Part of the Nursing Secrets Series®, Critical Care Nursing Secrets is designed to be helpful for both new and experienced critical care nurses. New graduates, novice nurses, or those nurses returning to work in the field will find the book especially helpful in learning the "pearls" or "secrets" of practice. Written in a question-and-answer format, each of the 79 chapters has helpful features such as key points and Internet resources.

• Written by experts in the field.
• Question-and-answer format for concise reading.
• Designed for both the experienced and new nurse.
• Top secrets listed in the front of book give readers the top 50 key points they should know about critical care nursing.
• Key Points boxes in each chapter outlines important points to the reader.
• Internet Resources boxes offer readers additional information via the web.
• Effective two-color design allows reader to easily find answers.

I. Cardiovascular
1. Cardiac Assessment
2. Basic Cardiac Monitoring
3. Arrhythmias
4. Temporary Pacing
5. Blood Pressure Monitoring: Invasive and Noninvasive
6. Hemodynamic Monitoring
7. Cardiac Output Monitoring
8. Acute Coronary Syndromes
9. Heart Failure NEW!!
10. Pulmonary Hypertension
11. Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection NEW!
12. Postoperative Management of the Cardiac Surgery Patient
13. Heart and Lung Transplantation
14. Intra-aortic Balloon Pump Therapy
15. Ventricular Assist Devices
16. Defibrillation and Cardioversion
17. Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism
18. Vasoactive Medications
19. Central Venous Catheters


II. Tissue Oxygenation and Acid-Base
20. Shock
21. Sv02, Scv02 and AvD02 Monitoring
22. Intra-abdominal Compartment Syndrome
23. Acid-Base Disorders and ABG Interpretation


III. Respiratory
24. Respiratory Assessment
25. Airway Management
26. Acute Respiratory Failure
27. Status Asthmaticus
28. Acute Lung Injury/Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
29. Pulse Oximetry and Capnography
30. Oxygen Delivery Systems
31. Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation
32. Endotracheal and Tracheostomy Tube Management
33. Mechanical Ventilation and Weaning
34. Suctioning
35. Positioning for Optimal Pulmonary Function
36. Chest Tube Management
37. Extracorporeal Life Support and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)


IV. Infection Control, Hematology, Oncology and Immunology
38. Fever
39. Sepsis and Systemic Inflammatory Response (SIRS)
40. Infection Control
41. Infectious Disease and Antibiotics
42. Oncologic Emergencies
43. Leukemias and Bone Marrow Transplantation
44. Thrombocytopenia: HIT, ITP, TTP NEW!
45. Coagulopathy and Transfusion


V. Neurology
46. Non-invasive Neurologic Monitoring
47. Invasive Neurologic Monitoring
48. Stroke Monitoring and Management
49. Seizure Assessment and Management
50. Neuromuscular Disorders: Guillain-Barre Syndrome and Myasthenia Gravis


VI. Gastroenterology and Renal
51. Nutrition Assessment and Management
52. Diarrhea
53. Feeding Tubes: Placement and Management
54. Acute Pancreatitis
55. Liver Dysfunction and Failure
56. Gastrointestinal Bleeding
57. Acute Renal Failure
58. Continuous Renal Replacement Therapies
59. Liver, Pancreas, and Renal Transplantation NEW!
60. Rhabdomyolysis NEW!


VII. Metabolic and Endocrine
61. Hyperglycemia and Diabetes Mellitus NEW!
62. Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) and Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar State (HHS)
63. Endocrine Disorders NEW!
64. Electrolyte Disturbances


VIII. Pain, Sedation, and Neuromuscular Blockade
65. Delirium
66. Sedation
67. Pain Management
68. Epidural Analgesia
69. Neuromuscular Blocking Agents


IX. Drugs and Alcohol
70. Drug Overdoses
71. Alcohol Withdrawal


X. Skin, Wound Care, and Physical Therapy
72. Skin and Wound Assessment and Management
73. Skin and Soft Tissue Infections NEW!
74. Pressure Ulcer Assessment and Management
75. Physical Therapy


XI. Family and End-of-Life Issues
76. Family Care
77. End-of-Life Care
78. Brain Death and Organ Procurement
79. Critically Ill Obstetric Patients

By Hildy M. Schell, RN, MS, CCRN, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adult Critical Care, Department of Nursing, University of California at San Francisco Medical Center, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Physiological Nursing, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, California; and Kathleen A. Puntillo, RN, DNSc, FAAN, Associate Professor of Nursing, Director, Critical Care/Trauma Graduate Program, Department of Physiological Nursing, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, California