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Acute and Critical Care in Adult Nursing
Fourth edition
Edited by:
- Desiree Tait - Bournemouth University
- Catherine Norris - Swansea University, UK
- David Barton - Swansea University, UK
November 2025 | 424 pages | Learning Matters
This book develops your ability to manage the care of critically and acutely ill patients, and to recognise and deal with the early signs of deterioration. Taking a practical, real-life approach to care, each chapter focuses on a patient with a particular issue – from chest pain to sepsis. You’ll consider the primary symptoms before working through the knowledge and skills needed to care for that patient. The book focuses on developing clinical assessment and decision-making skills, leaving you confident and competent in caring for patients who are unstable, deteriorating or critically ill.
Key features
• Each chapter is mapped to the 2018 NMC Standards
• Packed with engaging real-life practice examples and activities.
• Includes new coverage of Sickle Cell, chronic pain, bias and major trauma across the age spectrum.
• Provides robust evidence-based tools and frameworks to use in practice, such as ABCDE assessments.
Key features
• Each chapter is mapped to the 2018 NMC Standards
• Packed with engaging real-life practice examples and activities.
• Includes new coverage of Sickle Cell, chronic pain, bias and major trauma across the age spectrum.
• Provides robust evidence-based tools and frameworks to use in practice, such as ABCDE assessments.
Desiree Tait and Mark Gagan
Chapter 1: Assessing, recognising, and responding to acute and critical illness
Desiree Tait
Chapter 2: The breathless person
Desiree Tait and Helen Aldridge
Chapter 3: The person who needs respiratory support
David Barton and Desiree Tait
Chapter 4: The person with chest pain
Catherine Norris
Chapter 5: The person in pain
Desiree Tait and Helen Aldridge
Chapter 6: The person in shock
Desiree Tait and Helen Aldridge
Chapter 7: The person with sepsis and septic shock
Desiree Tait and Helen Aldridge
Chapter 8: The person with delirium
Desiree Tait
Chapter 9: The person with acute kidney injury
Catherine Norris
Chapter 10: The person with physiological trauma
Desiree Tait
Chapter 11: The person with altered consciousness
Desiree Tait
Chapter 12: The person with an endocrine disorder
Desiree Tait
Chapter 13: Conclusion: lessons learned – an action plan for practice
Sample Materials & Chapters
Chapter1_Assessing, recognising and responding to acute and critical illness