Includes bibliographical references (p. 893-913) and index.

Unit 1: Exploring contemporary nursing -- Nursing foundations -- Nursing process -- Unit 2: Integrating basic concepts -- Law and ethics -- Health and illness -- Homeostasis, adaptation, and stress -- Culture and ethnicity -- Unit 3: Fostering communication -- The nurse-client relationship -- Client teaching -- Recording and reporting -- Unit 4: Performing basic client care -- Asepsis -- Admission, discharge, transfer, and referrals -- Vital signs -- Physical assessment -- Special examinations and tests --Unit 5: Assisting with basic needs -- Nutrition -- Fluid and chemical balance -- Hygiene -- Comfort, rest, and sleep -- Safety -- Pain management -- Oxygenation -- Infection control -- Unit 6: Assisting the inactive client -- Body mechanics, positioning, and moving -- Therapeutic exercise -- Mechanical immobilization -- Ambulatory aids. Unit 7: The surgical client -- Perioperative care -- Wound care -- Gastrointestinal intubation -- Unit 8: Promoting elimination -- Urinary elimination -- Bowel elimination -- Unit 9: Medication administration -- Oral medications -- Topical and inhalant medications -- Parenteral medications -- Intravenous medications -- Unit 10: Intervening in emergency situations -- Resuscitation -- Unit 11: Caring for the terminally ill -- End-of-life care.