An on-the-go reference for hospice nurses and those interested in end-of-life care, this practical guide covers the essential elements in the compassionate and holistic care of terminally ill patients and their families. Nurses care for patients facing end-of-life issues in every practice specialty and, as the U.S. population continues to age, the need for proficiency in end-of-life skills will become increasingly important. Fast Facts for the Hospice Nurse: A Concise Guide to End-of-Life Care is an invaluable resource that provides emotional, administrative, and palliative support, whether in a hospice, long-term care facility, or acute care setting. This vital go-to text clearly and concisely lays out not only how to care for patients facing end-of-life issues, but also how to engage in self-care and cope with occupational stress. Beginning with an overview of hospice care, including its history and philosophy, this book offers a timeline of the growth of the hospice movement in the United States. Subsequent sections include up-to-date information on the clinical responsibilities of the hospice nurse in addressing the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of terminally ill patients and their families in a culturally sensitive way. This book also outlines the administrative duties of the hospice nurse, including hospice documentation, a review of hospice regulations, and quality management. The closing section focuses on occupational stress in hospice nursing and how to engage in self-care. This text can serve as a useful clinical resource and also as a reference for nurses seeking hospice certification from the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center. Key Features Organized within the context of the scope and standards of practice of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association. Addresses key points about issues unique to hospice nursing and highlights evidence-based interventions Addresses important Medicare regulations and reimbursement Offers numerous clinical resources to assist with hospice nursing practice Serves as a concise study resource for hospice nursing certification

Provides comprehensive, current information for addressing the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of hospice patients and their families Substantially updated and expanded, the second edition of this quick-access reference for hospice nurses continues to deliver the most current information on the clinical and administrative duties of the hospice nurse. It encompasses important regulatory changes and milestones, providing timely information on cultural issues, special communication considerations, and hospice care’s enduring growth. This resource provides new content on levels of care, assessment and symptom management, and occupational stress, burnout, and self-care. New treatment guidelines and algorithms are included, as are updates on quality measures, the reimbursement schedule, compliance initiatives, and electronic documentation with specific examples. An indispensable clinical resource, the book is a valuable reference for nurses who are seeking to specialize in hospice, those who work in long-term care settings, post-acute care settings, acute care setting, and those who are seeking to enhance their knowledge of end-of-life care within other specialties. New to the Second Edition: Includes new regulatory changes/milestones, such as The National Quality Forum New Priorities for Action 2019 Provides updated information about levels of care, particularly the Last 7 Days rule from Medicare Covers the use of cannabis, non-pharmacological pain management interventions, care of the dying patient, and post-mortem care New chapters are included on the hospice nurse's role as case manager, patient discharge, religious and cultural influences on end-of-life care, pain assessment and interventions, wound care, care of the dying patient, and post-mortem care. Key Features: Reflects key competencies for the hospice nurse as designated by the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association Delineates clinical and administrative responsibilities of the hospice nurse Simplifies complex information such as Medicare regulations and compliance Provides screening tools for depression, anxiety, and wound risk Includes the Palliative Performance Scale and the Karnofsky Performance Scale Serves as a concise study resource for certification

"This book is a user-friendly, real-world guide to assessing and managing any type of wound. The author presents vital information for nurses and nursing students who provide wound care in any setting...a wonderful resource for nurses."--The AORN Journal (Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses) "Wound care is arguably the single most difficult topic in medicine. It has no defined solution like insulin for the diabetic...no easy strategy that covers all wounds...we are so tremendously blessed when [a wound care specialist] like Zelia carves out time to capture a career of experiences in text so that it can be shared with others. We are indebted to her for making this important contribution to the clinician's armament for dealing with [the] difficult-to-heal wounds of their patients." Bruce Gibbins, PhD Founder, Chief Technical Officer and Chairman of the Board of AcryMed, Inc. Former faculty at the University of Otago Medical School Using the concise, compact Fast Facts format, this guide encompasses the multitude of new healing technologies and presents important breakthroughs in understanding why some wounds don't heal. Each chapter builds, step-by-step, on the essential principles of wound care including wound assessment and documentation, the spectrum of wounds from simple to complex, wound treatment guidelines and protocols, and the legal aspects and regulations surrounding wound care. This user-friendly guide organizes the vast amount of information relating to wound care products and eases the complexity of wound management. A "Fast Facts in a Nutshell" section in each chapter provides quick access to important wound care principles, and bullet-point information and tables enable readers to quickly locate relevant information. This guide will be a useful companion in the day-to-day care of wound patients, reinforcing knowledge needed in all practice settings, including acute care, critical care, long-term care, home care, operating room, and outpatient settings. Key Features: Organizes and simplifies a vast amount of wound care information into a compact, user-friendly format Addresses wound care assessment, protocol, and treatment of the spectrum of wounds from simple to complex for all levels of practitioners Encompasses new healing technologies and information regarding difficult-to-heal wounds Presents comprehensive wound care algorithms, dressings, debridement procedures, ostomy care, optimal surface and equipment for wound patients, and adjunctive therapies

