Editorial Review

This market-leading textbook provides just the "right amount" of maternity and pediatric content in an easy-to-understand manner. Divided into two sections, the first part of the book includes 28 chapters on maternity nursing and the second part contains 27 chapters covering pediatric nursing. Numerous illustrations, photos, boxes, and tables clarify key content and help you quickly find essential information. And because it's written by market-leading experts in maternity and pediatric nursing, you can be sure you're getting the accurate, practical information you need to succeed in the classroom, the clinical setting, and on the NCLEX^® examination.

• UNIQUE! Nursing Alerts point out critical information to consider when caring for patients.
• UNIQUE! Guidelines boxes outline instructions for skills or procedures in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step format.
• UNIQUE! Emergency boxes offer quick reference to emergency procedures for critical maternity and pediatric emergencies.
• UNIQUE! Home Care boxes offer helpful guidelines for delivering effective care in the home environment.
• UNIQUE! Atraumatic Care boxes in the pediatric section illustrate how to provide competent nursing care without creating undue physical or psychological stress for pediatric patients, families, and nurses.
• UNIQUE! Community Focus boxes examine community issues and provide resources and guidance on caring for families outside the clinical setting.
• UNIQUE! Cultural Awareness boxes address culturally competent care for patients with a variety of customs and beliefs.
• UNIQUE! Family-Centered Care boxes discuss the family's role and needs in caring for the patient.
• UNIQUE! Nursing Process boxes offer quick access to nursing process information for major diseases and conditions.
• Critical Thinking Exercises provide case scenarios to promote sound clinical decision making.
• Nursing Care Plans include rationales for interventions and provide specific guidelines for delivering effective nursing care.
• Patient Teaching boxes highlight important information for communicating continuing care instructions to patients and families.

• New and consolidated content on pain assessment and management focuses on this key aspect of pediatric nursing.
• Updated content on evidence-based practice illustrates how current research can be used to improve patient outcomes.
• The latest information in the field is included throughout, including expanded coverage of the late preterm infant and fetal heart rate pattern identification.

