This full-color quick-reference handbook covers all aspects of the patient history and physical examination to help nurses interpret assessment findings, recognize patient needs, and provide focused care. Information is presented in a succinct, highly bulleted format, with lists, tables, and flowcharts to highlight key facts. Recurring graphic icons include Skill Check (tips for performing physical examination techniques), Culture Cue and Age Alert (specific variations in assessment findings and techniques related to age, culture, or ethnicity), Alert (life- or limb-threatening situations), and Clinical Picture (quick-scan charts visually comparing clusters of abnormal findings and differentiating among possible causes).