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 easy-access clinical guide to over 70 commonly seen symptoms, written for advanced practice provider (APP) students and new practitioners, describes a step-by-step process for obtaining a reliable patient history, choosing the appropriate physical exam, and using the patient history and physical exam findings to form a differential diagnosis. The second edition continues to include the case study approach, and is updated to incorporate 22 new symptoms along with contributions by a new editor, who is a leader in holistic health.
The guide is distinguished by several unique features including focused patient history questions and 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 highlighting the critical thinking process. Symptoms are presented alphabetically in a systematic, unfolding case study approach and include chief complaint, presenting history, past history, and explicit methodology for determining correct diagnosis.
KEY FEATURES:
- Describes over 70 (22 new to the second edition) commonly presented symptoms with unfolding case scenarios
- Offers a step-by-step approach to building clinical decision-making skills
- Provides quick access to differential diagnosis, requisite diagnostic tests, and clinical decision making
- Guides APP students and novice practitioners in conducting a problem-focused history and examination
- Includes unique differential diagnosis tables and diagnostic examinations tables that help clarify strategies for diagnostic decision making
Jacqueline Rhoads, PhD, ACNP-BC, ANP-C, PMHNP-BE, FAANP, has held many faculty positions during her career and has taught in nurse practitioner programs since 1994. Dr. Rhoads has been awarded major research funding for a variety of research projects and continues to foster an evidence-based practice implementing outcomes-focused care. She is a fellow in the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and has been awarded numerous commendations and medals for meritorious service in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Dr. Rhoads has authored four books for nursing publishers, as well as numerous articles. Her book Nurses’ Clinical Consult to Psychopharmacology was awarded first place as an American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year. The first edition of Clinical Consult to Psychiatric Mental Health Care won second place as an AJN Book of the year.
Julie Penick, DNP, PhD, MSN, FNP-BC, maintains both an active family practice, specializing in complementary and alternative health care modalities, and an education practice where she is full-time lead faculty in an MSN-FNP program at Herzing University. Dr. Penick earned her MSN in adult health nursing in 1992, her post-master’s family nurse practitioner certificate in 1996, her PhD in Energy Medicine in 2003, and her DNP in 2011. Dr. Penick has been involved with numerous research projects and continues to be involved in research projects that involve the application of ‘energy’ as healing approaches – be that nutrient energy, subtle energy techniques, application of magnetic field energy, and application of direct or indirect current. Dr. Penick is active in curriculum writing and conducting continuing professional education for nurses. Dr. Penick has been a certified family nurse practitioner through the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC) for more than 25 years.
