Kim K. Kuebler, Patricia H. Berry, Debra E. Heidrich. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2002. Softcover; 492 pages. ISBN 0-7216-8452-1.

The origins and hallmark of critical care nursing have been the use of advanced biomedical technologies to provide curative or rescue therapies to acutely and critically ill patients. Current data show that the majority of intensive care unit patients die following the withholding or withdrawal of these therapies. This change in the trajectory of dying and death within critical care requires critical care nurses to shift from curative to comfort-oriented end-of-life care. This new practice issue, caring for those at the end of life, is not unique to critical care nursing; End-of-Life Care was written to provide comprehensive end-of-life care guidelines for advanced practice nurses.

The text is organized into 4 sections, beginning with the general principles of end-of-life care. This section addresses the role of advanced practice nursing and presents several...

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