Your essential guide in the assessment and diagnostic process.
Step by step, you’ll hone your ability to perform effective health assessments, obtain valid data, interpret the findings, and recognize the range of conditions that can be indicated by specific findings to reach an accurate differential diagnosis. You’ll have coverage of 170 conditions and symptoms across the lifespan at your fingertips.
 
***** Powerful little clinical assessment tool!“Book required for graduate nursing course. Didn't disappoint! Especially helpful with formulating the differential diagnoses in the care plan...”—Susan, Online Reviewer
 
***** Really good organization. Helpful descriptions. Easy to find information.“I actually really liked this text for my Advanced Assessment course. I liked how it was broken down by area or body system, and then further broken down my differential diagnosis. The information is organized in a way that makes sense and is super easy to skim to find exactly what you need.”—Alexx, Online Reviewer
 

• Expanded, Revised & Updated! Thoroughly updated to reflect the art and the science of primary care practice as well as the newest evidence and changes in health care
• New Chapter!Differential Studies
• New & Expanded! Content in Chapter 1 on history taking-techniques and skills for special populations
• Expanded! Lab diagnostics information, as well as discussions of health disparities, cultural humility, and competency
• New Content! Genetic testing for pharmacologic prescriptions for psychiatric mental health conditions
• New! Diagnosis algorithm decision trees designed to help nurses assess and diagnose conditions such as chronic sore throat, chronic insomnia, and more

• Coverage of 170 conditions and symptoms across the life span—including children, older adults, and pregnant patients.
• Complaint-focused approach organized by body system, including discussions of complex conditions
• Step-by-step how tos for taking a focused history, performing a physical based on presenting complaints/problems, and interpreting the findings
• Guidance on selecting diagnostic tests and interpreting those studies to help narrow down the diagnoses
• Prediction rules for selected disorders
• Quick-reference features, including red flags Ÿ assessment pearls Ÿ medications causing symptoms Ÿ and selected causes of symptoms

 
 

I.The Art of Assessment and Clinical Decision Making
1.The Art of Assessment and Clinical Decision Making
2.Differential Studies
3.Genomic Assessment: Interpreting Findings and Formulating Differential Diagnoses
II.Advanced Assessment and Differential Diagnosis by Body Regions and Systems
4.Skin
5.Head, Face, and Neck
6.The Eye
7.Ear, Nose, Mouth, and Throat
8.Cardiac and Peripheral Vascular Systems
9.Respiratory System
10.Breasts
11.Abdomen
12.Genitourinary System
13.Male Reproductive System
14.Female Reproductive System
15.Musculoskeletal System
16.Neurological System
17.Nonspecific Complaints
18.Psychiatric Mental Health
III.Assessments and Differential Diagnosis with Special Patient Populations
19.Pediatric Patients
20.Pregnant Patients
21.Assessment of the Transgender or Gender Diverse Adult
22.Older Patients
23.Persons with Disabilities