http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/68537377

Critical care nursing a holistic approach

This book is organized into five parts, the first two of which cover areas applicable to all critical care patients, including the patient's and family's experience, education, pain management, ethical and legal issues, and the rewards and challenges of critical care nursing. The third part addresses specific populations, including pediatric patients, pregnant women, older adults, and postanesthesia patients, as well as interfacility transport. The balance of the book is arranged by body systems and concludes with multisystem problems. This is the seventh edition of a text first published in 1973 and last published in 1994. The purpose is to present current, comprehensive, and practical information built on a holistic perspective of care in which the patient is the core of nursing practice. This book meets a need for educating students and nurses in the critical care environment. The editors' objective of providing a framework for focusing on patient responses in the critical care environment is met. This book is intended for students in critical care, educators, and clinicians. This edition is also tailored to meet the needs of patients. The editors are excellent authorities in critical care nursing. All three are practitioners, and one is both practitioner and educator. The contributors and reviewers are critical care experts. The illustrations are used best to understand critical care technology. The graphics used for anatomy, physiology, and patient assessment add to the usefulness of the text. The references are pertinent and current, but certain specialty content would need to be updated by the reader (e.g., medication protocols for CHF). The use of color in the textis managed carefully to guide and not overpower the reader. The 1997 ACLS Guidelines are in Appendix 1. The Answer Key to Study Questions appears in Appendix 2. Anatomy and physiology, patient assessment and clinical management, nursing research, collaborative plans of care, teaching, and home care issues are some of the innovations presented. One strength of book is how it addresses the changes associated with aging and the needs of the older adult. Aging concerns are covered in one chapter and are highlighted throughout the text. This edition provides current information that makes the previous edition out of date. I would recommend this text for beginning critical care nurses and for undergraduate nursing students for its coverage of advanced pathophysiological concepts.

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