Nursing Care Plans: Guidelines for Individualizing Client Care Across the Life Span » (8th Edition)

More than just a book of Med-Surg care plans thoroughly revised and updated, this all-in-one resource continues to provide the step-by-step guidance readers need to develop individualized plans of care, while also honing their critical thinking and analytical skills. Over 164 care plans reflect the latest NANDA diagnoses and terminology.The accompanying bonus CD-ROM features all Medical- Surgical Care plans from the text, plus 50 Maternity and 36 Psych/Mental Health care plans as well as Pediatric Considerations. They re printable and customizable to suit your patient plan of care.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Carole A. Kenner, RNC, DNS, FAAN (University of Oklahoma College of Nursing)
Description:This book approaches care planning as a tool that can be individualized for each client. NANDA nursing diagnoses, nursing intervention classification system (NIC) , and nursing outcome classification (NOC) are used as the basis for the plans and critical thinking is incorporated. The previous edition was published in 2002.
Purpose:The purpose is to guide students and practicing nurses through the care planning process. The book acts as a clinical resource for care planning. Mind mapping is another tool that is used to reinforce clinical content application. These worthy objectives are met.
Audience:The audience is practicing and student nurses. The authors are experts in this field.
Features:The first section focuses on issues and trends and the nursing process in care planning. The next section follows a systems approach to application of the nursing process. The book ends with a listing of bibliographical materials, list of NANDA nursing diagnoses, and a table of contents of the diagnoses. An index of diseases/disorders and key to essential terminology are found on the front two pages and Gordon's functional patterns are included in the back, making these readily accessible. The use of mind mapping and the accompanying CD are two features that are missing in many care planning texts. The chapter format effectively guides the student through the steps in care planning. The use of more illustrations to break up the text would assist the student's learning. For example, mind maps throughout the text graphically presentedwould be a nice addition.
Assessment:This is a good guide and has a longstanding history of successfully facilitating learning. The new Carpenito-Moyet book, Understanding the Nursing Process: Concept Mapping and Care Planning for Students (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007) is better in terms of concept mapping and engaging the student. This seventh edition has some new information but the most innovative feature is the mind mapping.