Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care by Gerald B. Merenstein, Gerald B. Merenstein, Sandra Lee Gardner

From the Publisher

Since it first published, the Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care has been the mainstay reference for neonatal nurses. Co-edited and authored by physicians, it focuses on the collaborative nature of neonatal intensive care and examines evidence-based clinical decision-making to demonstrate every aspect of the intensive care of the neonate, with a strong emphasis on clinical practice. Key neonatal topics are covered, and pathophysiology is examined using a systems approach. Comprehensive enough for both physicians and nurses, this handbook is a vital resource for those providing neonatal intensive care.

• Multidisciplinary author and contributor team present a real-world perspective similar to that experienced in the neonatal intensive care unit.
• Clinically applicable content is set in boldface type for easy identification for busy neonatal care providers.
• Evidence-based practice explained in the first chapter provides a solid background with evidence-based rationales and references to underscore its significance for neonatal health care providers.
• Diagnostic Imaging chapter includes basic information on how diagnostic imaging tests are evaluated.
• Follow-Up Care chapter covers how health care providers should refer the neonate and parents to appropriate care post-discharge from the NICU.
• Includes a Parent Teaching section for each disorder or relevant section.
• Infection in the Neonate chapter includes current immunization recommendations for neonates.
• Case studies illustrate important points when writing hospital orders for the neonate.

• Parent Teaching feature highlights post-discharge care of the neonate.
• Critical Findingsfeature, located in the assessment section of disorders, helps the nurse prioritize data and steps in initial care.
• Data Collection feature incorporates information that should be included as part of the neonate's history.

Michele A. Kacmarcik

This is the fourth edition of a comprehensive,clinically based handbook covering common problems encountered byneonates and their caregivers. The editors set out to provide ahandbook with a multidisciplinary approach to neonatal intensive carewithin a family centered model. Refreshingly, the book includes moraldecision making processes and makes note of human foibles and downfallsas well as human strengths. The editors describe their audience asneonatal intensive care nurses, nursing and medical students, andpediatric, surgical, and family practice housestaff. NICU nurses andhousestaff will find most chapters helpful and understandable, but thebook may be too in-depth in some areas for all but the most advancedstudents. On the other hand, neonatal nurse practitioners and neonatalfellows may find some areas too shallow for their purposes. Tables,charts, and graphs are generally helpful, but some pictures and x-raysare slightly dark. In addition, the technique of printing clinicallyapplicable material in bold typeface becomes less and less useful themore that is highlighted. References were fair for most chapters, butfell short on many. Selected readings offered at the end of manychapters are a nice touch; some chapters offered references forparents, which is a wonderful tool for anyone working in the NICU. Many chapters offered systematic procedure breakdowns that can behelpful to newer practitioners. Material in the handbook is up tocurrent practice, and the book did a good job of debunking commonlyheld myths such as the need to do rectal temperatures on all neonates. The breastfeeding chapter is particularly thorough, and themultidisciplinary background of the editors andcontributors lends agood deal of experience and authority to the book. In addition, thebook touches on two very necessary and often overlooked topics --psychosocial aspects of care and the need to have evidence-basedpractice. Although some aspects of the handbook are disappointing --such as the pharmacology chapter, which focuses mostly onpharmacokinetics, and the case studies, of which there are too few --the overall quality of the book is good. It should serve as a helpfulreference in any setting that cares for neonates.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer: Michele A. Kacmarcik, MSN, CRNP (University of Pennsylvania College of Nursing)
Description: This is the fourth edition of a comprehensive, clinically based handbook covering common problems encountered by neonates and their caregivers.
Purpose: The editors set out to provide a handbook with a multidisciplinary approach to neonatal intensive care within a family centered model. Refreshingly, the book includes moral decision making processes and makes note of human foibles and downfalls as well as human strengths.
Audience: The editors describe their audience as neonatal intensive care nurses, nursing and medical students, and pediatric, surgical, and family practice housestaff. NICU nurses and housestaff will find most chapters helpful and understandable, but the book may be too in-depth in some areas for all but the most advanced students. On the other hand, neonatal nurse practitioners and neonatal fellows may find some areas too shallow for their purposes.
Features: Tables, charts, and graphs are generally helpful, but some pictures and x-rays are slightly dark. In addition, the technique of printing clinically applicable material in bold typeface becomes less and less useful the more that is highlighted. References were fair for most chapters, but fell short on many. Selected readings offered at the end of many chapters are a nice touch; some chapters offered references for parents, which is a wonderful tool for anyone working in the NICU. Many chapters offered systematic procedure breakdowns that can be helpful to newer practitioners.
Assessment: Material in the handbook is up to current practice, and the book did a good job of debunking commonly held myths such as the need to do rectal temperatures on all neonates. The breastfeeding chapter is particularly thorough, and the multidisciplinary background of the editors and contributors lends a good deal of experience and authority to the book. In addition, the book touches on two very necessary and often overlooked topics:psychosocial aspects of care and the need to have evidence-based practice. Although some aspects of the handbook are disappointing:such as the pharmacology chapter, which focuses mostly on pharmacokinetics, and the case studies, of which there are too few:the overall quality of the book is good. It should serve as a helpful reference in any setting that cares for neonates.

Booknews

The fifth edition of this text combining physiology and pathophysiology contains two new chapters on diagnostic imaging and follow-up, clinically oriented coverage of the disorders most commonly encountered in the neonatal intensive care unit, parent teaching guides, and tables of drug dosages and possible side effects. An introductory section covers evidence-based practice, and the bulk of the book covers clinical issues such as nutritional and metabolic support and diseases of the neonate. A final section covers psychosocial aspects of neonatal care. Merenstein is professor of pediatrics and senior associate dean of education at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Gardner is a neonatal consultant. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Rating

3 Stars from Doody

Product Details

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents