Includes bibliographical references and index.

CONTENTS : Part I: The Concepts of Holism Applied to Critical Care Nursing Practice 1. Caring and Critical Thinking Within a Holistic Framework 2. The Patient's Experience with Critical Illness 3. The Family's Experience with Critical Illness 4. Impact of the Critical Care Environment on the Patient 5. Relieving Pain and Providing Comfort 6. Patient and Family Education in a Changing Health Care Environment Part II: Professional Practice Issues in Critical Care 7. Ethical Issues in Critical Care 8. Legal Issues in Critical Care 9. Rewards and Challenges of Critical Care Nursing Part III: Special Populations in Critical Care 10. The Critically Ill Pediatric Patient 11. The Critically Ill Pregnant Woman 12. The Critically Ill Older Patient 13. The Post Anesthesia Patient 14. Interfacility Transport of the Critically Ill Patient Part IV: Critical Care Nursing: Alteration in Body Systems Unit I: Cardiovascular System 15. Anatomy and Physiology of the Cardiovascular System 16. Patient Assessment: Cardiovascular System 17. Patient Management: Cardiovascular System 18. Common Cardiovascular Disorders 19. Heart Failure 20. Acute Myocardial Infarction 21. Cardiac Surgery Unit II: Respiratory System 22. Anatomy and Physiology of the Respiratory System 23. Patient Assessment: Respiratory System 24. Patient Management: Respiratory System 25. Common Respiratory Disorders 26. Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome Unit III: Renal System 27. Anatomy and Physiology of the Renal System 28. Patient Assessment: Renal System 29. Patient Management: Renal System 30. Common Renal Disorders Unit IV: Nervous System 31. Anatomy and Physiology of the Nervous System 32. Patient Assessment: Nervous System 33. Patient Management: Nervous System 34. Head Injury 35. Common Neurological Disorders 36. Spinal Cord Injuries Unit V: Gastrointestinal System 37. Anatomy and Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System 38. Patient Assessment: Gastrointestinal System 39. Patient Management: Gastrointestinal System 40. Common Gastrointestinal Disorders Unit VI: Endocrine System 41. Anatomy and Physiology of the Endocrine System 42. Patient Assessment: Endocrine System 43. Common Endocrine Disorders Unit VII: Immune and Hematological Systems 44. Anatomy and Physiology of the Hematologic and Immune Systems 45. Patient Assessment: Hematologic and Immune Systems 46. Organ and Hemopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation 47. Common Immunological Disorders 48. Common Hematological Disorders Part V: Multisystem Dysfunction 49. Hypoperfusion States 50. Trauma 51. Burns 52. Drug Overdose and Poisoning Appendix I: Answers to Study Questions Appendix II: ACLS Guideline

Suitable for both nursing students and practicing critical care nurses, this text/clinical guide features: displays to highlight/summarize/synthesize information, including clinical terminology, diagnostic studies, and red flag situations; critical thinking challenges in various chapters; and, patient care studies and collaborative care guides.