Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents: 1. The client and the health care environment: Nursing today -- Health care delivery system -- Community-based nursing practice -- Theoretical foundations of nursing practice -- Nursing research as a basis for practice -- 2. Caring throughout life span: Health and wellness -- Caring in nursing practice -- Culture and ethnicity -- Caring for families -- Developmental theories -- Conception through adolescence -- Young to middle adult -- older adult -- 3. Critical thinking in nursing practice: Critical thinking in nursing practice -- Nursing assessment -- Nursing diagnosis -- Planning nursing care -- Implementing nursing care -- Evaluation -- Managing client care -- 4. Professional standards in nursing practice: Ethics and values -- Legal implications in nursing practice -- Communication -- Client education -- Documentation -- 5. Psychosocial basis for nursing practice: Self-concept -- Sexuality -- Spiritual health -- The Experience of loss, death and grief -- Stress and coping -- 6. Scientific basis for nursing practice: Vital signs -- Health assessment and physical examination -- Infection control -- Medication administration -- Complementary and alternative therapies -- 7. Basic human needs: Activity and exercise -- Client safety -- Hygiene -- Oxygenation -- Fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balances -- Sleep -- Comfort -- Nutrition -- Urinary elimination -- Bowel elimination -- 8. Clients with special needs: Mobility and immobility -- Skin integrity and wound care -- Sensory alteration -- Care of surgical clients --