Fast Facts For The Critical Care Nurse

This newly updated, quick-access guide for critical care nurses covers the most common admitting diagnoses and reviews their causes, signs and symptoms, and interventions. Critical care nursing requires astute assessment, adept communication, and the ability to multitask, as well as a high degree of adaptability. In the ICU, patient status and plan of care change constantly, presenting multifaceted problems for nurses and healthcare providers. This authoritative resource, with bulleted, bite-sized content, provides information to the busy ICU nurse in a heartbeat. Fast Facts for the Critical Care Nurse, Second Edition, has been updated with the most current evidence-based guidelines and standards. Now organized by body system, this reference presents the latest treatment modalities and provides quick access to lab values and hemodynamic parameters. Part I introduces the foundations of critical care. Part II progresses by body system to cover common procedures and interventions. Part III covers patient- and family-centered care, discussing palliative directives and organ donation. New to the Second Edition: Seven completely new chapters Chapter reorganization by body system Updated to include newest treatment modalities Speedy access to appendices with common lab values, hemodynamic parameters, IV medications, and EKG rhythm examples Key Features: Provides quick access to essential information needed on a daily basis Includes Fast Facts boxes to help guide the reader Authored by a respected nurse leader, educator, and AACN/Wharton Executive Leadership Fellow

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A succinct yet comprehensive reference tool for cardiac surgery nurses, this new addition to the Fast Facts series provides quick access to frequently used information regarding the care of cardiac surgery patients. It encompasses the timeline from pre-op to recovery period, with a special focus on the prevention and management of commonly seen post-op complications. The book addresses surgical treatments for coronary artery disease, valve disease, descending aortic aneurysms, and congenital heart disease in adults, and covers patient presentation and diagnostic tests, immediate and extended post-operative period care, cardiac rehabilitation programs, and patient education. Intended for daily use, this reference not only contains important guidelines for all nurses caring for cardiac surgery patients, but reinforces highly specialized skills and supports the development of new skills. It will be highly valuable to new graduates and nurses who are considering a switch to cardiac care, as well as seasoned practitioners. Key Features: Provides a handy pocket reference for new and experienced cardiac care nurses Clearly organized for easy reference to equipment, procedures, and pre- and post-op specialty care Includes ìFast Facts in a Nutshellî feature to help guide the new nurse Pays special attention to the differences between CHD and manifestations of other heart disease states Pinpoints sensitive nursing indicators and ways to improve patient care

Dedicated and competent nurse preceptors are vital to the success of health care organizations and to the retention of nurses in the profession. Yet clinical teaching and supervision is a skill that must be developed; a knowledgeable and experienced practitioner does not automatically become a successful nurse preceptor. This pithy reference guide for nurses in the preceptor role is brimming with information about how to successfully educate, protect, socialize, and evaluate nurses transitioning into a new environment. In an easy-access, bulleted format, this resource helps preceptors to establish clinical objectives, execute evaluation and feedback techniques, identify role responsibilities, develop positive communication skills, and develop effective teaching/learning strategies. The guide addresses the qualities of a good preceptor, communication and delegation skills, and the importance of evidence-based practice for the preceptor role. It discusses how to prepare new nurses for the reality shock of entering a new arena, and how to recognize and help the preceptee who is struggling. Nurse preceptors will gain insight into how to assist preceptees in organizing their clinical day and prioritizing their responsibilities. From suggestions in conflict resolution and bullying to aids in developing critical thinking skills to advice on completing relevant documentation, this guide helps new nurse preceptors to provide a well-orchestrated orientation that will ensure a positive experience for novice nurses and the subsequent delivery of quality, patient-centered care. Sample competency forms and clinical tools add to the bookís utility, as well. Key Features: Delivers vital information on all aspects of successful nurse preceptorship in a concise, easy-access format Includes evidence-based content throughout Provides guidance on identifying and developing successful nurse preceptors Addresses organization, prioritization, delegation, effective communication, conflict resolution, and the development of critical thinking skills Offers key information on competency assessment and evaluations A special ìPreceptorís Problem Solverî chapter addresses clinical issues unique to the nurse preceptorís role

"The book is clearly written and concise and uses sidebars to highlight core concepts." Score: 90, 4 stars --Doody's Because ER nurses need to think fast and act fast... Fast Facts for the ER Nurse is an orientation guide and reference, designed specifically for new ER nurses and the preceptors responsible for their orientation. The chapters provide a brief overview of equipment, treatments, and drugs used to manage common disorders and conditions frequently seen in the ER. Critical information presented in each chapter includes disorder definitions, signs and symptoms, interventions, and critical thinking questions. With this guide, nurses can get the information they need fast in bullet-point lists. Each chapter is conveniently organized alphabetically by disease and disorder for quick access. The book serves as an organized, reliable, and thorough ER guide, ensuring a structured approach to orientation. All new ER nurses and their preceptors will find this book to be a reference they cannot do without. Key topics covered include: Cardiovascular Emergencies Disaster Response Emergencies Infectious Disease Emergencies Mental Health Emergencies Shock and Multisystem Trauma Emergencies Substance Abuse and Toxicologic Emergencies And many more!

"This book is a user-friendly, real-world guide to assessing and managing any type of wound. The author presents vital information for nurses and nursing students who provide wound care in any setting...a wonderful resource for nurses."--The AORN Journal (Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses) "Wound care is arguably the single most difficult topic in medicine. It has no defined solution like insulin for the diabetic...no easy strategy that covers all wounds...we are so tremendously blessed when [a wound care specialist] like Zelia carves out time to capture a career of experiences in text so that it can be shared with others. We are indebted to her for making this important contribution to the clinician's armament for dealing with [the] difficult-to-heal wounds of their patients." Bruce Gibbins, PhD Founder, Chief Technical Officer and Chairman of the Board of AcryMed, Inc. Former faculty at the University of Otago Medical School Using the concise, compact Fast Facts format, this guide encompasses the multitude of new healing technologies and presents important breakthroughs in understanding why some wounds don't heal. Each chapter builds, step-by-step, on the essential principles of wound care including wound assessment and documentation, the spectrum of wounds from simple to complex, wound treatment guidelines and protocols, and the legal aspects and regulations surrounding wound care. This user-friendly guide organizes the vast amount of information relating to wound care products and eases the complexity of wound management. A "Fast Facts in a Nutshell" section in each chapter provides quick access to important wound care principles, and bullet-point information and tables enable readers to quickly locate relevant information. This guide will be a useful companion in the day-to-day care of wound patients, reinforcing knowledge needed in all practice settings, including acute care, critical care, long-term care, home care, operating room, and outpatient settings. Key Features: Organizes and simplifies a vast amount of wound care information into a compact, user-friendly format Addresses wound care assessment, protocol, and treatment of the spectrum of wounds from simple to complex for all levels of practitioners Encompasses new healing technologies and information regarding difficult-to-heal wounds Presents comprehensive wound care algorithms, dressings, debridement procedures, ostomy care, optimal surface and equipment for wound patients, and adjunctive therapies