Pocket Guide To Basic Skills And Procedures

A practical, portable reference for students and practitioners performing basic skills in any clinical setting. Grouped according to specialty area, nearly 100 commonly performed procedures are presented in a clear, step-by-step format that includes the purpose, equipment list, and rationales for each step. Nurse Alerts, Recording Guidelines, Teaching, Pediatric and Older Adult Considerations provide valuable information to ensure delivery of competent, comprehensive, client-focused care. New content includes the latest CDC Precautions, considerations for performing procedures in the home, and guidelines for delegating to unlicensed assistive personnel. Skills throughout reflect an increased focus on assessment, evaluation, and client self-care.

* Nearly 100 skills presented in a clear, two-column format with rationales for each step. * Visually appealing two-color design. * Introduction to skills includes purpose and equipment. * Recording guidelines specify data to be documented. * Nurse Alerts reinforce essential points, provide practical tips on specific techniques, and detail conditions that may contraindicate or require modification of the skill. * Teaching Considerations highlight knowledge and techniques clients and families should master. * Pediatric and Older Adult Considerations list modifications or cautions when performing skills on these special clients. * Appendix with normal lab values serves as quick reference in the clinical setting. NEW FEATURES: * New skills on Restraints, Assisting With Ambulation, Fall Prevention, Seizure Precautions, and Shift Assessment. * Home Care Considerations at the end of skills explain modifications or requirements for performing procedures in the home. * Delegation Considerations for each unit detail the RN's responsibility when delegating specific skills to unlicensed assistive personnel. * Assessment step in skills to identify risk factors, teaching needs, or conditions that contraindicate or require modification of the skill. * Evaluation step in skills focuses on effectiveness of the procedure. * New step at end of appropriate skills to determine client's self-care ability. * Current CDC Standard Precautions guidelines incorporated throughout.

Anne Griffin Perry, RN, MSN, EdD, FAAN is a Professor Emerita, School of Nursing, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Illinois.

Patricia A. Potter, RN, MSN, PhD, FAAN is a Former Director of Research, Patient Care Services Barnes-Jewish Hospital St. Louis, Missouri.