For a separate nursing skills course or fundamentals and medical surgical nursing courses. For new graduates, or as a reference for practicing nurses in hospitals and health care settings. This text reflects the needs of today's diverse student population. It provides the most complete preparation for the clinical challenges students will encounter in the workplace, offering nearly 200 techniques in a step-by-step format. For each technique, a rationale is provided for the critical steps. In addition, several learning tools foster assessment skills and encourage critical thinking. It is also useful for those involved in caring for clients in the home.