Case Study Assignment: Differential Diagnoses and Diagnostic Testing
When seeking to identify a patient's health condition, advanced practice nurses can use a diverse selection of diagnostic tests and assessment tools to help in understanding a patient's condition. In turn, beginning with a differential diagnosis supports the process of further applying information to narrow the possibilities of what the condition may be and working to arrive at the most accurate diagnosis for planning treatment.
For this Case Study Assignment, you will determine the physical exams and diagnostic tests that would be most appropriate for gaining information and better understanding of your patient's condition. Then, based on your analysis, you will formulate a differential diagnosis for the patient.
To prepare:
- By Day 1 of this week, your Instructor will assign a patient profile for this Assignment. Note: Please see the Course Announcements section of the classroom for your patient profile Assignment.
- Review this week's Learning Resources.
- Review the details of the patient case study.
- Consider what physical exams and diagnostic tests would be most appropriate to gather more information about the patient's condition.
- Reflect on how the results would be used to make a diagnosis.
- Identify three to five (3-5) possible conditions that may be considered in a differential diagnosis for the patient.
Assignment: Diagnostic Reasoning
Include the following:
- Identify the patient's chief complaint.
- Identify what physical exams and diagnostic tests would be most appropriate to gather more information about the patient's condition. Be specific and explain your reasoning.
- Explain how the results would be used to make a diagnosis.
- Identify three to five (3-5) possible conditions that may be considered in a differential diagnosis for the patient. Explain your thinking.