Out of necessity nursing, as a profession, reflects the qualities of the culture in which it exists. In our culture for the past quarter of a century nursing has been assailed with rapid economic, technological, shortage- abundance, changing scenes' vicissitudes. In the individual nurse these arouse turmoil and uncertainty. These cultural stirrings inflame that part of the nurse's spirit capable of chaotic conflict and doubt. Often she questions her professional identity. ''Just what is a nurse?" Her nurse colleagues, other professionals, and nonprofessionals freely, directly and indirectly-on television, in the theater, through the news media and the literature-pummel her with their multitudinous varied views.

Nursing is placed within a humanistic framework in Paterson and Zderad's theory, which defines nursing as a nurturing response aimed at well-being. Three constructs of nursing, which describe the why and how of nursing practice, are identified: `comfort', `clinical' and `all-at-once'. In this volume, O'Connor explores the origin of the theory and its underlying assumptions. She also examines the major concepts of the metaparadigm of nursing, including the nursing process.

"Qualitative Research in Nursing is a user-friendly text that systematically provides a sound foundation for understanding a wide range of qualitative research methodologies, including triangulation. It approaches nursing education, administration, and practice and gives step-by-step details to instruct students on how to implement each approach. Features include emphasis on ethical considerations and methodological triangulation, instrument development and software usage; critiquing guidelines and questions to ask when evaluating aspects of published research; and tables of published research that offer resources for further reading"--Provided by publisher.

Medical Surgical Nursing Care 3e has an even stronger focus on the professional Practical nursing program and is a key component in the LPN/LVN series at Pearson. It has a clear and readable writing style, it provides a strong foundation for understanding common disorders that affect adults. Opening units of the book focus on concepts, issues, and foundational knowledge. The units that follow focus on common diseases and disorders organized by body system. Each unit begins with review of the system’s structure and function, nursing assessment, and commonly used diagnostic tests for disorders of that system. To facilitate learning, disorder-specific content follows a consistent pattern, beginning with discussion about the disorder, its risk factors, causes, effects on the body, manifestations, and possible complications. Because nurses are integral members of the healthcare team, interdisciplinary care sections include nursing implications for medications, nutritional therapies, surgery and other treatments, including complementary therapies. Each disorder concludes with nursing care, including priorities of care, health promotion, assessment, nursing care measures, and a section addressing continuity of care to home or the community. This text provides more depth in common disease processes, their treatment, and related nursing care. Although organized by body systems for clarity, the book retains a nursing focus throughout. Rationales are provided for nursing interventions to help the student understand the “why,” not just the “what.”

"[This book] speaks against thinking [that] we can only understand nursing from a traditional, logical, empirical approach, suggesting we need a contemporary process for exploring nursing. I can't agree more." --Journal of Christian Nursing "Nurse scholars from across the globe contribute essays to this unique philosophical exploration of today's nursingÖ.This book presents an emerging view that requires nursing to look at its work through a broader and less structured lens. Challenging the structure of the traditional nursing process, the book considers nursing as reflective and thoughtful." --Doody's A Contemporary Nursing Process re-envisions the practice of nursing by configuring caring in terms of the person the nurse cares for. Locsin and Purnell stress the importance of knowing the patient, and differentiating the person from the disease. This text addresses this highly relevant issue, and provides a wealth of insight on how to care for the patient on a personal level, while still professionally administering clinical treatment. Chapters discuss: How to appreciate persons as participants in their care, rather than as objects of care The ideal of care versus the practical demands of care Technological advancements shaping human life and nursing The consequences of "not knowing" the patient on a personal level

For the author of this book, disease is not an "enemy" that strikes a "victim." Rather, health and disease comprise a unitary whole of individual and environment. Health as Expanding Consciousness is an inspiration to those seeking a full experience of personal health.