Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents: Conceptual foundations of nursing: The profession of nursing -- Health, wellness and integrative healthcare -- Healthcare in the community and home -- The nurse's role in healthcare quality and patient safety -- Culture and diversity -- Communication in the nurse-patient relationship -- Values, ethics and legal issues -- Nursing research and evidence-based care -- Patient education and health promotion -- Caring for the older adult -- Nursing process: Critical thinking and the nursing process: foundations for practice -- Nursing assessment -- Nursing diagnosis -- Outcome identification and planning -- Implementation and evaluation -- Documentation and communication in the healthcare team -- Clinical nursing therapies: Health assessment -- Vital signs -- Asepsis and infection control -- Medication administration -- Intravenous therapy -- Perioperative nursing -- Clinical nursing care: Safety -- Hygiene and self-care -- Mobility -- Respiratory function -- Cardiac function -- Fluid, electrolytes and acid-base -- Nutrition -- Skin integrity and wound healing -- Infection prevention and management -- Urinary elimination -- Bowel elimination -- Sleep and rest -- Pain management -- Sensory perception -- Cognitive processes -- Self-concept -- Families and their relationships -- Loss and grieving -- Stress, coping and adaptation -- Human sexuality -- Spiritual health --