ADVANCED ASSESSMENT: INTERPRET FINDINGS & FORMULATE DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES, ED 3

Course overview

Many diagnoses present similar symptoms; learning to differentiate between them can be very difficult. Accurate assessment requires nurses to obtain thorough patient histories and perform competent physical assessments using an informed and systematic approach. The purpose of this course is to provide nurses with information to strengthen their assessment skills, from taking a focused history and performing an assessment based on presenting symptoms or complaints, to interpreting the findings. Elements of history taking specific to each body system are reviewed in the text, and a differential diagnostic approach to the assessment and evaluation of each body system is provided. Diagnostic tests that may be ordered to provide additional patient information (dependent upon symptoms and assessment findings) are also reviewed. Finally, the text addresses health problems specific to certain populations, including male, female, pediatric, pregnant, and elderly patients. This overall approach will provide nurses with additional information on which to base patient care, and will assist them to be more accurate and comprehensive in the assessment of their patients. This course offers valuable information useful for nurses in a variety of clinical areas, and is especially useful for advanced practice nurses who must master the art of advanced assessment in order to accurately and efficiently diagnose patients. The information in this course will serve as a valuable resource at the point of care for nurses new to their roles, as well as to those with many years of experience.