Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnosis 2

Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnosis I (AHAD I) and Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnosis II (AHAD II) build upon the foundational skills of registered nurses by advancing health assessment and diagnostic reasoning in primary care settings.

AHAD I, offered in the fall term, focuses on adult episodic care using a systems based approach. AHAD II, offered in the winter term, expands into specialty populations including mental health, family care, chronic conditions, perinatal care, and pediatrics.

Each course is organized into weekly modules designed to prepare students to assess clients at an advanced practice level. Emphasis is placed on:

• Critical thinking
• Evidence based assessment
• Diagnostic reasoning
• Clinical decision making
• Synthesis of clinical data

Students develop diagnostic plans through case studies and clinical placement experiences involving common primary health care conditions.

Diagnostic planning includes:

• Focused health histories
• Physical examinations
• Diagnostic investigations
• Consultations and referrals
• Development of nursing and medical diagnoses

Weekly seminars encourage students to consider broader implications related to:

• Health promotion
• Disease prevention
• Health maintenance
• Care across the lifespan
• Diverse populations and communities

Collaborative learning with peers, tutors, instructors, preceptors, and course faculty forms the basis for ongoing discussion and problem based learning.

A strong foundation in advanced health assessment and diagnostic accuracy is essential before progressing into therapeutic management of clinical presentations.