Comprehensive nursing assessment in the care of older people.

A comprehensive assessment is the first stage of the nursing process. In rehabilitation nursing, it provides the foundation for care that enables individuals to gain greater control over their lives and enhance their health status. The place of the older person and significant carers/family members in assessment cannot be overestimated, as each should be empowered to fulfill the role of imparting expert knowledge about the person's life experience and views. This article examines some pertinent issues in relation to nursing assessment and emphasises that identification of needs and the use of appropriate assessment tools, in conjunction with the knowledge, skills and clinical judgement of the practitioner, are required in assessment.