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 required 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. Each chapter 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 throughoutAn accessible, evidence-based introduction to a complex topicPresents information structured according to the Resuscitation Council s systematic ABCDE framework for ease of understandingAccompanied 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.
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Contents Contributors Preface Abbreviations About the companion website Part 1: Nursing in Acute Care 1 Critical Care Without Walls 2 Recognising Risk of Deterioration: ABCDE assessment 3 Early Warning Tools and Care Escalation 4 Hospital Acquired infection: Infection Prevention and Control 5 Pain Management in Acute Care 6 Psychosocial Issues in Acute and Critical Care 7 Safe Transfer of the Acutely Unwell Patient Part 2: Airways: Maintaining Airway Patency 8 Upper Airway: Assessment and Management 9 Advanced Airway Management 10 Airway management: Tracheostomy Part 3 Breathing: Patients with Breathing Problems 11 Respiratory Physiology: Oxygenation 12 Respiratory Physiology: Ventilation 13 Assessment of Breathing 14 Respiratory Investigations 15 Oxygen Therapy 16 Respiratory Failure 17 Breathing Problems: Obstructive Disorders 18 Breathing Problems: Lung (Parenchymal) Disorders 19 Breathing Problems: Pleural Disorders 20 Respiratory Support: Non-invasive Ventilation 21 Principles of Thoracic Surgery Part 4 Circulation: Patients with Circulatory Problems 22 Circulatory Physiology 1: Circulation 23 Circulatory Physiology 2: the Heart and Cardiac Cycle 24 Circulatory physiology 3: Control of Circulation 25 Assessment of Circulation 26 Cardiac Investigations 27 Fluid, Electrolytes and Intravenous fluids 28 Haemodynamic monitoring 29 The Patient with Acute Chest Pain 30 12 lead ECG 31 The patient with Altered Heart Rhythm 32 Physiology of the Immune System 33 Acute Circulatory Failure 1 Distributive (Sepsis) 34 Acute Circulatory Failure 2: Distributive (Anaphylaxis and Neurogenic) 35 Acute Circulatory Failure 3: Hypovolaemia 36 Acute Circulatory Failure 4: Obstructive 37 Acute Circulatory Failure 5: Heart Failure 38 Principles of cardiac Surgery 39 Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System 40 Acute Medical and Surgical Gastrointestinal Problems 41 Physiology of the Renal System 42 Acute Kidney Injury 43 Burns: Immediate Care 44 Major Trauma 45 Resuscitation in Acute and Critical Care Part 5: Disability: Patients with Neurological Impairment 46 Physiology of the Brain 47 Neurological Assessment 48 Neurological Impairment 49 Drug Overdose and Poisoning 50 The patient with Acute Endocrine Problems Part 6: Exposure 51 Skin Integrity 52 Nutritional Assessment and Support Part 7: Decision Making in Acute and Critical Care 53 Summary of Decision Making in Acute and Critical Care 54 Professional, Legal and Ethical Considerations 55 Mental Health Concerns in Acute and Critical Care 56 Last Days of Life References and Further reading Glossary Index
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Helen Dutton is Course Leader BSc (Hons) Professional Practice and Senior Lecturer Critical Care at the College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare, University of West London, UK. Jacqui Finch is Senior Lecturer/Course Leader, Intensive Care at the College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare, University of West London and The London Northwest Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK.
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