This book was written to prepare the nursing assistant or patient care technician to provide advanced patient care procedures. The book includes content on sterile procedures, including preparing and working with a sterile field, using sterile technique, and performing sterile dressing changes, wet to dry dressings. Venipuncture technique is covered in several chapters as well as intravenous procedures and many other advanced skills.The importance of reporting information and observations to the licensed supervisor is emphasized throughout the book. To this end, most chapters contain special text boxes listing observations to be reported and recorded. Added highlights within the text narrative include safety and infection control alerts, and age related information; information that is important to the student and in keeping with the latest health care trends.

As an independent nurse consultant and educator, Barbara Acello, MS, RN, has worked in long-term care for more than thirty-three years. In addition to owning and operating a school for nursing assistants, she helped to write and develop mandatory state curricula for nurse aides and EMTs. She has also written and/or contributed to approximately 60 textbooks, instructor guides, quick reference guides, and supplemental instructional material for healthcare personnel. During her nursing career, Ms. Acello has worked in eight states as a director of nursing, long-term care facility consultant, and educator. Presently, she is consults, lectures, and writes on long-term care issues. She is a member of the Texas Nurses Association (TNA), American College of HealthCare Administrators (ACHCA), and National Association of Directors of Nursing in Long Term Care (NADONA). She actively mentors certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and their instructors. With a particular interest and expertise in the clinical geriatrics, Ms. Acello's subspecialties include resident safety, pain assessment and management, restraints, pressure ulcers, and infection control. She is committed to improving working conditions, education, and professionalism for personnel in the long-term care industry.

Tags: advanced skills for health care providers