Differential Diagnosis For The Advanced Practice Nurse

"Developing a comprehensive differential diagnosis for a specific complaint is a daunting task even for experienced advanced practice nurses. This user-friendly clinical guide provides a strategy or standard format for working through this complex task. It is a wonderful tool for both student and new advanced practice nurses... 5 stars." -- Kathleen M. Woodruff, DNP, Doody's Book Reviews Establishing a differential diagnosis can be challenging even for expert advanced practice nurses (APRNs), let alone students. This easy-access clinical guide to commonly seen symptoms, written for APRN students and new practitioners, describes step by step how to obtain a reliable patient history and choose the appropriate directed physical exam for the presenting problem, followed by how to use this patient history and physical exam findings to form a differential diagnosis. Unfolding case scenarios provided for each symptom further demonstrate a sound process for formulating a differential diagnosis that the APRN can use throughout clinical practice. The book features 38 of the most commonly presented symptoms, each of which includes exam findings and differential diagnosis. It describes diagnostic tests with a guide to when they should be ordered (or delayed) based on clinical findings, and common management plans for diagnostic testing. It discusses the correct approach to diagnostic reasoning including determining the focused assessment, choosing the appropriate assessment tests or lab tests, and critically thinking through the assessment and diagnostic data to arrive at an appropriate diagnosis. A unique feature of the guide is its provision of a Case Study History (presenting directed questions and patient responses), Physical Exam Findings, a Differential Diagnosis Table (clearly comparing potential diagnostic choices based on symptoms), a Diagnostic Examination Table (including estimated costs and codes), and a Case Study Summary, to further clarify strategies for arriving at the correct diagnosis. Key Features: Helps students and novice nurses obtain directed problem-focused history and examination for common patient symptoms Demonstrates a step-by-step approach to building clinical decision-making skills Offers quick access to common differential diagnoses, requisite diagnostic tests, and clinical decision making Uses unfolding case scenarios for each symptom to illustrate the clinical decision-making, diagnostic process Includes unique tables that help to clarify strategies for diagnostic decision making

Praise for the First Edition: "Developing a comprehensive differential diagnosis for a specific complaint is a daunting task even for experienced advanced practice nurses. This user-friendly clinical guide provides a strategy and standard format for working through this complex task. It is a wonderful tool for both students and new advanced practice nurses."–5 stars, Doody's This one-of-a-kind resource is designed to help Advanced Practice Provider students master the process of conducting a quality differential diagnosis. It contains 95 symptom-based cases that empower readers to practice and hone their clinical skills. Consistently formatted, patient-based case scenarios begin with a common symptom and provide expert guidance to help students work though a diagnosis. Diagnostic reasoning for each clinical scenario is presented step-by-step and each step is explicitly linked to the next. They are now organized by body system and coordinate with related texts for easy reference. Cases include focused patient history questions and responses, physical exam findings, a differential diagnosis table, a diagnostic examination table, and a summary analyzing the critical thinking process. Symptoms are presented via a systematic case study approach that encompasses chief complaint, past history, physical exam, case study, differential diagnosis, diagnostic exam, and clinical decision making. Boxes comparing clinical characteristics and differential diagnosis further help to illuminate the decision-making process. New to the Third Edition: Includes 23 completely new cases Delivers 55 Test Bank Multiple Choice Questions for instructors to assign Provides online access to 18 additional cases Reorganized by body system for easy reference Presented in two-color design for ease of use Key Features: Provides step-by-step approach to building sound clinical decision-making skills Links each step to the next for utmost clarity Guides APP students and novice practitioners in conducting a problem-focused history and examination Presents cases systematically for ease of use Includes unique differential diagnosis tables and diagnostic examination tables to clarify decision-making strategies Illuminates decision making with boxes comparing clinical characteristics and differential diagnosis

This clinical guide is targeted for nurse practitioner students and for those who are starting practice to help them with the basic skill of how to use the history and physical exam findings to form a differential diagnosis, and then evaluate the best treatment choice for common problems.

Advanced Practice Nursing: Contexts of Care is a robust collection of practice focused case studies which address current issues in the evolving nursing profession, targeting concerns of the advanced practice nurse. Throughout the text actual cases are used for the illustration and analysis of practice contexts, which include organizational structure, managed care, inter- and intra-professional issues, politics, power, finance, planning, regulation, ethics, law, quality, and patient safety. Discussion around opportunities for nursing to extend practice into new forms and environments is also covered. Advanced Practice Nursing: Contexts of Care is a very valuable tool for case-based teaching format around policy issues that directly impact practice and Master’s-prepared nurses. Each case is interspersed with discussion questions which guide case discussions in both specific and global issues within the case. In addition, each case has a list of references that can be used to guide the cases. Unlike other health policy texts, this text focuses on cases that bring application to those health policy issues. This text is also a solid resource for practitioners interested in keeping current on issues that guide clinical practice. Key Objectives: Appreciate the regulatory and legal environment that surrounds practice Analyze the influences of the working and regulatory contexts upon nursing practice Integrate an understanding of history and development of trends and issues into contemporary practice Provide a differential diagnosis among political, policy, regulatory, legal, and professional causes of contextual problems Propose solutions to contextual problems Value experience as data

Written by nurse practitioners for nurse practitioners in collaboration with a physician, this popular text builds a solid understanding of the theoretical foundation of nursing practice, while also providing comprehensive patient-care guidance based on the latest scientific evidence.

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

The book describes the current management of fecal incontinence from an advanced practice nursing perspective. It fills a gap in nursing knowledge promoting and showcasing the expertise and significant contribution of advanced practice nurses whose role is so important in the health care system. Authors’ objectives are to disseminate information about evidenced-based nursing care for the incontinent patient to improve outcomes and quality of life as well as to instruct nurses involved in continence care to practice at a high quality level. The book is structured in chapters, starting by explaining fecal incontinence and its impact on quality of life. The second chapter discusses advanced practice continence nursing. The epidemiology of fecal incontinence is reviewed to provide an appreciation of the scope of the problem. Normal defecation and mechanisms to ensure continence are reviewed to improve understanding of the alterations resulting in fecal incontinence. The next chapters focus on assessment, diagnosis and management of fecal incontinence in various patient groups which parallels the delivery of care. Since surgery is a treatment option in some cases, a chapter explains surgical approaches and the postoperative nursing care. As skin damage is the most common complication of fecal incontinence there is a chapter about management of these associated problems. The last chapter addresses managing fecal incontinence in the patient with urinary continence also. Practice related chapters include a case study. All chapters highlight key information in a box or table. The intended readers are international advanced practice nurses who care for patients with incontinence as well as continence nurse specialists practicing at a general level. General nurses interested in continence care might also be interested in reading the book. Other disciplines who are part of the healthcare team may be interested in learning more about role of the advanced practice nurse.