Pediatric Physical Examination: An Illustrated Handbook, 3rd Edition

By Karen Duderstadt, RN, PhD, CPNP, PCNS

ISBN: 9780323476508

Pub Date: 16 Feb 2018

Reviewed by: Anne Turner-Henson, PhD, RN, FAAN (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Description

This is a handy reference on pediatric examination techniques for clinicians and students working with children. It is easy to use for clinicians whether novice or expert. The previous edition was published in 2014.

Purpose

The purpose is to describe pediatric physical examination techniques. Written descriptions along with illustrations provide information on physical examination techniques across childhood, from newborns to adolescents.

Audience

This handbook is designed for clinical novices to experts. Students learning pediatric physical examination will find it a useful resource, and expert clinicians will find it a helpful guide. The book clearly meets the needs of these audiences. The author is a recognized clinician in pediatric healthcare. The contributors represent clinical experts in their respective areas.

Features

Presented with a developmental focus, the handbook covers physical examination techniques from the newborn period through adolescence. Developmental screening, comprehensive health history (including genetic family history), and environmental health history techniques are discussed. Family-centered care is emphasized. Red flag alerts are used to highlight key findings across the body systems, and this edition highlights the importance of pediatric collaborations across the various disciplines. The color illustrations are exemplary examples of common pediatric physical exam findings. As children are critically vulnerable to environmental toxicants, the environmental health history chapter is a unique feature. Children’s blood pressure is determined by percentiles based on gender, age, and height, and the handbook lacks a reference to the guide for determining the percentiles. The table (Table 8.6) providing actual numbers is misleading

Assessment

This is a useful pediatric physical examination guide for clinicians in practice or for students. This updated edition adds red flag alerts, a useful resource, and new chapters on the newborn assessment and skin and common pediatric findings are useful additions.

Doody’s Review Service Weighted Numerical Score: 99-5 Stars!