Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Dedication -- List of contributors -- 1 The human body -- Section 1: Introduction -- Anatomical terms -- Levels of organisation of the body -- Hierarchy of functions -- The basic structure of cells -- Homeostasis -- Organ systems -- Section 2: The integumentary system -- Structure of the skin -- Thermoregulation and the skin -- Section 3: The musculoskeletal system -- The human skeleton -- Bone -- Joints -- Muscular tissue -- Section 4: The nervous system -- Structure and function of the nervous system -- The central nervous system -- The autonomic nervous system -- Sensations -- Somatic senses -- Pain -- Section 5: The special senses -- The eye -- The ear -- Section 6: The endocrine system -- Hormones -- Negative and positive feedback mechanisms -- Section 7: The respiratory system -- The mechanism of breathing -- The transport of oxygen -- The transport of carbon dioxide -- Section 8: The cardiovascular system -- The blood -- The heart -- Blood vessels: arteries, capillaries and veins -- Section 9: The lymphatic and immune system -- Components -- Functions -- Section 10: The digestive system -- Functions -- Organs of the digestive system and their location -- Section 11: The urinary system -- The kidney and its functions -- Section 12: The reproductive system -- Female reproductive system -- The male reproductive organs -- 2 Nursing assessment and care planning -- Introduction -- Nursing assessment and the nursing process -- Advantages of using a conceptual model in assessment -- Key issues and developments -- 3 Concepts of health, illness and holism -- Introduction -- Being 'healthy' -- Health beliefs and health behaviour -- Illness, sickness and disease -- Seeing the person as a whole -- Assessment -- 4 Factors to consider when assessing patients -- Section 1: Introducton.

Ethical aspects of assessment -- Respect for persons - definition -- Privacy -- Confidentiality -- Respect for dignity -- Truthfulness -- Section 2: The environment, health status, age and cognitive ability of the patient, learning disability and health assessment -- Environment -- Health status of the patient -- The patient's age -- Cognitive development and ability -- The assessment of children -- Section 3: Gender and health assessment -- Trends and patterns of health and disease among men and women -- Health issues and dilemmas for men and women -- A health assessment approach: some practical aspects to consider -- 5 Communication skills for holistic health assessment -- Introduction -- Definition and classification -- Factors that facilitate effective communication -- Skills needed during holistic health assessment -- Barriers to communication during holistic assessment -- Record keeping -- 6 Physical assessment -- Section 1: Introduction -- The purpose of physical assessment -- Approach to physical assessment -- Preparation for physical assessment -- Techniques of physical assessment -- The general survey and vital signs -- Section 2: Physical asssessment of the integumentary system -- The skin -- Assessment of nails -- Assessment of hair -- Section 3: Physical assessment of the respiratory system -- Taking a health history -- Physical examination -- Section 4: Physical assessment of the cardiovascular system -- Relevant health history -- Risk factors for coronary heart disease -- Physical examination -- Section 5: Physical assessment of the nervous system -- Relevant health history -- Examination -- Section 6: Physical assessment of the eyes, ears, nose and throat -- The eyes -- The ears -- The mouth, nose, sinuses and throat -- Section 7: Physical assessment of the digestive system -- Relevant health history -- Risk factors.

Physical assessment -- Section 8: Physical assessment of the urinary tract system -- Assessment of the urinary system -- Assessment of the prostate gland -- Section 9: Physical assessment of the musculoskeletal system -- The musculoskeletal system -- Assessment -- Section 10: Physical assessment of the female and male reproductive systems -- Examination of the breast -- Examination of the female genitalia -- Assessment of the male reproductive system -- Record keeping -- 7 Assessment of nutritional status -- Introduction -- Purpose of nutritional assessment -- Components of food -- Nutritional requirements -- Dietary guidelines -- Assessing nutritional status -- Dietary assessment -- Nutritional interventions -- 8 Social assessment in healthcare -- Introduction -- The purpose of social assessment -- Health policy: assessing social needs -- Nursing models, social influences and assessment -- Nursing and interprofessional approaches to social assessment -- The social assessment/analysis framework -- The levels of social assessment -- 9 Psychological assessment -- Introduction -- What is psychological health? -- Why conduct a psychological assessment? -- What to assess -- How to conduct the psychological assessment -- Nurses' role in assessment -- The assessment process -- Accurate reporting and documentation -- 10 Cultural and spiritual health assessment -- Cultural health assessment -- Spirituality and spiritual needs -- Glossary -- Index.