This is the care plan bible. It makes care plans & paperwork a lot easier.

This book looks daunting at first encounter. Each page is crammed with valuable information which sometimes overwhelms the reader. But this is exactly why this book is a gem for me. Other readers find it difficult to follow because they missed the fly leaf which lists all the nursing diagnosis with its corresponding page numbers. In my experience, in order to get the maximum use of this book, go to the fly leaf (the first page after the front cover), look up the nursing diagnosis and its page number. When you get to the right page,voila, all the wonderful information is listed as follows:

Nursing diagnosis->definition->major defining characteristics-> minor defining characteristics-> related factors-> pathophysiologic factors-> treatment related factors-> situational factors->maturational factors->assessment criteria->outcome criteria->general interventions-> and the last is the rationale.

Inside blue boxes are author's notes and errors in diagnostic statements which are very important pieces of information for beginning nurses or students like me. There are also considerations for pediatric, maternal and geriatric patients.

I hope this review is helpful. One last thing, this book does not work for you if you feel hurried. Take your time when you read this book.

Although my nursing school required this book, it is the most confusing and least helpful of all the 9 books I have on care planning and nursing diagnoses. I haven't met anyone who likes this book or finds it user friendly. In all the other books the rationales are written right after the interventions,this book does not use that format making it time consuming and frustrating. The book is unorganized and hard to follow. If this is not a required book,save your money for your tuition.