This title, sanctioned by the AACN, continues to be the most comprehensive clinical resource available for critical care nurses. Three new authors, with a combined 62 years of clinical practice, have been teamed with the original authors to guarantee a well-rounded, comprehensive and current presentation of critical care nursing. The content has been extensively revised and reorganized to make this edition more practical for the clinical setting. Introductory, "non-clinical" content has been eliminated making the essential information easier to find. Numerous boxes and tables areintegrated throughout, increasing the visual appeal. Plus, hundreds of line illustrations are completely new or have been redrawn to provide clarity. * The only publication of its kind sanctioned by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. * New chapters on managing obstetrical emergencies and post-resuscitation care reflect the increased role critical care nurses play in these areas. * New chapter on alternative therapies, a fast-growing area, explores the latest treatment methods that complement traditional approaches to patient care. * Content follows a consistent format: clinical physiology; patient assessment, physical assessment, laboratory assessment; diagnostic procedures, non-invasive and invasive; overview of definitions, incidence, onset and risk; pathophysiology and etiology; clinical management, therapeutic goals, patient outcomes and interventions. * Boxes filled with practical information, including signs and symptoms, potential complications, rehabilitation and transition to home, and clinical pathways. Plus, many tables and algorithms speed location of information. * Information on pharmaceutical agents integrated throughout the text with corresponding therapies.