This practical, real-world approach provides all of the how-tos, what-tos, when-tos, and why-tos you need to master the art and science of assessment in a well-organized, well-illustrated text that makes the material easier to learn now and reference later. The book simplifies the approach to assessment in two ways. First, it focuses on the normal and the normal variants of the adult, child, elderly, and pregnant patients that you'll see most frequently in practice. Then, when a finding falls outside of those parameters, you'll be able to identify it as abnormal. Second, assessment is presented as a linear and consistent process; so you are able to undertake the same steps in the same order to ensure that you don't miss anything.

Understanding health assessment -- Interviewing the patient for the health history -- Taking a health history -- Assessing nutrition & anthropometric measurements -- Assessment techniques -- General survey and assessing vital signs -- Assessing pain -- Assessing skin, hair, and nails -- Assessing the head, face, mouth, and neck -- Assessing the ears -- Assessing the eyes -- Assessing the respiratory system -- Assessing the cardiovascular system -- Assessing the abdomen and kidneys -- Assessing the peripheral vascular system and regional lymphatics -- Assessing the musculoskeletal system -- Assessing the neurological system -- Assessing the female breasts, axillae and reproductive system -- Assessing the male breasts and reproductive system -- Assessing the anus and rectum -- Assessing the newborn / Jane Brophy -- Assessing the child and adolescent -- Assessing the pregnant woman -- Assessing the older adult.