Advanced Assessment : Interpreting Findings and Formulating Differential Diagnoses

Your essential guide to diagnostic reasoning and differential diagnosis.
Designed to go beyond performing a physical exam, this text focuses on the thinking behind clinical decision-making. Step by step, you’ll learn how to analyze assessment data, interpret key findings, and determine which conditions may be indicated—developing a systematic approach to differential diagnosis from initial presentation to clinical judgment. Coverage of 170 conditions and symptoms across the lifespan ensures you always have the diagnostic process at your fingertips.

See what students and practitioners are saying online…

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

Happy I bought this book.“This is my number one resource for Differential Diagnosis. The information in this book is making my Assessment class easier. I'm glad I bought it!”— Aida G.

“I use it every day in my practice, it helped me improve my assessment skills.”—Ernest C.

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

I use this book so much. “I am an NP student and use this book a lot to write my SOAP notes for class. I love how it also includes interventions for each of the diagnosis.”—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! Case studies with critical thinking questions at the end of each chapter in Unit 2 (15 cases total, answers posted online for faculty and students)
• New! Content on Sports Physicals in Chapter 19: Pediatric Patients
• New & Expanded! Five new clinical decision-making algorithms
• New & Updated! Photographs that reflect the diversity of patients seen in practice
• Comprehensive coverage of 170 conditions and symptoms across the life span—including children, older adults, and pregnant patients.
• Complaint-focused organization by body system, guiding learners from patient presentation through consideration of both common and complex conditions
• Step-by-step guidance for diagnostic decision-making, including taking a focused history, performing a targeted physical exam based on presenting problems, and interpreting clinical findings
• Clear direction on selecting and interpreting diagnostic tests to systematically narrow the differential diagnosis
• Clinical prediction rules for selected disorders to support evidence-based reasoning
• High-value quick-reference features, including red flags, assessment pearls, medications that may cause symptoms, and selected causes of common presentations