Catching Critical Changes: Six Essential Steps for Effective Nursing Assessment

When an adult or elderly patient presents with a change in condition, nurses must know what questions to ask the patient and what signs to look for. Then nurses must analyze that information to figure out the appropriate actions to take to ensure that patient gets the proper treatment. This book introduces a step by step process that will help nurses make these crucial nursing assessments and prevent missing critical changes in their patients. In this book, you will learn: • Ways to explain what nurses do • Why LPNs can’t assess • Changes in the nursing process • Tips about writing practical nursing diagnoses and care plans • 3 types of acute changes in condition nurses encounter • How to avoid 10 common nursing assessment mistakes • How to present a nursing assessment and recommendations • A 6-step process to effective assessment • To apply critical thinking skills • How to assess 10 acute symptoms in adults and the elderly • 9 strategies to improve physical examination skills In addition, you will get: • Exercises to apply the knowledge in real life situations • Template for presenting your nursing assessments • Clinical Decision Diamonds to stick in your pocket as a quick reference

NANCY BANFIELD JOHNSON's nursing journey began after a car accident the end of her freshman year in college landed her in a hospital bed for six weeks. As a result of this life-changing experience, Nancy decided she wanted to dedicate her life to helping others deal with health issues. She earned a BSN at Cornell University, New York Hospital School of Nursing in New York City.

She spent the first years of her career practicing inpatient psychiatric nursing and home health care nursing in Charleston, SC. Leaving the low country to return to her native upstate New York, Nancy worked in medical-surgical nursing and staff development. She obtained a MSN, majoring in Medical/Surgical Nursing, Adult Primary Care, and Clinical Nurse Specialist at Syracuse University. For the next fifteen years, Nancy practiced as an Adult Nurse Practitioner in Family Practice, Internal Medicine, and Occupational Health. Her last NP position was as Director of Patient Education, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in the Guthrie Clinic/Robert Packer Family Practice Residency Program.

Nancy has taught college courses at Syracuse University and Elmira College and continuing education classes for Tompkins Cortland Community College and Joint Education and Training (JET) in Elmira Heights. She has been a clinical preceptor for Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner students for Elmira College, Syracuse University, Binghamton University, and Syracuse Community General Hospital.

A few years ago, Nancy became interested in writing and started editing nursing books for Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. For eighteen months she wrote a monthly healthcare column titled “Aging Redefined” for Health Matters, a publication of the Elmira Star Gazette. Nancy won the 2006 and 2007 Golden Lamp award from the Center for Nursing Advocacy for her editorials about nursing, published in the Ithaca Journal , Ithaca, NY. She has published two professional nursing articles, one about migraine headaches and one about her experience as a home health nurse in Charleston, SC.

Currently, Nancy is a nurse manager and MDS coordinator at a continuing care residential community (CCRC). She is nationally certified as a Resident Assessment Coordinator. She speaks and leads continuing education workshops for CNAs, LPNs, and RNs. She is a member of the National Nursing Honor Society, Sigma Th eta Tau.

You can contact Nancy or read more of her writing about nursing at nancybanfieldjohnson.com.