AACN essentials of critical care nursing / Sarah A. Delgado.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Section I. The essentials -- Assessment of critically ill patients and families -- Planning care for critically ill patients and families -- Interpretation and management of basic cardiac rhythms -- Hemodynamic monitoring -- Airway and ventilatory management -- Pain, sedation, and neuromuscular blockade management -- Pharmacology -- Ethical and legal considerations -- Section II. Pathologic conditions -- Cardiovascular system -- Respiratory system -- Multisystem problems -- Neurologic system -- Hematologic and Immune systems -- Gastrointestinal system -- Renal system -- Endocrine system -- Trauma -- Section III. Advanced concepts -- Advanced ECG concepts -- Advanced cardiovascular concepts -- Advanced respiratory concepts: modes of ventilation -- Advanced neurologic concepts -- Section IV. Reference information -- Normal laboratory reference values -- Implementing crisis standards of care -- Hemodynamic monitoring troubleshooting guide -- Cardiac rhythms, ECG characteristics, and treatment guide.

"This text provides the reader with evidence-informed content about the care of critically ill patients and their families. Written by nursing experts, this book sets a standard for critical care nursing education, supports preparation for national certifications, and can be a resource to address uncertainty in patient care delivery. The organization of the text recognizes the learner's need to assimilate foundational knowledge before attempting to master more complex critical care nursing concepts. In addition, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses affirms this book's value to the AACN community and especially to clinicians at the point of care. As the editor, I am grateful for the time and effort that AACN's team put forth in providing this validation. The title continues to carry AACN's name, as it has since the first edition. As critical care continues to evolve, the skills and knowledge that nurses leverage will also change. The constant element will be nurses' profound commitment to learning and translating that learning to optimal patient outcomes. This 5th edition, like its predecessors, meets nurses in their journey to learn, supports their pursuit of validation through certification, and offers a resource for direct patient care"-- Provided by publisher.