Essential Health Assessment

A practical, real-world approach—focus on what's normal to identify abnormal. Here are all of the how-tos, what-tos, when-tos, and why-tos you need to master in a well-organized, well-illustrated text that makes the material easier to learn now… and reference later.

First, it focuses on the normal and the normal variants of the adult, child, elderly, and pregnant patients seen 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 will always do the same steps in the same order, assuring that you don't miss anything.

An access code inside new, printed texts unlocks resources online at FADavis.com, including Advanced Assessment Techniques, an Audio Library with sample auscultation and percussion sounds, Case Studies featuring real-life scenarios, and Performance Checklists that document the steps of each technique.

• New & Updated! Thoroughly reviewed, and revised throughout to reflect the art and science of nursing practice today, including evidence-based findings for normal and abnormal and the latest COVID-19 information
• New & Updated! Content reflecting the NCLEX¬, emphasizing clinical judgment and clinical reasoning
• Updated! Integrated terms and definitions for clinical reasoning, clinical judgment, and cue recognition
• Expanded! Greater emphasis on Social Determinants of Health throughout the cultural considerations
• Focuses on clinically relevant information for normal and normal variants of adults, children, elderly, and pregnant patients, as well as Healthy People 2030 goals with specific topics for patient education.
• Features a colorful graphic design, illustrations, and bulleted lists in a lab and clinical friendly, spiral-bound handbook that makes the information easy to understand and easy to follow through the assessment process.
• Offers assessment tips and helpful clinical information in every chapter, including a reminder to do a OPQRST analysis (Onset, Provocation, Quality, Radiation or Region, Severity, Time)
• Includes a brief review of A&P as the basis for the assessment.

• Covers assessment from head-to-toe with subjective questions, objective techniques, and documentation that demonstrates how all of the data and information come together to create a thorough and accurate health assessment.

  Highlights Safe and Effective Nursing Care (SENC) topics through color-code sections addressing “Patient-Centered Care,” ‘Safety Alerts,” and “Evidence-Based Practice”.