Mosby's Critical Care Nursing Reference

Developed to provide nurse clinicians with a resource for the management of adult critical care patients, Mosby's Critical Care Nursing Reference condenses the most essential information needed by nurses working in the ICU. This valuable, pocket-sized reference provides information on broad topics that apply to a variety of critically ill patients, as well as detailed information on organ diseases. Chapters are dedicated to psychosocial concerns, complementary therapies, and the unique needs of a pediatric patient in an adult ICU. Therapeutic modalities and pharmacology are both examined, with information that is useful for the student, the new nurse, and the experienced professional.

• Handy size allows portability and ease of use in working conditions.
• Contains both general information on patient care, as well as specific details outlining nursing procedures in a professional setting.
• Organization of material presented allows for quick access of desired subject matter in critical care situations.
• Allows critical care nurses to quickly assess, diagnose, and facilitate the care of patients in an ICU setting.
• Clearly organized appendices allow the user to rapidly obtain frequently needed data.

• The most up-to-date terminology, topics, modalities, and treatments are incorporated throughout.
• New chapter on palliative care in the critical care unit has been included.
• Updated information is presented regarding pain control from the World Health Organization, as well as drug incompatibilities.
• Discussions have been added on such topics as cortisol level testing, new laboratory tests such as brain naturetic peptide, and therapies used in end of life.

The book contains black-and-white illustrations.

This pocket-sized reference provides information on disorders, treatment, assessment, monitoring, and drug therapy. Most of the information is organized by body system, but special sections give attention to topics like acute pain, psychosocial concerns, pediatrics, and pharmacology. Appendices supply scoring tools, formulas, and life support guides. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Lynne T. Braun

This book provides the nurse clinician with a resource for accessing information about the acute care management of a patient in the adult critical care unit. A chapter on care of the child hospitalized in the adult ICU is also included. The author emphasizes that this reference is not intended to be a comprehensive critical care textbook or a procedure manual, and it assumes the reader is familiar with the pathophysiology of life-threatening illness and the technology used in critical care units. This book is written for critical care nurses of all levels. This is a concise reference where information can be located quickly by the bedside nurse. It includes assessment guidelines, nursing diagnoses associated with key clinical disorders, management strategies, diagnostic procedures, monitoring techniques, and critical care pharmacology. Numerous tables enhance the utility of this clinical resource, i.e., the differentiation of chest pain. ACLS algorithms, laboratory values, formulas, and scoring tools are readily available. The only criticism is related to organization. Separate chapters are devoted to the nursing management of specific disorders and medical therapeutic modalities, both with thumb tabs labeled according body systems. This information would be more effectively used if incorporated together with a separate chapter assigned for each body system (and a different color thumb tab). However, the comprehensive appendix allows the reader to find the desired information quickly. This book is a high quality, up-to-date clinical reference tool for critical care nurses.

Stillwell, Susan B., MSN, RN (Ursuline Coll)

The contributors are all nurses specializing in cardiovascular and critical care nursing and patient care systems. Most are from hospitals and universities in the U.S., with Univ of Pittsburgh and St Luke's Medical Center in Phoenix represented.