Practice Guidelines for Acute Care Nurse Practitioners [Paperback]

Charlene M. Myers (Author), Thomas W. Barkely Jr. (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0721685366 | ISBN-13: 978-0721685366 | Publication Date: April 1, 2001 | Edition: 1

This book is a comprehensive, easy-access clinical reference for acute care nurse practitioners and other clinicians. It features guidelines for managing over 230 of the most common conditions experienced by adult patients in acute care. Using an outline format, the coverage of each condition includes an overview with defining terms,incidence/predisposing factors, subjective and physical exam findings, diagnostic tests, and management strategies.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Thomas W. Barkley, Jr., DSN, RN, CS, ACNP, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL; Charlene M. Myers, MSN, RN, CS, ACNP, CCRN, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL

Product Details

• Paperback: 976 pages
• Publisher: Saunders; 1 edition (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0721685366
• ISBN-13: 978-0721685366
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #977,091 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Needs updating!!, October 10, 2005

By 

Kristin Eckland "K. Eckland" (Caribbean) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Practice Guidelines for Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (Paperback)

Some of the information contained in this manual is helpful and informative - but I also noted some marked errors. (I'm not that smart and don't pretend to be, but some of these errors are common knowledge.)
However, these discrepancies are significant in that anyone following some of these outdated guidelines could actually do much more harm than help - and in situations where the condition isn't frequently encountered - well, that's EXACTLY when someone would consult this book.
For example - in the section on toxicity - specifically theophylline toxicity, page 824-5, the guidelines are more than just plain wrong (according to some famous and well respected toxicologists and ED MDs) but would actually prevent the patient from receiving prompt and lifesaving treatment. While acute theophylline toxicity is not especially common anymore; it can be a severe, life-threatening event. In severe toxicity, emergent dialysis and potassium replacement are urgently needed, not syrup of ipecac. Syrup of ipecac/ activated charcoal is worse than useless - (since toxicity causes violent, repeated emesis- it actually exacerbates the severe hypokalemia that characterizes theophylline toxicity*.) But this is just an example of why this book REALLY needs revision and updating.
In addition - the sources listed for this section of the text show an inadequate research base for the information provided - there is not one text that refers to toxicology, or specific aspects of the toxicity related to this particular medication. It's just a nonspecific application of general treatment of most toxicities - using a basic Internal Medicine primer (used primarily by med students) and another general source. I would expect better references and resources to be used in a book like this - which serves as a resource to healthcare providers to treat people!
Without revision, it of little use to healthcare providers because information may or may not be trustworthy. Who has time to go through the entire book to see if the information provided meets national standards for treatment? If we had that sort of time, we wouldn't be purchasing this book.

*Note* I am happy to provide a list of references for all information relating to the pharmacology, and treatment of theophylline toxicity, and toxicology resources which served as a basis for these comments.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Textbook, January 5, 2009

By 

S. Miller (Little Rock, AR) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Practice Guidelines for Acute Care Nurse Practitioners, 2e (Spiral-bound)

This text book was easy to read and follow. It also makes a great quick reference because of the format that it is presented in.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must-have" for the ACNP student., December 11, 2008

By 

Hayley Bunch (Little Rock, AR) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Practice Guidelines for Acute Care Nurse Practitioners, 2e (Spiral-bound)

This was the first source I went to with any clinical question throughout my acute care nurse practitioner program. The information is succinct and summarizes guidelines well. Most chapters follow an outline format that makes information really easy to find. I plan on keeping it close through this first year after graduation.