For nursing students in a critical care rotation or practicing nurses new to the specialty, the 60 chapters in this volume detail specific methods for care. Focusing on clinical judgment, Kaplow (clinical nurse specialist, DeKalb Medical Center, Georgia) and Hardin (nursing, U. of North Carolina at Charlotte) bring together information to provide a foundation for the care of acute and critically ill patients, as well as a review of anatomy, physiology, and a system assessment. Chapters include an application of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses's Synergy Model (described in the first chapter) for patient care as the framework. The book is then organized into sections based on nurse competencies detailed in the model. Each content area includes a case study. Chapters on bioethics, organ donation, and palliative care are incorporated. Contributors work in nursing in the US and Canada. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Read Less