Diagnostic Reasoning A Review for Nurse Practitioners
This course for Nurse Practitioners and/or Nurse Practitioner Program students offers a focused review of diagnostic reasoning and decision-making skills required to accurately assess and diagnose clients, using commonly presenting complaints as a vehicle to demonstrate the reasoning and diagnostic processes. Participants will improve their understanding and expertise in the collection of data and formulation of differential diagnoses. Aspects of clinical reasoning will be investigated and critically reviewed in application to pediatric and adult case studies. Clinical, theoretical and scientific knowledge will be synthesized through the identification and management of existing and potential client states of health and illness across the lifespan.
Course Objectives
The course objectives are based on select Entry-Level Competencies for Nurse Practitioners (CNO, 2024).
Upon completion of the course, the learner will be able to:
- Perform initial observational assessment of the client’s condition.
- Ask pertinent questions to establish the presenting issues.
- Evaluate information relevant to the client’s presenting concerns.
- Prioritize urgent, emergent, and life-threatening situations (red and yellow flags as relevant).
- Use critical inquiry to analyze and synthesize information from multiple sources to identify client needs and inform assessment and diagnosis.
- Conduct an assessment that is relevant to the client’s presentation to inform diagnostic decisions
- Order and perform screening and diagnostic investigations including point-of-care tests, applying principles of resource stewardship
- Integrate critical inquiry and diagnostic reasoning to formulate differential diagnoses and final diagnoses.
- Interpret the results of investigations
- Generate relevant differential diagnoses based on data analysis.
- Determine the leading diagnosis based on clinical and diagnostic reasoning.
Prerequisites
Registered as Nurse Practitioner or currently a Nurse Practitioner Student.
Course Format
This course is offered as a self-paced, online course through the University of Toronto’s Learning Portal – Quercus. There are nine modules of course work and two weeks for evaluation of participants. Participants will have access to the course for a 3-month period from the time of registration, and assignments are due before course access ends.
In order to successfully complete and pass the course, participants will be evaluated by 3 methods:
- Written submission of a case study from the participant’s practice (20%)
- Completion of nine online modules. (40% of total grade)
- Completion of post-module quizzes (40% of total grade)
Schedule
| Topic & Activities | |
|---|---|
| Module 1 | Review of Diagnostic Reasoning Complete on-line e-module Complete post-module quiz. |
| Module 2 | Cardiac System Complete interactive e-module Case Study Complete post-module quiz |
| Module 3 | Respiratory e-module Complete interactive e-module Case Study Complete post-module quiz |
| Module 4 | Gastrointestinal System Complete interactive e-module Case Study Complete post-module quizzes |
| Module 5 | Neurological System Complete interactive e-module Case Study Complete post-module quiz |
| Module 6 | Musculoskeletal System Complete interactive e-module Case Study Complete post-module quiz |
| Module 7 | Genito-Urinary System Complete interactive e-module Case Study Complete post-module quiz |
| Module 8 | HEENT (Eyes) Complete interactive e-module Case Study Complete module on-line Complete post-module quiz |
| Module 9 | HEENT (Throat) Complete interactive e-module Case Study Complete module on-line Complete post-module quiz |
| Evaluation |
Course Director
Marnee Wilson
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, Centre for Professional Development, University of Toronto
Professional Practice Leader for Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Practitioner, Cardiovascular Surgery, St. Michael’s Hospital/Unity Health Toronto
Faculty
Susan Chernenko
Associate Graduate Lecturer, Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
Chantal Sorhaindo
Policy
Please Note
- Refund Policy – To withdraw from a course, send a written request to pd.nursing@utoronto.ca by August 15, 2025. No refunds will be given after this date. All refunds are subject to an administrative fee of $100 + tax. Alternatively, a colleague may attend in your place. Please send your substitution request at least 3 days prior to the course to pd.nursing@utoronto.ca. If you are registered for an in-person course and are ill, we ask that you do not attend. You are eligible for a credit towards a future course or a refund.
- Advanced registration is required. You must register by September 29, 2025.
- No on-site registration is available at the event.
- *U of T Nursing Alumni discount is available to participants who hold a BScN, MN, PMNP Diploma, MScN or PhD from the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto.
- **U of T Nursing Faculty discount is available to participants who hold a current faculty position, an adjunct appointment or a status appointment to the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
- Applicable taxes (13% HST) will be added to the registration fees.
- Course Cancellation Policy – The Centre for Professional Development reserves the right to cancel courses due to circumstances. The decision to cancel a course is normally made 15 days prior to the course. If you are enrolled in a course which is subsequently cancelled, you may apply your fee to another course, or receive a full refund. The Centre is not responsible for any travel or other expenses incurred by you.