Co-written by a maternity and pediatrics nursing author team throughly integrates materna-newborn nursing adn pediatric nursing in one since book. Equal focus is placed on community-based and hospital-based care to address the increasing balance between both nursing care settings.

This edition has increased coverage of pain assessment and management, nutrition and health promotion, patient education and communication, research based practice, and assessment as the core of the nursing process. A CD-ROM includes NCLEX-RN practice questions and Critical Thinking in Action videos.

• The 5-step nursing process provides a consistent framework for clinical chapters.
• The unique Critical Thinking Model visually demonstrates the application of the nursing process and critical thinking in each clinical chapter to help students understand the ongoing assimilation of knowledge and information that comprises critical thinking and its relationship to the nursing process.
• More than 65 skills, in a 2-column format, include rationales for each step and clearly explain both how and why nursing skills are performed.
• Procedural Guidelines boxes provide streamlined, step-by-step instructions for performing basic skills.
• The 3-tiered approach in implementation sections includes health promotion, acute care, and continuing care to address the diverse focus of today's care, as well as the various practice settings.
• Care Plans demonstrate the application of the 5-step nursing process to individual patient problems to help students understand how a plan is developed and how to evaluate care.
• Focus on Older Adults boxes, Research Highlight boxes, and Client Teaching boxes highlight key aspects of nursing care.
• The Caring in Nursing Practice chapter addresses the compassion nurses must incorporate with clinical competence to deliver comprehensive care.
• A CD-ROM companion, packaged with every text, includes a searchable audio glossary, Butterfield's Fluid and Electrolytes tutorial, NCLEX-style review questions, test taking tips, concept map situations, critical thinking model application, video clips, animations, and Spanish phrases.

• Unexpected Outcomes and Related Interventions for skills alert students to possible problems and help them determine the best nursing action.
• 22 Concept Maps more than any other fundamentals text visually demonstrate the association of multiple nursing diagnoses.
• Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines boxes review research that identifies best practices.
• The Care Plan format has been expanded to more clearly present assessment, defining characteristics, and evaluation of outcomes.
• Planning discussions include sections on Goals and Outcomes, Setting Priorities, and Continuity of Care to help beginning students plan and prioritize comprehensive client care.
• Safety Alerts provide information and techniques to ensure client and nurse safety.
• Cultural Aspects of Care boxes provide practical guidelines for how to meet the various cultural needs/preferences of clients and their communities.
• Rationales in care plans and procedures include references whenever possible to highlight evidence-based "best practice."
• NOC outcomes as well as NIC interventions are incorporated in Care Plans as appropriate.
• New 2002 CDC Hand Hygiene Guidelines are incorporated throughout.
• A new chapter on Nursing Today addresses emerging issues, including the nursing shortage.
• New coverage of bioterrorism has been added to the chapter on Safety.
• New content on end-of-life and palliative care has been added.
• The Spiritual Health chapter now offers expanded information to help students identify and meet their clients' spiritual needs.
• The Skin Integrity and Wound Care chapter has been revised to include updated content and new techniques for wound VAC.
• Just the Facts is the perfect clinical companion.

• Preliminary Readings refer you to the related text chapter.
• Comprehensive Understanding sections test your understanding of key topics.
• Review Questions help you prepare for the NCLEX¥ examination.
• Critical Thinking Model exercises help you to apply what you¡¦ve learned.
• Performance Checklists for each skill in the text help you evaluate your technique.

Nurses working with childbearing families face a variety new challenges, including shortened lengths of hospital stay, the trend toward greater use of community-based and home care, and downsizing and mergers of health-care systems. This book is not only important reading for maternity nurses, but also can be used as an invaluable reference tool.

The Eighth Edition of this popular book not only continues to emphasize the central role played by maternity nurses working with today's childbearing families, but also includes a global perspective, covering culture as a factor in relating to the woman's childbirth experience. It also includes a comprehensive, accessible segment on women's health issues.

For nurses in the fields of women's health, maternity, and newborn care