Application of Nursing Process and Nursing Diagnosis: An Interactive Text for Diagnostic Reasoning

From The Critics

Reviewer:Carole A. Kenner, RNC, DNS, FAAN(University of Oklahoma College of Nursing)
Description:This is the fourth edition of a book that takes the student step-by-step through the nursing process. Its style reinforces critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning, not memorization. The previous edition was published in 2000.
Purpose:The purpose is to teach the nursing process and its application to a clinical setting. It applies the ANA and JCAHO standards and relates them to the nursing process. The objectives are worthy and met.
Audience:It is designed for nursing students, both LPN or RN. Authors are known experts in the nursing process.
Features:The book leads the student through the steps of the nursing process starting with an overview of the problem-solving framework. The areas that are unique to this book are the inclusion of concept or mind mapping to determine a plan of care which includes an illustration that helps the student to understand how to make use of data collected from patient assessment; side bar notes to reinforce content such as the definition of nursing; boxes that highlight an ANA standard and its application; patient vignettes that highlight the nurse's role in the healthcare team; tear-out worksheets at the end of the chapters that students can use to practice the nursing process; and appendixes that include NANDA, NIC, NOC, common terminology and charting terms, learning activities, critical pathways, and scales to measure outcomes. Shortcomings of the book are few. Most of the references are from 1998 or earlier. There have been some updates, more in certain areas than others. They doreflect pertinent secondary sources of information, mostly textbooks. However, we are trying to promote evidence-based practice, and it would be helpful to see more application articles and primary sources. In addition the move to electronic medical records is having a significant impact on nursing documentation, application of nursing process, yet there is no real mention of this change in practice.
Assessment:The authors, as usual, present material in easy to digest chunks. They give the student helpful hints along the way to support each step of the process. Few books that discuss the nursing process clearly make the tie to ANA and JCAHO standards. The update of the NANDA II taxonomy and encouragement of content mapping are two areas that are consistent with movements in education these days. The problem that educators have in using any of the current nursing process books is how to make the transition from the long learning forms to what is used in everyday practice. No book totally bridges that gap or helps the faculty to guide the student in this direction. This book does the best job of attempting to present educational content that is truly applicable in the clinical setting that I have found.

Booknews

Helps students learn to think critically by developing diagnostic reasoning and problem-solving skills. Each step of the nursing process is explained, then reinforced through practice activities, worksheets, vignettes, and case studies that teach the importance of individualizing care through practice planning, documenting, and delivering care to patients of all ages. Doenges is on the faculty at Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Science, Colorado University- Colorado Springs. Includes perforated pages, and many reference appendices of standards, codes, and assessment tools. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

3 Stars from Doody