DeGowin's Diagnostic Examination
Suneja, LeBlond, Brown, Szot · 11th Edition
Complete chapter-by-chapter study guide aligned with DeGowin's Diagnostic Examination (11th Edition). Includes summaries, learning objectives, and NCLEX-style practice questions for all 18 chapters.
Overview
DeGowin's Diagnostic Examination (11th Edition) covers 18 chapters in a flat sequence, moving from the fundamentals of diagnosis and history taking through a full regional physical examination and finishing with diagnostic testing and preoperative evaluation. This study guide is written from scratch to follow that same structure, so you review in the same order Suneja, LeBlond, Brown, and Szot present the material and always know where an examination technique belongs. For every chapter you get a plain-English summary of the key concepts, learning objectives laid out up front, and exam-style practice questions with a full rationale for every answer, so it teaches you why each choice is right or wrong rather than just handing you a key. You'll start with the fundamentals of diagnosis, history taking, and the screening physical examination, then move region by region — skin and nails, head and neck, chest, abdomen, and genitourinary systems — before covering the spine, extremities, and neurologic examination. From there you'll cover the mental status and psychiatric evaluation, before finishing with the preoperative evaluation, principles of diagnostic testing, and common laboratory tests. Every chapter is matched to how the 11th Edition organizes the material so your review stays aligned with your physical assessment course sequence. As you study you'll practice connecting an examination finding to its diagnostic significance, the applied clinical reasoning physical diagnosis courses and OSCE-style checkoffs both test, and you'll build the habit of distinguishing normal variants from findings that warrant further workup. Whether you're prepping for an exam or a physical assessment checkoff, this printable companion is built to be highlighted, annotated, and kept for the whole course, from your first practice history through your final skills evaluation. Original, independently written, and not affiliated with the publisher.
Aligned with physical diagnosis and health assessment coursework — the practice questions mirror how programs test examination technique and diagnostic reasoning across body regions.
- 540+ practice questions
- 18 chapters
- ~120 pages
- Instant PDF download
What you'll learn
The major topics this guide walks you through, matched to the textbook's order:
- Fundamentals of diagnosis
- History taking and the medical record
- Vital signs and anthropometric data
- Skin and nail examination
- Head and neck examination
- Chest, pulmonary, and cardiovascular examination
- Abdomen and rectosigmoid examination
- Genitourinary and reproductive examination
- Spine, pelvis, and extremity examination
- Neurologic examination
- Mental status and psychiatric evaluation
- Preoperative evaluation and diagnostic testing
Need the textbook itself?
The textbook itself, by Manish Suneja, Richard F. LeBlond, Donald D. Brown, and Joseph F. Szot (McGraw-Hill), organizes 18 chapters spanning diagnostic fundamentals through preoperative evaluation.
Buy new, rent, or find a used copy of DeGowin's Diagnostic Examination below. Make sure you get the 11th Edition — editions differ, so double-check the ISBN on the listing before you order. We earn a small commission if you buy through these links — your price is unchanged.
Chapters covered
Every chapter below is fully covered in the PDF — summary, learning objectives, key terms, and NCLEX-style practice questions with rationales.
Thinking about RN-to-BSN or MSN?
Compare accredited online nursing programs (CCNE-accredited, NCLEX pass rate published) in under a minute. Most students get a tuition estimate the same day.
Compare nursing programsNew grad? You need your own malpractice policy.
Your employer's coverage doesn't fully protect you. A personal RN policy from NSO runs about $100/year and is what most nursing boards recommend on day one.
Get a quote from NSOQuestions about this study guide
What exactly do I get?
A printable PDF study guide covering all 18 chapters of DeGowin's Diagnostic Examination (11th Edition) — chapter summaries, learning objectives, and NCLEX-style practice questions with rationales. One file, lifetime access, no subscription.
How soon will I get it?
Instantly. A download link appears on screen and lands in your inbox the moment your payment clears.
Does this match the 11th Edition specifically?
Yes — it's built around the 11th Edition, following its 18-chapter structure, which has remained stable across recent editions of this classic examination text.
Is this the textbook or a study guide?
It's an original, independently written study guide that reviews the same topics in the same order — plain-English summaries, learning objectives, and exam-style practice questions with rationales. It does not reproduce the textbook and isn't affiliated with the publisher.
Will it match my edition?
This guide is built around the 11th Edition. If your class uses a different edition, chapter numbering may shift slightly, but the topics and learning objectives are usually unchanged.
Do I still need the textbook?
The study guide is a companion, not a replacement — it helps you study efficiently and review fast, but you'll still want the textbook for full depth and any assigned readings. You can buy new, rent, or find a used copy through the price links on this page.
What if it is not what I expected?
Every purchase is backed by a 14-day money-back guarantee — email us within 14 days for a full refund.
Is this a test bank or copied from the textbook?
No. This is an original study guide written to align with DeGowin's Diagnostic Examination — summaries, objectives, and practice questions with rationales, not a reproduced publisher test bank or copied text.
More nursing study guides
About this study guide
This is an original study guide written to align with the topics and learning objectives covered in DeGowin's Diagnostic Examination (11th Edition) by Suneja, LeBlond, Brown, Szot. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or licensed by the publisher or the textbook's authors. All summaries, practice questions, and explanations are independently authored.