The most comprehensive psychiatric nursing care planning text available assists students and practitioners in
providing effective care in a variety of settings. Clear presentation of information, consistent use of the nursing
process, correlation of nursing and medical diagnoses, and prioritization of interventions make this text an invaluable
resource. Grounded in the latest classification of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR)
and the most current list of NANDA-approved nursing diagnoses, this text covers a wide range of disorders, their
psychopathology, and appropriate nursing interventions with rationales. Care plans use real clinical situations
and include therapeutic and nontherapeutic dialogue examples to familiarize nurses with likely scenarios and equip
them with the tools they need to feel confident in any clinical setting.
The first chapter, The Nursing Process, effectively describes the central principles of psychiatric nursing
practice in detailing the ANAs six-step nursing process along with additional information on therapeutic nurse-client
communication skills, client history and assessment tools, NIC and NOC, and more.
The six-step nursing process format is maintained throughout to emphasize a practice-oriented, problem-solving
approach to psychiatric care.
Major psychiatric disorders are reviewed consistently and completely with sections including Etiology, Epidemiology,
Assessment and Diagnostic Criteria, Interventions, and Prognosis and Discharge Criteria. With this basis of knowledge,
relevant care plans are offered in the second section of each chapter.
Care plans based on DSM-IV-TR medical and NANDA nursing diagnoses are logically and consistently organized
with Assessment Data, Outcome Criteria, Planning and Implementation, and Evaluation sections.
Assessment Data sections include detailed related factors (etiology) and defining characteristics or risk factors
as appropriate for the specific diagnosis.
Outcome Criteria sections give the reader clear indications of the desired end state.
Planning and Implementation sections list specific, relevant, and practical nursing interventions with rationales
in a clear, comprehensible two-column format. UNIQUE! Therapeutic and non-therapeutic dialogue examples are presented
throughout to promote more effective client communication.
Evaluation sections state the role of outcome evaluation as a critical and ongoing step in the nursing process.
Client and Family Teaching boxes include Nurse Needs to Know and Teach Client and Family sections covering
all aspects of post-treatment instructions for clients and caregivers.
DSM-IV-TR boxes list all related DSM-IV-TR diagnoses for quick reference.
Helpful appendices contain information and strategies that are timely and useful in the care of clients with
mental and emotional disorders including such topics as psychiatric and psychosocial therapies, grief and loss,
spirituality, and many more.
New care plans, many that focus on the family, join completely updated and revised care plans to make this
text the most comprehensive psychiatric nursing care planning text available.
Dynamic internal design emphasizes the care plans as the focus of the text; tabbed pages noting the relevant
disorder and a complete list of care plans with page number references make finding a specific care plan easier
than ever before.
Appropriate Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) and Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) labels are
presented with each care plan in order that students become familiar with these emerging classifications and practicing
nurses can easily identify them for use in their care setting if applicable.
A comprehensive pharmacotherapy appendix includes the most recent psychotropic drug information and appropriate
related client care.
Online Resources for the nurse, client, and family conclude each chapter.