Fundamental concepts and skills for nursing / Susan C. deWit ; photographs by Jack Sanders.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Table of contents

Unit One: Introduction to Nursing and the Health Care System
1 Nursing and the Health Care System
2 Concepts of Health, Illness, and Health Promotion
3 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Nursing

Unit Two: The Nursing Process
4 Overview of the Nursing Process and Critical Thinking
5 Assessment, Nursing Diagnosis, and Planning
6 Implementation and Evaluation

Unit Three: Communication in Nursing
7 Communication and the Nurse-Patient Relationship
8 Documentation of nursing care
9 Patient Teaching

Unit Four: Developmental, Psychosocial, and Cultural Considerations
10 Growth and Development: Infancy Through Adolescence
11 Adulthood and the Family
12 Promoting Healthy Adaptation to Aging
13 Cultural and Spiritual Aspects of Patient Care
14 Loss, Grief, and the Dying Patient

Unit Five: Basic Nursing Skills
15 Infection, Protective Mechanisms, and Asepsis
16 Infection Control in the Hospital and Home
17 Lifting, Moving, and Positioning Patients
18 Assisting with Hygiene, Personal Care, Skin Care, and the Prevention of Pressure Ulcers
19 Patient Environment and Safety
20 Measuring Vital Signs
21 Assessing Health Status
22 Admitting, Transferring, and Discharging Patients
23 Diagnostic Tests and Specimen Collection

Unit Six: Meeting Basic Physiologic Needs
24 Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance
25 Concepts of Basic Nutrition and Cultural Considerations
26 Diet Therapy and Assisted Feeding
27 Assisting with Respiration and Oxygen Delivery
28 Promoting Urinary Elimination
29 Promoting Bowel Elimination
30 Promoting sleep and comfort

Unit Seven: Medication Administration
31 Pharmacology and Preparation for Drug Administration
32 Administering Oral, Topical, and Inhalant Medications
33 Administering Intradermal, Subcutaneous, and Intramuscular Injections
34 Administering Intravenous Solutions and Medications

Unit Eight: Care of the Surgical and Immobile Patient
35 Care of the Surgical Patient
36 Providing Wound Care and Treating Pressure Ulcers
37 Promoting Musculoskeletal Function

Unit Nine: Caring for the Elderly
38 Common Physical Care Problems of the Elderly
39 Common Psychosocial Care Problems of the Elderly