Acute and Critical Care Nursing at a Glance

From the publishers of the market-leading at a Glance series comes a comprehensive yet accessible overview of all the fundamental elements of acute and critical care nursing.

Acute and Critical Care Nursing at a Glance provides an introduction to the key knowledge and skills for patient assessment and problem identification, as well as how to plan, implement and evaluate care management strategies.  It also explores clinical decision-making processes and their impact on care delivery, as well as key psychosocial issues, pain management, and safe transfer.  All information is presented in a clear, double-page spread with key information accompanied by tables, illustrations, photographs and diagrams.

Key features:

• Superbly illustrated, with full colour illustrations throughout
• An accessible, evidence-based, introduction to a complex topic
• Presents information structured according to the Resuscitation Council’s systematic ABCDE framework for ease of understanding
• Accompanied by patient case studies to help apply theory to practice

Acute and Critical Care Nursing at a Glance is ideal for nursing students, healthcare assistants, and registered nurses working within the acute and critical care setting.

Jacqui Finch is a Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing at the University of West London, UK

Helen Dutton is a Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing at the University of West London, UK

Contributors vii

Acknowledgements viii

Preface ix

Abbreviations x

About the companion website xii

Nursing in acute and critical care 1

1 Critical care without walls 2

2 Recognising risk of deterioration: ABCDE assessment 4

3 Early warning tools and care escalation 6

4 Hospital-acquired infection: infection prevention and control 8

5 Pain management 10

6 Psychosocial issues 12

7 Safe transfer of the acutely unwell patient 14

Airway: maintaining airway patency 17

8 Upper airway: assessment and management 18

9 Advanced airway management 20

10 Airway management: tracheostomy 22

Breathing: patients with breathing problems 25

11 Respiratory physiology: oxygenation 26

12 Respiratory physiology: ventilation 28

13 Assessment of breathing 30

14 Respiratory investigations 32

15 Oxygen therapy 34

16 Respiratory failure 36

17 Breathing problems: obstructive disorders 38

18 Breathing problems: lung (parenchymal) disorders 40

19 Breathing problems: pleural disorders 42

20 Respiratory support: non-invasive ventilation 44

21 Principles of thoracic surgery 46

Circulation: patients with circulatory problems 49

22 Circulatory physiology 1: circulation 50

23 Circulatory physiology 2: the heart and cardiac cycle 52

24 Circulatory physiology 3: control of circulation 54

25 Assessment of circulation 56

26 Cardiac investigations 58

27 Fluid, electrolytes and intravenous fluids 60

28 Haemodynamic monitoring 62

29 Acute chest pain 64

30 The 12-lead electrocardiogram 66

31 Altered heart rhythm 68

32 Physiology of the immune system 70

33 Acute circulatory failure 1: distributive (sepsis) 72

34 Acute circulatory failure 2: distributive (anaphylaxis and neurogenic) 74

35 Acute circulatory failure 3: hypovolaemia 76

36 Acute circulatory failure 4: obstructive 78

37 Acute circulatory failure 5: heart failure 80

38 Principles of cardiac surgery 82

39 Physiology of the gastrointestinal system 84

40 Acute medical and surgical gastrointestinal problems 86

41 Physiology of the renal system 88

42 Acute kidney injury 90

43 Burns: immediate care 92

44 Major trauma 94

45 Resuscitation 96

Disability: patients with neurological impairment 99

46 Physiology of the brain 100

47 Neurological assessment 102

48 Neurological impairment 104

49 Drug overdose and poisoning 106

50 Acute endocrine problems 108

Exposure 111

51 Skin integrity 112

52 Nutritional assessment and support 114

Decision making in acute and critical care 117

53 Summary of decision making 118

54 Professional, legal and ethical considerations 120

55 Mental health concerns 122

56 Last days of life 124

Appendix 126

References and further reading 127

Glossary 136

Index 148

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