Reviewer: Kathy Manion, DNP, FNP-BC(Gonzaga University)
Description: This textbook is the sixth edition, which was last published in 2017. It is intended to serve as a resource for nurse practitioner (NP) students, NPs preparing for certification, as well as those who currently practice. It incorporates the latest guidelines, recommendations, and treatment protocols for every major clinical condition including COVID-19, as well as preventative services for patients across the lifespan. New to this edition is online access to over 2,500 multiple choice questions that are intended to mirror the certification exams, and rationales for both correct and incorrect responses. The format of the text has been completely redesigned to provide a review of content before the practice questions. Clinical pearls are highlighted in the margins throughout the text to emphasize areas of content review.
Purpose: The scope of practice for NPs is wide and includes caring for people across the lifespan in prevention and management of disease. According to the author, this text was developed "to help the NP develop the knowledge and skills to successfully enter NP practice and earn certification." The book is not intended to be a comprehensive clinical text. Rather, it is meant to serve as a guide to augment learning and to help students and NPs develop a sound knowledge base, diagnostic reasoning abilities, and critical thinking skills that are vital for safe NP practice. Readers are provided with the latest guidelines and treatment protocols, as well as up-to-date information on clinical preventative services.
Audience: This book was written to serve as a resource for NP students throughout their educational program, those preparing to take the certification exam, as well as NPs in clinical practice. Author Dr. Fitzgerald is a renowned content expert and board certified by ANCC and AANP. She has published over 200 articles, written numerous chapters for texts, and has received multiple awards for her achievements in practice. She has been committed to the advancement of NPs throughout her career and has an extensive history of speaker engagements, providing review courses for certification, as well as ongoing continuing education for practicing NPs.
Features: This book serves as an excellent resource for students and NPs preparing to take the certification exam, but also provides excellent information for practicing NPs. It provides an overview of test taking strategies and is laid out by body system and corresponding disease processes for ease of use. It is well organized, starting with disease processes, clinical presentation, diagnostic testing, and treatments. There are many algorithms, tables, charts, clinical pearls, and practice questions with detailed rationales for both correct and incorrect responses provided throughout the text to facilitate learning, retention of content, and successful completion of the certification exam. Dr. Fitzgerald is gifted with the ability to cover content in a concise, clear, and easy-to-understand fashion.
Assessment: As a family nurse practitioner who has been practicing for almost 20 years and an educator, I found the quality of this book to be excellent. I intend to use it both in practice as well as in my work with students. Dr. Fitzgerald has completely redesigned the layout of this text from prior versions. Readers are provided with the latest guidelines, treatment recommendations, and information on the most current clinical preventative services. Content is reinforced in numerous algorithms and colored tables that assist with retention of content and ease of use. There also is an index of disorders covered. Multiple choice questions with appropriate rationales are embedded throughout the text to reinforce learning.
