Cardiac Surgery Essentials for Critical Care Nursing, 4th Edition Doody's Expert Review Review Questionnaire ISBN: 9781284286397 ISBN-10: 1284286398 Copyright: 2026 Edition: 4th Author: Hardin, Sonya R., Kaplow, Roberta, Doody's Expert Review    Score: 94 Doody's Star Rating™ and Doody's Expert Review provide by Doody Enterprises, Inc. Reviewer: Patricia Morton,  PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, FAAN  (University of Utah College of Nursing) Description This soft cover, 8.5 by 11-inch trim sized 494-page book is edited by two expert clinicians with extensive experience in critical care nursing. This fourth edition includes 25 chapters that address all types of cardiac surgery including heart transplantation. The previous edition was published in 2020 and this updated edition covers new areas including lumbar drain and spinal cord ischemia and paralysis. Purpose The purpose of the book is to provide critical care nurses with the most up-to-date information on the care of cardiac surgery patients from the preoperative phase through the rehabilitation phase of their care. Information is based on physiological and psychosocial principles and integrates the most recent evidence to guide care. The book meets these important goals and will serve as an excellent resource for nurses caring for patients undergoing various types of cardiac surgery. Audience The primary audience for the book is critical care nurses who work in intensive care units caring for cardiac surgery patients. The book also will be of value for nurses working with patients in the preoperative and rehabilitation phases of their illness. The book will be very valuable for nurses who plan to take the cardiac surgery certification subspecialty exam offered by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. The book was authored by 28 contributors including critical care nurses, physician assistants, respiratory therapists, and pharmacists with expertise in care of the patient undergoing cardiac surgery. Features The book contains 25 chapters and concludes with a helpful index. Early chapters discuss indications for cardiac surgery and the preoperative nursing evaluation. Following chapters discuss surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass, recovery from anesthesia, and hermodynamic monitoring. Other topics covered include postoperative complications, pain management, neurologic complications, wound care, post-ICU care, and cardiogenetics. Within each chapter are tables, boxes and figures that summarize and highlight key information. Each chapter ends with a case study with critical thinking questions and answers based on the case. Also included at the end of the chapters are self-assessment questions and answers, a clinical inquiry box, references, and web resources. The clinical inquiry box summarizes a step-by-step process intended to help readers solve a clinical problem. The book is printed in black and white. The use of color would make the book much more visually appealing. Purchasers of the print version of the text receive access to the complete eBook and Navigate TestPrep to test knowledge and provide practice questions for certification exams. Assessment Editors and contributors have produced an excellent useful book that addresses the needs of nurses caring for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This fourth edition of the book is worthwhile as it ensures nurses have the most current information based on evidence and updated national standards. I am not aware of any other book that provides such a comprehensive guide for care of patients experiencing cardiac surgery. Review Questionnaire Range Question Score 1-10 Are the author's objectives met? 10 1-10 Rate the worthiness of those objectives. 10 1-5 Is this written at an appropriate level? 5 1-5 Is there significant duplication? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 5 1-5 Are there significant omissions? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 5 1-5 Rate the authority of the authors. 5 1-5 Are there sufficient illustrations? 3 1-5 Rate the pedagogic value of the illustrations. 3 1-5 Rate the print quality of the illustrations. 3 1-5 Are there sufficient references? 5 1-5 Rate the currency of the references. 5 1-5 Rate the pertinence of the references. 5 1-5 Rate the helpfulness of the index. 5 1-5 If important in this specialty, rate the physical appearance of the book N/A 1-10 Is this a worthwhile contribution to the field? 10 1-10 If this is a 2nd or later edition, is this new edition needed? 10 ©2026 Doody Enterprises, Inc.