Critical Care Nursing; A Holistic Approach (10th Edition)

“Critical Care Nursing: A Holistic Approach,” now in its 10th edition, authored by Ph.D. Morton, Patricia Gonce, R.N., Ph.D. Fontaine, and Dorrie K., R.N., provides a comprehensive and holistic perspective on critical care nursing. Here's an overview of what you can expect from this edition:

1. Foundations of Critical Care Nursing: The textbook begins by laying the foundation for critical care nursing, including an overview of critical care settings, the role of the critical care nurse, ethical and legal considerations, and evidence-based practice.
2. Physiological Concepts: Morton, Gonce, Fontaine, and Dorrie K. delve into essential physiological concepts relevant to critical care nursing, including cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, renal, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems. They discuss pathophysiology, assessment, and interventions for common critical care conditions.
3. Patient Assessment and Monitoring: The book provides guidance on comprehensive patient assessment and monitoring techniques in the critical care environment, including physical assessment, hemodynamic monitoring, neurologic assessment, respiratory assessment, and laboratory interpretation.
4. Nursing Management of Critical Conditions: Morton and colleagues address the nursing management of various critical conditions, such as shock, sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute coronary syndrome, traumatic injuries, neurological emergencies, and multisystem organ failure. They discuss evidence-based interventions and interdisciplinary collaboration.
5. Pharmacology and Medication Management: The textbook covers pharmacological principles and medication management specific to critical care nursing, including drug classifications, dosage calculations, medication administration, and monitoring for adverse effects. It also includes common medication protocols and infusion calculations.
6. Therapeutic Interventions: Morton et al. discuss therapeutic interventions commonly performed in critical care, such as mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic support, renal replacement therapy, wound care, nutritional support, pain management, sedation management, and rehabilitation.
7. Psychosocial and Spiritual Care: The book emphasizes the importance of psychosocial and spiritual care in critical care nursing, addressing the psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients and their families during critical illness and end-of-life care.
8. Ethical and Cultural Considerations: Morton and colleagues explore ethical and cultural considerations in critical care nursing practice, including end-of-life decision-making, advance care planning, cultural competence, patient advocacy, and addressing healthcare disparities.
9. Professional Development: The textbook offers guidance on professional development and career advancement in critical care nursing, including certification options, continuing education opportunities, research initiatives, and leadership roles within the critical care specialty.
10. Case Studies and Clinical Scenarios: Throughout the book, Morton, Gonce, Fontaine, and Dorrie K. include case studies, clinical scenarios, and reflective exercises to illustrate key concepts and promote critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills among readers.

Overall, “Critical Care Nursing: A Holistic Approach” serves as a comprehensive resource for students, educators, and practitioners in the field of critical care nursing. With its holistic perspective, evidence-based content, and practical insights, it prepares nurses to provide high-quality, patient-centered care in critical care settings.