Fast Facts Handbook for Pediatric Primary Care: A Guide for Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants

Uniquely written from the perspectives of a Nurse Practitioner and a Physician Assistant

This quick-access reference guide encompasses all key diagnostic and management essentials needed for safe and effective pediatric practice. By incorporating the most current literature and evidence-based practice, this guide explains how to best assess, diagnose, and treat common pediatric disorders in an ambulatory care setting. This practical, pocket-sized resource is presented in concise paragraphs, providing access to key information at a glance.

Chapters consistently include focused assessment and diagnosis of the most common clinical problems and treatment options. Key points, important developmental milestones, and illness prevention and management sections provide practitioners with important content to educate patients and families easily and thoroughly. Abundant tables and charts help to facilitate quick reference to key components of practice. Links to frequently updated clinical guidelines and important web resources ensure that practitioners can maintain access to the most current knowledge available.

Key Features:

• Provides speedy access to crucial information with concise paragraphs, chapter objectives, key points, and tables
• Conveniently organized by most commonly seen diseases and disorders
• Provides links to frequently updated clinical guidelines and web resources
• Purchase includes digital access for use on most mobile devices or computers

Kristine Ruggiero PhD, MSN, RN, CPNP

Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Scientist, Nursing Professor

Email Dr. Ruggiero at Kristine.ruggiero@childrens.harvard.edu

Dr. Kristine Ruggiero's career in nursing began when she graduated from Yale University as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in the Primary Care Track, with a special concentration in Pediatric Chronic Illness Management. After her son was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect (CHD), Dr. Ruggiero obtained her doctorate and focused her research on the care coordination of children with chronic illness, specifically the care of children with heart defects. Her research validated that understanding a parent's perceptions of their child's health status is important as parents drive healthcare utilization in the pediatric setting.

Dr. Ruggiero has extensive clinical experience as both a pediatric nurse and pediatric nurse practitioner in various inpatient and outpatient acute care and primary care settings. Currently Dr. Ruggiero practices clinically at Boston Children's Hospital.

Dr. Ruggiero is also actively involved in research and presents her research nationally and internationally. She is a Nurse Scientist at Boston Children's Hospital in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Ruggiero has also held academic appointments for the last fifteen years and serves currently as an Assistant Professor of Nursing at MGH Institute of Health Professions teaching in both the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Accelerated BSN programs.

Michael Ruggiero MHS, PA-C

Physician Assistant, Professor of Physician Assistant Studies

Michael Ruggiero graduated from Quinnipiac University with a Master's degree in Health Science and Physician Assistant Studies. Studying sports medicine and athletic training in his undergraduate studies, Michael built on his interest in orthopedics by starting out his career as a PA in Orthopedic Surgery.

Since then, Michael has practiced for the last 17 years in the fields of Orthopedic medicine, Pediatric and Adult Urgent Care and Physician Assistant education.

Michael has been an Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of New England, and at MGH Institute of Health Professions, where he currently teaches. In addition to teaching, Michael has held many leadership roles in PA education including the Director of Clinical Education, and Remediation Coordinator working with at-risk PA students. Michael's leadership at the Institute has been recognized as a three-time Partners in Excellence (PIE) award winner, honoring him for outstanding work in the areas of leadership and innovation in PA Education.