In what type of assessment would a nurse evaluate clients' ability to perform ADLs?

A functional assessment is specifically designed to evaluate a client’s ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), which include basic self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating, and mobility. This type of assessment focuses on an individual's functional capabilities and limitations within the context of their daily life, making it essential for understanding how well they can manage their personal care independently.

In contrast, a physical assessment primarily concentrates on the individual’s physiological condition and health status through examination and diagnostic tests, without necessarily involving a detailed look at how the client performs daily activities. A psychosocial assessment focuses more on the emotional, social, and mental health aspects of a client’s life, which, while important, does not directly assess physical functioning. A comprehensive assessment encompasses multiple aspects of health, including physical, functional, and psychosocial components, but it is not specifically targeted at evaluating ADLs like a functional assessment is.

Thus, the identification and measurement of a client’s ability to perform ADLs is the core purpose of a functional assessment, making it the correct response to the question.