Includes bibliographical references and index.

The theory and application of nursing practice -- The nursing profession and practice -- Critical thinking and the nursing process -- Nursing process assessment -- Nursing process nursing diagnosis -- Nursing process planning outcomes -- Nursing process planning interventions -- Nursing process evaluation -- Nursing process implementation -- Nursing theory -- Research -- Factors affecting health -- Growth and development -- Health and illness -- Psychosocial health and illness -- Family -- Culture and ethnicity -- Spirituality -- Loss, grief and dying -- Essential nursing interventions -- Documenting and reporting -- Vital signs -- Communication and therapeutic relationships -- Health assessment -- Promoting asepsis and preventing infection -- Safety falls -- Self-care ability hygiene -- Medication administration -- Teaching and learning -- Supporting physiological functioning -- Stress-coping-adaptation -- Nutrition -- Elimination urinary -- Bowel elimination constipation -- Bowel elimination diarrhea -- Sensory perception -- Pain management -- Activity and exercise -- Sexual health -- Sleep and rest -- Skin integrity -- Oxygenation -- Perfusion -- Fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance -- Nursing functions -- Leading and management -- Informatics -- Holism -- Health promotion -- Context for nurses' work -- Perioperative nursing -- Community-based care -- Ethics and values -- Legal issues.

Think like a nurse from your very first day. More than 50 engaging case studies prepare you to meet the challenges you'll face during clinical and in professional practice. Each in-depth case study addresses a major concept in your nursing fundamentals course, while insightful questions help you confidently apply theory to real-life clinical situations. Understand factors affecting the mental, physical, and spiritual health of patients across the lifespan. Know when, why, and how to implement and evaluate care. Build your leadership and management skills. Redeem the Plus Code on the inside to unlock your DavisPlus Premium learning resources… Davis Digital Version-your complete text online! Online Response Forms for each case study. Fill them out online; then print or e-mail to your instructor.