An essential evidence-based text that provides a solid foundation for the nursing care of critically-ill patients Endorsed by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and written by top clinical experts in acute care nursing, this textbook thoroughly covers all the need-to-know details on the care of adult, critically ill patients and their families. Supported by helpful tables and algorithms, the book's practical, building-block organization starts with the basics before proceeding to more complex concepts, paralleling the blueprint for the critical care nursing CCRN certification examination. Unlike competitive texts which focus on theory, this book is specifically written to have a direct application to real-world practice. Each chapter includes a full case study to demonstrate how the chapter concepts apply to real-life clinical situations. NEW to this edition: two-color design, review questions added to cases Provides an excellent review for the CCRN certification exam