Introduction to Critical Care Skills

INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL CARE NURSING SKILLS identifies and describes the essential procedures performed in the critical care unit. Preliminary chapters build a conceptual foundation in nursing process, patient teaching, and crisis intervention, facilitating comprehension of the step-by-step discussion of nursing skills in subsequent chapters. Coverage of skill content spans such areas as mechanical ventilation, defibrillation, intracranial monitoring, total parenteral nutrition, burn wound therapy, and organ donation. Each skill concludes with pediatric, psychosocial, and home care considerations as well as suggestions for patient and family education.