Physical Diagnoses for Advanced Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners: Part IAssessment andi Differential Diagnosis

Abstract

Knowledge ofjhealthprobiems tbat commonly exist in tbepsycbiatricpatientpopulation has become an integral part ofpsychiatric nursing practice. The purposes of this article are to organize categories of health assessment and physical examination that are most useful to the psychiatric nurse and to provide aframeworkfor assessment of dierential diagnosis of common neuropsychiatric disorders and coexisting health probems. Hypothesis generation and care planning can be enriched by attention to physical care problems that affect the provision of care for clients.