A primary diagnosis describes the underlying cause of a patient's admission to the hospital. It is assigned after the completion of diagnostic tests and examinations. A comorbidity (a pre-existing condition) or a complication (a condition that occurs during treatment) may be a secondary diagnosis. For example, if a patient has diabetes and is admitted for foot ulcers, foot ulcers would be the primary diagnosis, while diabetes would be secondary.
These lists should provide perspective on the task before you as you prepare for the certification exam and practice. My advice is to learn the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of these 20 major diagnoses, making sure you have a thorough understanding of each of them. Adopting this approach will provide you with a strong knowledge base that will help you successfully pass the exam and your first year of practice. As a practicing NP, you'll build on this knowledge as you gain hands-on experience.
Examples MAY include, but are not limited to, medications for the condition, laboratory tests related to the diagnosis, and medical history of the conditions listed. These examples illustrate how the primary diagnosis represents the primary condition or the reason a patient sees a healthcare provider.