This newly updated, quick-access guide for critical care nurses covers the most common admitting diagnoses and reviews their causes, signs and symptoms, and interventions. Critical care nursing requires astute assessment, adept communication, and the ability to multitask, as well as a high degree of adaptability. In the ICU, patient status and plan of care change constantly, presenting multifaceted problems for nurses and healthcare providers. This authoritative resource, with bulleted, bite-sized content, provides information to the busy ICU nurse in a heartbeat. Fast Facts for the Critical Care Nurse, Second Edition, has been updated with the most current evidence-based guidelines and standards. Now organized by body system, this reference presents the latest treatment modalities and provides quick access to lab values and hemodynamic parameters. Part I introduces the foundations of critical care. Part II progresses by body system to cover common procedures and interventions. Part III covers patient- and family-centered care, discussing palliative directives and organ donation. New to the Second Edition: Seven completely new chapters Chapter reorganization by body system Updated to include newest treatment modalities Speedy access to appendices with common lab values, hemodynamic parameters, IV medications, and EKG rhythm examples Key Features: Provides quick access to essential information needed on a daily basis Includes Fast Facts boxes to help guide the reader Authored by a respected nurse leader, educator, and AACN/Wharton Executive Leadership Fellow

Hospice nursing is not for the fainthearted. As Margaret R. Crawford, BSN, touches on in her new guide to this particular specialty, it takes inner strength to be able to walk up to a hospice patient's door every day. Crawford stresses that it isn't simply the technical aspects of hospice nursing that make it challenging, but the emotional attachments and anxieties that may emerge. In Hospice Nursing, Crawford covers the reasons someone would choose hospice nursing; the importance of self-care; the day-to-day routine of a hospice nurse; the admission conversation; different ways to treat and comfort patients with small children or patients with addictions; the complex relationships between nurses, patients, their families, and coworkers; the need to recognize and plan for burnout; and other basic challenges nurses must face. While hospice care may be demanding, Crawford is also quick to say that it can also be incredibly rewarding. As a nurse or caretaker, you are committed to making a difference in someone's life. Hospice care allows you to help alleviate the suffering of others. If this is something you are interested in pursuing, Crawford has all the information you need to get started.

The first study guide for the CHPN® certification exam! This must-have study guide for nurses seeking to obtain Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN®) status provides state-of-the-art information about all aspects of this specialty. It features 300 carefully selected Q&As that offer a detailed rationale for each question, along with tips and strategies to promote exam mastery and frequently asked questions about the exam. Additional questions are arranged in chapters mirroring the exam blueprint and the number of questions for each category correlates with the exam matrix. Case-based scenarios embodied within the questions facilitate the application of knowledge in a problem-solving format. A complete practice exam is included as well. Brief topical reviews address hospice and palliative care nursing practice in all of its dimensions, including physical, spiritual, and psychosocial. The resource highlights information that forms the basis of end-of-life care, such as communication and family-centered care. Additionally, high-level skills used by hospice and palliative care nurses, such as drug and dosage conversion and the use of infusion therapy, are covered as well. Key Features: Delivers the first study guide for hospice and palliative nurses seeking CHPN® certification Provides concise, up-to-date knowledge on all aspects of the specialty Includes information about the exam, answers to commonly asked questions, and tips and strategies for exam mastery Includes practice questions and answers following each chapter Provides a final comprehensive practice exam that offers 300 Q&As with detailed answer rationales that mirror the exam format Presents case-based scenarios within the questions that facilitate the application of knowledge

Nurses who are new to the labor and delivery (L&D) environment will welcome this succinct, easy-to-use orientation guide for everyday labor and birth management practices. It is designed for speedy access to fundamental information about the most common practices in the L&D unit and encourages the development of independence and confidence for new RNs orienting to this practice environment. This well-formatted reference covers the more commonly occurring L&D situations, terminology, equipment, labs, medications, complications, and algorithms to help foster critical thinking and establish a concrete obstetric knowledge base. A wealth of clearly rendered illustrations are included to aid learning. The book also provides space for nurses to enter personal notes and protocol observed in their particular hospital. Key Features: Provides an easy-access reference to everyday labor and birth management practices Includes common obstetrical abbreviations, terminology, equipment needed, labs, and algorithms Highlights potential complications in red to indicate emergent topic Integrates multiple illustrations to enhance learning Answers basic questions so new nurses can pursue higher-level learning

"The concise, easy-to-access resource is aimed at nurses who are new to the operating room and the experienced nurses who guide them... The $30 book contains a wealth of current, evidence-based clinical practice information that perioperative nurses need daily." --Dan O'Connor, Outpatient Surgery Magazine "This pocket-size book offers concise information for rapid reference, step-by-step instructions for perioperative practices, and evidence-based content based on current perioperative standards and recommended practices. ÖNovice nurses, students, and seasoned preceptors will be delighted to learn how easily this go-to guide will provide immediate reference to perioperative practices and information, all while fitting into a pocket for easy retrieval." óKay Ball, PhD, RN, CNOR, FAAN Associate Professor, Nursing, Otterbein University, Westerville, Ohio Past President, Association of periOperative Registered Nurses From the Foreword This is a concise, easy-to-access resource for nurses who are new to the operating room (OR) and the experienced nurses who guide them. Condensing volumes of OR content into one pithy, pocket-size book, it contains a wealth of current, evidence-based clinical practice information perioperative nurses need daily. Based on current standards and recommended practices, it is organized to provide speedy access to critical information. Its lucid, step-by-step format helps new nurses to better understand the complex skills and techniques required in the OR. Focusing on safety and specific patient interventions, orientation information including supplies needed and important protocols is covered. It addresses personal and patient preparation, environmental concerns, and documentation requirements, and describes the wide range of specific technical skills needed by both circulating and scrub nurses. Each chapter introduces concepts and sets clear learning objectives. Also included is an overview of the most common surgical procedures. New perioperative nurses in orientation and their preceptors will find this book to be a welcome addition to the learning process. Key Features: Provides must-have OR orientation information for new nurses and their preceptors Contains key information on patient preparation, aseptic technique, surgical procedures, anesthesia considerations, and documentation Based on the most up-to-date evidence in the literature Includes Fast Facts in a Nutshell feature to reinforce important information