Includes references and index.

Content: Foundations of nursing practice: Introduction to nursing -- Health of the individual, family and community -- Cultural diversity -- Health and illness -- Theory, research and evidence-based practice -- Values and, ethics and advocacy -- Legal implications of nursing -- Community-based settings for patient care: Healthcare delivery systems -- Continuity of care -- Home healthcare -- The nursing process: Blended skills and critical thinking throughout the nursing process -- Assessing -- Diagnosing -- Outcome identification and planning -- Implementing -- Evaluating -- Documenting, reporting and conferring -- Promoting health across the life span: Developmental concepts -- Conception through young adult -- The aging adult -- Roles basic to nursing care: Communicator -- Teacher and counselor -- Leader and manager -- Actions basic to nursing care: Vital signs -- Health assessment -- Safety, security and emergency preparedness -- Asepsis and infection control -- Complementary and alternative therapies -- Medications -- Perioperative nursing -- Promoting healthy psychosocial responses: Self-concept -- Stress and adaptation -- Loss, grief and dying -- Sensory stimulation - Sexuality -- Spiritually -- Promoting healthy physiologic responses: Hygiene -- Skin integrity and wound care -- Activity -- Rest and sleep -- Comfort -- Nutrition -- Urinary elimination -- Bowel elimination -- Oxygenation -- Fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance --