Includes glossary bibliographical references and index.

Contents :Nursing and the health care environment: Nursing today -- The health care delivery system -- Community-based nursing practice -- Theoretical foundations of nursing practice -- Evidence -based practice -- Caring throughout the life span: Health and wellness -- Caring in nursing practice -- Caring for patients with chronic illness -- Cultural competence -- Family dynamics -- Developmental theories --Conception through adolescence -- Young and middle adult -- Older adult -- Critical thinking in nursing practice: Critical thinking in nursing practice -- Nursing assessment -- Nursing diagnosis -- Planning nursing care -- Implementing nursing care -- Evaluation -- Managing client care -- Professional standards in nursing practice: Ethics and values -- Legal implications in nursing practice -- Communication -- Patient education -- Informatics and documentation -- Foundation for nursing practice -- Patient safety and quality -- Infection prevention and control -- Vital signs -- Health assessment and physical examination -- Meditation administration -- Complementary therapies and integrative health -- Psychosocial basics for nursing practice: Self concept -- Sexuality -- Spiritual health -- Loss and grief -- Stress and coping -- Physiological basics for nursing practice : activity and exercise -- immobility -- Hygiene -- Oxygenation -- Fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance -- Sleep -- Pain management -- Nutrition -- Urinary elimination -- Bowel elimination -- Skin integrity and wound care -- Sensory alterations -- Perioperative nursing care.