F.A. Davis Company

The 2nd Edition of this AJN Book of the Year takes readers beyond the identification of physical assessment abnormalities to guide them through the process needed to arrive at a differential diagnosis. Its complaint-focused presentation makes it the perfect point-of-care resource for both classroom and clinical.

• Complaint-focused approach by body system.
• Step-by-step how tos for taking a focused history, performing a physical based on presenting complaints/problems, and interpreting the findings.
• Summaries of specific physical assessment data and their interpretation for each body system.
• Guidance on selecting and interpreting diagnostic studies as well as prediction rules for specific findings.
• Lifespan coverage, including children, older adults, and pregnant patients.

• The Art of Assessment and Clinical Decision Making
1. The Art of Assessment and Clinical Decision Making
2. An Overview of Genetic Assessment
• Advanced Assessment and Differential Diagnosis by Body Regions and Systems
3. Skin
4. Head, Face, and Neck
5. The Eye
6. Ear, Nose, Mouth, and Throat
7. Cardiac and Peripheral Vascular
8. Respiratory System
9. Breasts
10. Abdomen
11. Genitourinary System
12. Male Reproductive System
13. Female Reproductive System
14. Musculoskeletal System
15. Neurological System
16. Nonspecific Complaints
17. Psychiatric/Mental Health
• Assessments and Differential Diagnosis with Special Patient Populations
18. Pediatric Patients
19. Pregnant Patients
20. Older Patients

• Revised organization and new, two-color design to enhance usability.
• 32-page, full-color atlas of dermatology and other findings.
• New content on dry eye • nystagmus • hiccups • fecal incontinence • rectal pain • atrophy • restless legs • gait abnormality • tic • tremor • weight gain • chronic pain • insomnia • and sleepiness.
• More quick-reference features, including red flags • assessment pearls • medications causing symptom • and selected causes of symptoms.
• Reference lists at the end of all chapters to support evidence-based practice.