Caring for the Heart Failure Patient: A Textbook for the Health Care Professional Doody's Expert Review Review Questionnaire ISBN: 9781841840413 ISBN-10: 1841840416 Copyright: 2004 Edition: 1st Editors: Stewart, Simon, Moser, Debra K., Thompson, David R., Doody's Expert Review    Score: 89 Doody's Star Rating™ and Doody's Expert Review provide by Doody Enterprises, Inc. Reviewer: Karen Yehle,  PhD, MS, RN  (Purdue University School of Nursing) Description This book takes an international view of heart failure in terms of care and treatment. The reader is given an excellent overview of epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical assessment, treatment, and care of the heart failure patient, including education. I am already looking forward to the second edition, as this first edition is so well written. Purpose According to the editors, the purpose of the book is to "give the reader an overall view of the most salient and important features of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, treatment, and therapeutic management of the patient with heart failure." This book is certainly needed, as heart failure has reached epidemic proportions and has placed a great burden on healthcare systems of many countries. This book more than meets the editors' objectives in terms of being an excellent resource for healthcare professionals who care for the men and women diagnosed with heart failure. Audience This book is written primarily for cardiovascular nurses. It is certainly appropriate for nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, faculty members, and graduate students, as well as staff nurses who work with this patient population. Additionally, medical students and residents may find the book helpful. Features The editors have assembled an international group of leaders in heart failure who contribute chapters. Twenty-two of the contributors are registered nurses, with the majority of them in the academic setting. The book covers a wide variety of topics. Aside from the expected (epidemiology, pathophysiology, treatment), topics such as exercise, nurse-managed clinics, psychological issues, and gender issues are also discussed. Extensive references are provided at the conclusion of each chapter. The content in each chapter is helpful, clear, and thoroughly discussed. Additionally, both acute and chronic pathophysiology is discussed, and a separate chapter is devoted to the hospitalized patient as well as the elderly patient with heart failure. Assessment This is an excellent resource for healthcare professionals, especially nurses who care for patients with heart failure. The material is current and the focus of the book is on the care of individuals with heart failure, not merely treatment. This book is excellent in both content and quality. I highly recommend it. 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) 4 1-5 Are there significant omissions? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 4 1-5 Rate the authority of the authors. 5 1-5 Are there sufficient illustrations? 5 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. 4 1-5 Rate the pertinence of the references. 4 1-5 Rate the helpfulness of the index. 4 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? N/A ©2010 Doody Enterprises, Inc.