The idea for this book evolved over several years, while teaching an advanced health
assessment course designed primarily for nurse practitioner (NP) students. Although
many health assessment texts have been available, they have lacked an essential component—the information needed to arrive at a reasonably narrow differential diagnosis of a patient who presents with one of the almost endless possible complaints.
We hope that this book will be helpful to advanced practice students, new practitioners, and experienced practitioners faced with new presentations.
As NPs increasingly become the providers of choice for individuals seeking primary and specialty care, the need for expertise in the assessment and diagnostic
processes remains essential. In spite of the growth in available technology and diagnostic studies, performing assessment skills correctly, obtaining valid data, and
interpreting the findings accurately are necessary for the safe, high-quality, and cost-
effective practice for which NPs are known.
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