A leader in respiratory care education for more than 35 years, this comprehensive textbook lays a strong foundation for a successful career. You'll gain a thorough understanding of the role of respiratory therapists (RTs), a scientific basis for treatment, and clinical applications. In-depth discussions progress from the principles of respiratory care to applied anatomy and physiology, assessment, discussion of specific respiratory illnesses, basic therapy, acute and critical care, and preventive and long-term care. Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) and Therapist Driven Protocols (TDPs) in appropriate chapters familiarize you with patient care guidelines and decision trees as they are used in practice.

本书在呼吸疾病护理教育方面居于领先地位35年以上，内容丰富，为读者事业的成功打下坚实的基础。读者可完全了解呼吸治疗师（RT）的作用，获得治疗和临床应用的科学理论基础。呼吸疾病护理的基本要点、应用解剖学和生理学、患者评估、特殊呼吸系统疾病讨论、基本治疗、急症和危重症护理、预防和长期护理等内容在本书中均有深入探讨。临床实践指南 (CPG) 和治疗师执行方案 (TDP) 使读者熟悉实际工作中患者的护理指南和处理流程。

* A full-color format makes the text easier to read and brings out key detail in the illustrations. * Mini-Clinis provide short vignettes applying content in the text to actual patient care, asking you to think critically on problems you may encounter. * Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) cover the steps of patient care with important information on indications/contraindications, hazards and complications, assessment of need, assessment of outcome, and monitoring. * Therapist-Driven Protocols (TDPs) provide decision trees developed by hospitals, helping you to assess patients, initiate care, and evaluate outcomes. * Rules of Thumb highlights rules, formulas, and key points important to clinical practice. * Measurable Learning Objectives parallel the areas tested by the NBRC exam, helping you identify important information that goes beyond memorization and recall. * Key Point summaries in bulleted format help you clearly identify key concepts c

* New History of Respiratory Care chapter describes the evolution and challenges of this profession. * Updated content reflects changes in the field, with additions to the text including: * More coverage of evidence-based care * Information on HIPAA * A discussion of computer applications in a health care setting * An emphasis on how nutrition impacts the respiratory system * The role of the respiratory therapist in disease management is discussed in the Cardiopulmonary Diseases section. * A new appendix cross-references the NBRC examination matrices for the CRT and RRT to content in the book, making it easier to prepare for the NBRC exams. * New editor Robert Kacmarek, a well-known figure in respiratory care, has joined Robert Wilkins and James Stoller.