NU552 disc week 4 Cough, Chest and Thorax Exam and Diagnostics

Cough, Chest and Thorax Exam and Diagnostics

Advanced physical assessment is used to evaluate complaints from the chest and thorax areas. This may lead to a diagnosis from patient records, a subjective history and the physical exam using clinical reasoning. Additionally these complaints may require diagnostic labs to be performed for an accurate diagnosis.

Complete one of the three scenarios.

Consider the chief complaint of cough in a 44-year-old smoker
or
Consider the chief complaint of wheezing in 32-year-old runner
or
Consider the chief complaint of palpitations in a 60-year-old
Demonstrate clinical judgment with regards to the chief complaint and case.

What pertinent information collected from the history would impact your assessment.
What would be pertinent positives or pertinent negatives found in the exam.
Include at least three differentials.
Include which diagnostics you would order based on your differentials and why.
How might a final diagnosis be determined?
Apply evidence-based support for your choices; including a clinical guideline for one of your differentials.