NS5902 - Extended Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning for Nurse Practitioners 2

[Offered in odd-numbered years]

This subject continues from NS5901 to provide Nurse Practitioner students with the requisite knowledge and skills to complete system-specific and comprehensive health histories and physical examinations with an emphasis on clinical decision-making and diagnostic reasoning skills necessary to provide competent and safe patient/client care. As such, it expands the nurse's knowledge of cognitive processes and psychomotor skills needed for comprehensive assessment of patients/clients across the lifespan required for an advanced and extended scope of practice. Techniques and processes of performing a physical, mental, developmental and nutritional assessment, obtaining a health history, performing and interpreting selected laboratory diagnostic procedures, ordering and interpreting radiology are core components of the subject. As part of this process, students will refine their documentation and medical record-keeping skills. The knowledge and skills gained in this subject will complement that gained in NS5901, to provide students with a comprehensive framework within which to make clinical decisions. As such, it provides the platform for the application of these processes to specific client groups and a number of extended nursing roles.

Learning Outcomes

• performing a comprehensive and accurate physical examination of an individual, including appropriate cultural, psychosocial, cognitive, genetic and developmental elements;
• identifying the components of diagnostic reasoning and ways of knowing that contribute to effective clinical decision making;
• demonstrating competency in the ordering and interpretation of the results of basic radiologic and pathology tests that are used in the context of a patient presenting for primary care;
• systematically incorporating knowledge of clinical symptomatology, health assessment findings, pathophysiology, and diagnostic tests informing appropriate differential diagnoses and diagnostic plans in clinical settings;
• utilising appropriate approaches to documentation and communication in the context of consultation and referrals;
• critically analysing clinical strategies and nursing interventions in health promotion and maintenance, and the prevention of selected health problems across the lifespan.

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.