Fully updated in line with contemporary policy and practice, the second edition introduces core aspects of critical care – from infection prevention and control to psychological care – before introducing critical care as it relates to the pathophysiology of different systems of the body. The book is packed full of practical learning features that have been specially designed to enhance your knowledge and test your understanding, including: • Clinical case studies • Theory stop points • Critical thinking tasks • Reflective practice exercises Written by a dedicated team of lecturers and practitioners with extensive experience in critical care nursing, this essential guide will equip you with the skills and confidence needed to succeed in a critical care environment. Ideal for nursing students studying critical care, those undertaking clinical placements in intensive care settings, or for nurses new to the critical care environment. Lecturers and instructors can go online to access a testbank of multiple-choice questions and links to relevant videos for each chapter, as well as PowerPoints for each chapter that can be downloaded and customised as needed.