Geriatric Nursing Care Plan

From The Critics

Reviewer: Marquis D. Foreman, PhD, RN, FAAN(University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing)
Description: This is a second edition of a book first published in 1991. According to the author's statement in the introduction, a second edition was necessary to update and revise the materials to include new NANDA diagnoses as well as to provide broader and more in-depth information about these topics.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide information about the special needs and problems of the elderly, care of chronic illnesses, and long-term care management and to provide and maintain health and functional ability in the elderly.
Audience: The author suggests that the book is written for any provider of nursing care to any elder irrespective of the care setting.
Features: The book is organized by nine organ systems; two sections contain additional psychosocial and general considerations. Within each of these categories is provided an introductory paragraph and a general discussion of specific changes that occur with aging. Pathophysiology flow sheets, medical care, medications, diagnostic procedures, laboratory tests, and expected results are provided when relevant. These sections are followed with care plans developed using NANDA terminology, with all related risk factors, outcome criteria to be achieved, a listing of interventions with rationales for all related risk factors, and discharge or maintenance evaluation.
Assessment: This book has little practical utility. There is no index, and the table of contents is quite abbreviated; as a result, it is difficult if not impossible to locate certain materials. For example, confusion, both acute and chronic—important clinical issues in this population—were never located. Also, it is difficult to identify the source(s) of justification for various aspects of the interventions and rationales; the few references provided are not connected to any specific care plan, nor are any of the references primary or research based. The interventions are overly simplistic and materials are inaccurate and handled sloppily, as evidenced by seriously misspelled words, e.g. "dimentia."

Marquis D. Foreman

This is a second edition of a book first published in 1991. According to the author's statement in the introduction, a second edition was necessary to update and revise the materials to include new NANDA diagnoses as well as to provide broader and more in-depth information about these topics. The purpose is to provide information about the special needs and problems of the elderly, care of chronic illnesses, and long-term care management and to provide and maintain health and functional ability in the elderly. The author suggests that the book is written for any provider of nursing care to any elder irrespective of the care setting. The book is organized by nine organ systems; two sections contain additional psychosocial and general considerations. Within each of these categories is provided an introductory paragraph and a general discussion of specific changes that occur with aging. Pathophysiology flow sheets, medical care, medications, diagnostic procedures, laboratory tests, and expected results are provided when relevant. These sections are followed with care plans developed using NANDA terminology, with all related risk factors, outcome criteria to be achieved, a listing of interventions with rationales for all related risk factors, and discharge or maintenance evaluation. This book has little practical utility. There is no index, and the table of contents is quite abbreviated; as a result, it is difficult if not impossible to locate certain materials. For example, confusion, both acute and chronic--important clinical issues in this population--were never located. Also, it is difficult to identify the source(s) of justification for various aspects of the interventions andrationales; the few references provided are not connected to any specific care plan, nor are any of the references primary or research based. The interventions are overly simplistic and materials are inaccurate and handled sloppily, as evidenced by seriously misspelled words, e.g. dimentia.

1 Star from Doody