Registered Mental Health Nursing (RMN)
EXAMINATION OF THE HEAD AND HAIR OF A PSYCHIATRIC PATIENT
This is the act of inspecting a patient’s head and hair to identify any abnormalities. The inspection of head and hair is an essential part of physical assessment carried out on the psychiatric patient.
Purpose
- Identify any abnormality for possible treatment
Equipment
- A tray containing the following;
- Comb(s)
- Protective material
- Examination gloves
- Mirror
- Receiver
- Gauze pack
- Gallipot
- Rubber apron
- Screen
Procedure steps
- Establish rapport (refer procedure)
- Explain procedure to patient
- Prepare tray and send to the bedside/appropriate place
- Put patient in a desired position
- Protect patient’s shoulders as well as bed and pillows (if in bed) with protective material
- Perform hand hygiene, put on rubber apron and don gloves
- Remove hair accessories if any
- Comb hair carefully to remove tangles
- Part hair into several sections and examine the scalp
- Start from top of head down to nape of neck
- Examine for any abnormalities (e.g. lice, dandruff, rashes, ringworm etc.)
- Repeat process taking special care to examine behind ears, nape of neck and along hair line
- Comb and style hair to suit patient
- Express appreciation to patient and direct him/her to the next activity
- Remove screen, clear tray, decontaminate used items and perform hand hygiene
- Document procedure, report any abnormalities and indicate patient’s level of co-operation in the nurses’ notes/patient’s folder
References and further reading
Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.
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