I have taught many areas of nursing in my years of educating students and enjoy the excitement of new students as they begin their journey to the study of nursing. My favorite part of teaching fundamentals is watching the mastery of basic skills and the urge to learn more and grow as a student. I admire students’ curiosity and tenacity as they try to master the content of this respected profession. As an educator, it’s important to explain the content in an interesting and easy-to-understand manner, especially when discussing the foundation of nursing. As such, Fundamentals of Nursing Made Incredibly Easy, second edition is a quick resource for the nursing student and the instructor. In addition, practicing nurses can review the foundation of nursing and skills.
The content is logically organized into three sections. The first, “Foundational concepts,” provides an overview of nursing and information on health care, ethical and legal considerations, and the nursing process. The second section, “General nursing skills,” covers communication, health assessment, vital signs, infection, and key medication information. Finally, “Physiologic needs” contains information on oxygenation, patient self-care, mobility, skin integrity, pain management, nutrition, and urinary and bowel elimination.
Each chapter in Fundamentals of Nursing Made Incredibly Easy starts with a brief outline of the content of the chapter, allowing readers to quickly determine where they should focus. Practice National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) questions at the end of each chapter serve to challenge readers on how much information they absorbed. Memory joggers offer simple tricks to help readers remember key information. Fun illustrations and cartoons make learning fun—the surest way to keep readers interested!
In addition, icons draw your attention to important issues:
Teacher’s lounge—provides patient-teaching tips on such topics as procedures, equipment, and home care
Ages and stages—identifies areas and procedures in which age could impact the nurse’s care
Stay on the ball—focuses on critical areas involving possible dangers, risks, complications, contraindications, or ways to ensure safety
Take note!—offers tips on documentation.
Important topics added to this new edition include:
Healthy People 2020
Nutrition has been updated to include MyPlate.gov
Includes social media relating to the profession of nursing
Wound care current practice
Medication and bar code scanning
Fundamentals of Nursing Made Incredibly Easy is a helpful addition to the Incredibly Easy series, serving as an invaluable guide for nursing students as they prepare for their nursing career and as a handy reference for newly graduated and experienced nurses.
Tracy A.Taylor, MSN, RN
Associate Professor, Division of Nursing
Kettering College
Kettering, Ohio