This new text covers the nursing care of medical-surgical patients LPN/LVN nurses need to know to practice. Organized by body systems, each chapter is divided into two primary units-an overview of A&P and a discussion of problems and diagnostic tests common to disorders in that system. Includes the latest content on emergency and disaster management, including bioterrorism, trauma, and shock, plus an entire unit on mental health nursing.

UNIQUE! ESL (English as a Second Language) considerations are throughout the textbook and Student Learning Guide, improving readability and enhancing comprehension for ESL and students with limited proficiency in English. Each body system chapter begins with an Overview of Anatomy and Physiology and continues with a discussion of diagnostic tests, and problems common to disorders in that system with usual nursing interventions. Five-Step Nursing Process provides consistent framework for disorders chapters. Focused Assessment boxes for each body system include information on history taking and psychosocial assessment, physical assessment, and guidance on how to collect data/information for specific disorders. NCLEX-PN® examination-style review questions at the end of each chapter include alternate-format questions and help familiarize you with the exam. Unit on Mental Health Nursing includes information on disorders of anxiety and mood, cognitive disorders, thought and personality disorders, and substance abuse. UNIQUE! Assignment Considerations address situations in which the RN delegates tasks to the LPN/LVN or when the LPN/LVN assigns tasks to nurse assistants, patient care techs, and other unlicensed assistive personnel per the individual state nurse practice act. UNIQUE! Evidence-based practice is emphasized throughout with a special EB icon to highlight research relevant to nursing practice and patient teaching. Legal and Ethical Considerations boxes focus on specific disorder-related issues. Safety Alert boxes highlight specific dangers to patients related to clinical care. Disaster management content offers the latest guidelines on disaster preparation, assessment, decontamination, and treatment of injuries associated with both natural and bioterrorist disasters. Clinical Cues provide guidance and advice related to the application of nursing care. Think Critically About... boxes encourage you to synthesize information and apply concepts beyond the scope of the chapter. UNIQUE! Concept Maps in the disorders chapters help you visualize difficult material and illustrate how a disorder's multiple symptoms, treatments, and side effects relate to each other. UNIQUE! Health Promotion Points boxes address wellness and disease prevention, including diet, infection control, and more. UNIQUE! Communication Cues help you learn to apply in therapeutic communication skills in realistic patient care situations. Cultural Cues related to biocultural variations, as well as health promotion for specific ethnic groups, are included throughout. Nutritional Therapies boxes related to nursing care for specific disorders address the need for holistic care, as well as the increased emphasis on nutrition on the NCLEX®-PN exam. Patient Teaching boxes provide step-by-step instructions and guidelines for post-hospital care. Elder Care Points address the unique medical-surgical care issues affecting older adults. Home Care Considerations boxes focus on post-discharge adaptations of medical-surgical nursing care to the home environment. UNIQUE! Complementary and Alternative Therapies boxes offer information on how nontraditional treatments for medical-surgical conditions may be used to complement traditional treatment. A companion CD packaged with the text includes a variety of review exercises and tutorials, plus a glossary, a coloring book, Spanish health care phrases, and much more.