Peer Review

Nursing Fundamentals

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: May 23, 2022 by Health Sciences

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

This book introduces the entry-level nursing student to the scope of nursing practice, various communication techniques, and caring for diverse patients. The nursing process is used as a framework for providing patient care based on the following nursing concepts: safety, oxygenation, comfort, spiritual well-being, grief and loss, sleep and rest, mobility, nutrition, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, and elimination. Care for patients with integumentary disorders and cognitive or sensory impairments is also discussed. Learning activities have been incorporated into each chapter to encourage students to use critical thinking while applying content to patient care situations.

Type of Material:

Open (Access) Textbook

Recommended Uses:

This text is suited for nursing students and can be used in group or individual learning settings with application for both in-person/classroom or in distance learning environments.

References are given for additional videos, learning activities, and self-assessment activities. The book can be used as a complete source of knowledge and activities to complement lectures, provide homework activities, or as a self-paced source.

Technical Requirements:

Technical requirements needs to access this text are internet browsers, YouTube video player, and other standard technical tools (such as HTML, etc) for learning activities.

Book is available as a print (pdf) or digital download. Open in Chrome Browser

Identify Major Learning Goals:

After completion, learners will:

Describe the nursing process assessment, nursing diagnoses, intervention, and evaluation of adult patient's needs (where applicable considerations for special populations including newborn and pregnant clients are explained).

Explain the underlying pathophysiology as applicable to interventions including electrolyte and fluid balance and respiration.

Demonstrate specific nursing skills and interventions maintaining patient safety and patient mobility.

Target Student Population:

College General Ed, College Lower Division
The content is suitable for both RN and PN students.

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Basic science (Anatomy and Physiology) and social development (Developmental Psychology of Lifespan) are prerequisite knowledge needed for full understanding of text content.
Requires access to a computer to participate in interactive exercises in the online format. A video is available to describe to the reader how to access the material online. Instructions are given within the interactive exercises on how to move forward between different screens. The videos are available as YouTube videos.

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

Strong content. Evidence-based practice applied and well-cited.
The book is easy to read. Each chapter provides learning goals, discussions and then demonstrated through case studies which encourages the students to integrate information and make decisions on how to care for the patient. Various interactive activities allow the student to self-assess their progress. Illustrations are real-life illustrations and realistic. Students are referred to other websites and publications for additional information.
The site uses the newest information where applicable (including using the newest edition of the ANA Scope of Standards).

Concerns:

The assessment phase of the Nursing Process is based on the work of NANDA (North American Nursing Diagnosis Association). Many nursing schools have been moving away from NANDA. Certain aspects such as the "Nursing Practice Act" are very specific to the State of Wisconsin and do not address differences between states.
The book is based on the 2020 NCLEX test plan for success and thus following the classification of the test plan in terms of safety needs, infection control, mobility and other aspects. It does not refer to the newest NextGen NCLEX to go into effect in April 2023 and thus also not give examples of different format of questions to be expected.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

The text includes key topics for the basis of nursing learning.
The book provides learning activities to measure student progress. It also allows the student to access other published material and websites to explain or emphasize important concepts.
Realistic illustrations make it easy to relate to the patient care environment.
Case studies are interwoven throughout the book to stimulate and develop critical thinking.

Concerns:

Certain parts of the book are focused on Wisconsin state and do not relate to practices and/or limitations in other states. Too much focus on NANDA and lesser focus on clinical judgment models of thinking may limit the use as a primary textbook.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

The text layout is organized and clear. The learning activities are quality and reflect current nursing education standards.
Explanations are clear throughout the book on how to use the book, access videos, and how to complete interactive learning activities.

Concerns:

One of the sites the reader refers to is broken (https://www.ahrq.gov/patient-safety/settings/hospital/resource/pressureulcer/tool/pu7b.htm) in the section on Pressure Injuries.
Another site referred to as American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (n.d.). End-of-Life-Care opens on a general site on End-of-Life Care. (ELNEC). https://www.aacnnursing.org/ELNEC

Other Issues and Comments:

Very strong text. Good overview of Nursing Fundamentals. Visually appealing with various learning styles applied (YouTube videos, learning activities, visual tables, etc).
The book is a valuable source of basic information for student nurses. It is not clear whether all web-accessibility standards have been adhered to. The book makes use of different colors to distinguish between learning objectives and content. There are many tables in the books, for the normal reader make sense, but for a disabled person may be difficult to read as there is no indication whether the tables read from left to right or top to bottom.
With revisions, the emphasis on NANDA may be reconsidered as it seems in the USA most nursing schools are moving away from NANDA. The emphasis on Wisconsin legal and nursing practice may be re-considered and re-formulated as general information, affecting nursing practice in more than one state.

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