Testing Domains

Testing Domains in the Adult, Adult-Gerontologic, and Family Nurse Practitioner Examinations

Assessment:

Obtain subjective patient information including relevant medical, social, and family history, chief complaint, history of present illness, and review of systems to determine health needs and problems by:

• Interviewing patient/family/appropriate others
• Reviewing records
• Identifying health and medical risk factors

Obtain objective information based on patient age and health history to further define health needs and problems by:

• Performing physical examinations
• Ordering/performing/supervising diagnostic tests
• Ordering/performing/supervising appropriate screening tests
  

Diagnosis:

Formulate differential diagnoses by:

• Synthesizing and analyzing subjective/objective information
• Prioritizing potential diagnoses
  

Establish definitive diagnoses by:

• Ordering, performing, supervising, and interpreting additional diagnostic test
• Performing and interpreting additional physical examinations
• Synthesizing and analyzing additional information
  

Plan:

Establish the plan of treatment/care in order to address the diagnoses by:

• Ordering, performing, supervising and interpreting further tests
• Prescribing/ordering/administering pharmacological therapies
• Prescribing/ordering/administering non-pharmacological therapies
• Providing relevant education
• Making appropriate referrals to and consultations with other health professionals and community resources
• Providing for appropriate follow-up
• Including patient/family/appropriate others as active participants

Evaluation:

Determine the effectiveness of plan of treatment/care based on outcomes by:

• Reviewing patient responses(s)
• Collecting additional subjective/objective information as needed

Modify the plan of treatment/care based on outcomes by:

• Ordering, conducting, supervising and interpreting further tests
• Adjusting therapies
• Providing additional education
• Making appropriate referrals/consultations
• Providing for appropriate ongoing follow-up
• Including patient/family/appropriate others as active participants

Knowledge Areas Included in the Adult, Adult-Gerontologic, and Family Nurse Practitioner Examination

1. Health promotion and disease prevention
2. Anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology
3. Interviewing concepts and techniques
4. Health history
5. Signs and symptoms
6. Physical examination
7. Laboratory/diagnostic test
8. Clinical decision-making
9. Differential diagnosis
10. Pharmacological therapies
11. Non-pharmacological/complementary/alternative therapies
12. Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
13. Bio-psychosocial theories
14. Patient and family education and counseling
15. Community resources
16. Healthcare economics and practice management
17. Evidence-based practice
18. Legal and ethical issues
19. Cultural competence
20. Principles of epidemiology