnur.2022.07.003. Epub 2022 Sep 19.

Abstract

Physical assessment courses for nurses typically include a didactic education component and a physical skills laboratory for hands-on practice. Skills instruction focuses on a head-to-toe assessment of body systems, including inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. Comparable learning outcomes can be achieved in both online and traditional classrooms. Telehealth education needs to be included in physical assessment instruction as telehealth services expand to provide greater access to health care. This article provides strategies for incorporating education into online physical assessment courses for nurses and suggests online resources for effective telehealth integration into clinical practice.

Keywords: Curricula; Distance education; Nurse practitioner; Nursing education; Physical examination; Program evaluation; Telemedicine; Videoconferencing.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Clinical Competence
  • Curriculum
  • Humans
  • Nurse Practitioners* / education
  • Physical Examination
  • Telemedicine*