Provides a comprehensive, contemporary and consistent systems-based approach that engages students and provides the practical knowledge and skills they need to care for adult patients with a focus on person-centred, holistic nursing care.

Designed to:

• emphasise a person-centred philosophy whereby the person who is the recipient of care is seen as an integral member of the team and consideration of their needs and wishes is paramount
• foster critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills as the basis for safe clinical practice and nursing excellence
• recognise the nurse’s role as an essential member of the interprofessional healthcare team.

Table of Contents

• Unit 1 Dimensions of Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Chapter 1 Medical-Surgical Nursing in the Twenty-first Century
• Chapter 2 Health and Illness in Adults
• Unit 2 Alterations in Patterns of Health
• Chapter 3 Nursing Care of People Having Surgery
• Chapter 4 Nursing Care of People Experiencing Loss, Grief, and Death
• Chapter 5 Nursing Care of People with Problems of Substance Misuse
• Chapter 6 Nursing Care of People Experiencing Disasters
• Unit 3 Pathophysiology and Patterns of Health
• Chapter 7 Genetic Implications of Adult Health Nursing
• Chapter 8 Nursing Care of People in Pain
• Chapter 9 Nursing Care of People with Altered Fluid, Electrolyte, Acid-Based Balance
• Chapter 10 Nursing Care of People Experiencing Trauma and Shock
• Chapter 11 Nursing Care of People with Infections
• Chapter 12 Nursing Care of People with Altered Immunity
• Chapter 13 Nursing Care of People with Cancer
• Unit 4 Responses to Altered Integumentary Structure and Function
• Chapter 14 A Person-centred Approach to Assessing the Integumentary System
• Chapter 15 Nursing Care of People with Integumentary Disorders
• Chapter 16 Nursing Care of People with Burns
• Unit 5 Responses to Altered Endocrine Function
• Chapter 17 A Person-centred Approach to Assessing the Endocrine System
• Chapter 18 Nursing Care of People with Endocrine Disorders
• Chapter 19 Nursing Care of People with Diabetes Mellitus
• Unit 6 Responses to Altered Gastrointestinal Function
• Chapter 20 A Person-centred Approach to Assessing the Gastrointestinal System
• Chapter 21 Nursing Care of People with Nutritional Disorders
• Chapter 22 Nursing Care of People with Upper Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Chapter 23 Nursing Care of People with Bowel Disorders
• Chapter 24 Nursing Care of People with Gallbladder, Liver, and Pancreatic Disorders
• Unit 7 Responses to Altered Urinary Elimination
• Chapter 25 A Person-centred Approach to Assessing the Renal System
• Chapter 26 Nursing Care of People with Urinary Tract Disorders
• Chapter 27 Nursing Care of People with Kidney Disorders
• Unit 8 Responses to Altered Cardiac Function
• Chapter 28 A Person-centred Approach to Assessing the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems
• Chapter 29 Nursing Care of People with Coronary Heart Disease
• Chapter 30 Nursing Care of People with Cardiac Disorders
• Chapter 31 Nursing Care of People with Vascular and Lymphatic Disorders
• Chapter 32 Nursing Care of People with Hematologic Disorders
• Unit 9 Responses to Altered Respiratory Function
• Chapter 33 A Person-centred Approach to Assessing the Respiratory System
• Chapter 34 Nursing Care of People with Upper Respiratory Disorders
• Chapter 35 Nursing Care of People with Ventilation Disorders
• Chapter 36 Nursing Care of People with Gas Exchange Disorders
• Unit 10 Responses to Altered Neurologic Function
• Chapter 37 A Person-centred Approach to Assessing The Musculoskeletal System
• Chapter 38 Nursing Care of People with Musculoskeletal Trauma
• Chapter 39 Nursing Care of People with Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Unit 11 Responses to Altered Neurologic Function
• Chapter 40 A Person-centred Approach to Assessing the Nervous System
• Chapter 41 Nursing Care of People with Intracranial Disorders
• Chapter 42 Nursing Care of People with Cerebrovascular and Spinal Cord Disorders
• Chapter 43 Nursing Care of People with Neurologic Disorders
• Unit 12 Responses to Altered Visual and Auditory Function
• Chapter 44 A Person-centred Approach to Assessing the Eye and Ear
• Chapter 45 Nursing Care of People with Eye and Ear Disorders
• Unit 13 Responses to Altered Reproductive Function
• Chapter 46 A Person-centred Approach to Assessing the Male and Female Reproductive Systems
• Chapter 47 Nursing Care of Men with Reproductive System and Breast Disorders
• Chapter 48 Nursing Care of Women with Reproductive System and Breast Disorders
• Chapter 49 Nursing Care of People with Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Unit 14 Special topics in medical-surgical nursing
• Chapter 50 Mental healthcare in the Australian context
• Chapter 51 Community Care
• Chapter 52 Nursing care of clients in regional and remote areas of Australia