Reviews

Good book, even though it's required, January 18, 2008
This book was required for my last semester of nursing school (OB/Peds), but I still think it's a good book. It does a good job of combining OB & Peds instead of having two separate (and often confusing) references as we've had in other subjects.
~~~It's now near the end of the semester and I wanted to amend my review of this book. I tried to change my rating to 4 stars and couldn't. I personally feel that the book contains too much information, half of which was not covered the entire semester. Even in the parts we have covered, the information is often repeated in two or three times, greatly adding to the bulk of the book. The information could have been written in a much more concise manner, and is often verbose and wordy.

Too much, September 12, 2007
Take it from a nursing student that this book has way too much detail.When trying to read for class you need a book that gets to the point while supplying a sufficient amount of detail.My classmates and I both complain about the extra information in this book.

Hope you're not required to get it, April 24, 2010
This book is so bad my school is switching it out after only one semester of use.

The book is too wordy. There are newly introduced terms with no definition given until several paragraphs or often pages later. The terms are not bolded in any way. Some are in italics but you're so cross-eyed from reading the small print that everything looks italicized. No glossary to help you out either.

Finding information is a huge time commitment since the index is nearly useless. There are few things you can look up as common terms and find what you want.

There are no review questions at the end of each chapter which is something that we nursing students want to help us with the NCLEX. The accompanying website does have some questions but most of the chapters I've studied only have 3 or 4 questions. Not nearly enough for adequate review.

The content of many sections does not always provide the information that the section heading suggests. It may be several sections later when the authors repeat the subject. You will also find that different sections have conflicting data.

This book is completely frustrating. If your school uses it, good luck, and do your best to get them to change it if you get the chance.

Good but too much, November 5, 2006
While I think this book has very accurate information and is well organized, I also feel that there is too much supplementary information surrounding the core concepts. I honestly feel that the authors write like they were speaking and they like to hear themselves talk. I had to buy this book for class, so I did. If you do not, I recommend buying something where the information is a little more condensed and to the point. If you do have to use it, like me, then understand that you will be reading a lot of information in order to understand a few concepts.

Good, But Has Some Flaws, November 23, 2009
I cannot understand the praise for this textbook I have seen from other reviewers. While the authors treat the medical/surgical aspects of maternal and pediatric nursing with due attention and thoroughness, the book suffers from an overall absence of consistent internal organization. Unlike my med/surg or psych textbook, each chapter has a different layout, and many of the chapters contain passages that wander, endlessly, until I actually forgot what subheading in what chapter I was reading. "Information overload" is a good way to describe it, although this probably would have been bearable if the authors had spent as much time organizing their material as they did actually cramming material into the book.

Where the textbook completely loses me, though, is in its many chapters devoted to the same old pop-PC psychobabble I've come to know and loathe in so many nursing books. Professors and other students may disagree with me, but I regard the inclusion of what is essentially sociology with a healthcare spin in what should be a book predominated by med/surg content a particularly loathsome phenomenon. This book, of course, has it in spades. Entire chapters are devoted to explorations of women's health, and are loaded with nauseating multi-cultural, politically-correct, New Age jargon. I'm not saying there's not a time and place for that (preferably in an entirely different textbook). Community health and women's health nurses, in particular, seem to love that sort of content (interpersonal energy flows, anyone?). At least the ones I've met. I'm saying it distracts from the med/surg fundamentals of women's health- you know, the actual medical and nursing science- to include hundreds of pages of social science in the same textbook.

There's also not a few unintentionally hilarious passages, such as this gem: "Gender influences provider-patient communication and may influence access to health care in general. The most obvious gender consideration is that between men and women."

Really? Between men and women, eh? Is that how that works? One wonders if the authors wanted to include a discussion of gender differences in health care between, say, men and hermaphrodites, or men and an alien species with a third gender, or men and transgendered men, or men and Archaea. Sheesh.

Edit: I bumped up the rating a star and changed the title of the review. Though the flaws I pointed out in this textbook remain, the material really starts to shine in later chapters that deal with the pathophysiology of pediatric illnesses. First-rate material, as good as or better than any straight med/surg text I have ever read.

Maternal Child Nursing Care, December 2, 2008
This book is horrible. It is redundant, full of fluff with no end of chapter questions, no glossary and a non-user friendly index. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Nurses working with childbearing families face a variety new challenges, including shortened lengths of hospital stay, the trend toward greater use of community-based and home care, and downsizing and mergers of health-care systems. This book is not only important reading for maternity nurses, but also can be used as an invaluable reference tool.  The Eighth Edition of this popular book not only continues to emphasize the central role played by maternity nurses working with today's childbearing families, but also includes a global perspective, covering culture as a factor in relating to the woman's childbirth experience. It also includes a comprehensive, accessible segment on women's health issues.

Reviews

Great aid for students, September 10, 2009
The work book is a blue print of what you need to focus on. It provides a clearer and objective review extremely useful to comprehend what is needed for your training and daily experiences as a nurse student.
I highly reccomend it.

Repetitive info throughout, March 18, 2009
This text has excellent information, but does not tell you where to find. Once you finally find it, it may be in two different chapters and slightly different in each. The index does not offer any assistance, only guessing games as to which word to use to look up the topic of choice.

Excellent source of information, September 9, 2008
This book is an excellent source of information when it comes to OB. I am very pleased with how the content is easy to understand. The pictures are a great source of information. This by far is the best book a student can purchase for nursing school in your OB rotation. This book went right along on how the teacher explained it to us. Thanks to OLDs for coming up with such a great OB book. Keep up the good work. Students need something that is easy to relate to and understand. This is the book you would want to purchase.
Thanks again,
Rosie Holmes

Just very good textbook, May 31, 2007
I'm a nursing student and this book is wonderful textbook of Maternal-Newborn Nursing. It help me for exam and for my work in hospital. It is a SUPER :)

Old's Maternal-newborn -definition of fair, August 30, 2010
My book was not broken, but it came without the CD, and has many pages with written comments. If the book is not complete (as without the CD) it should have the "fair" disclosure that the CD is not included.

maternal-newborn nursing and women's health care, October 17, 2008
serves it's purpose not difficult to comprehend.if the need for further info arises other sources are suggested after each chapter.

Missing Item, February 13, 2009
Even though this states it is the my nursing lab series, be aware that it does not include the mynursinglab access code. The code is $75 if you buy it seperaterly.

Speedy, October 8, 2008
I bought this book because It was required for my reading assignments and I needed it right away for getting information in order to do an assignment. I trusted the service and I chose the traditional speed even though it says that they will mail out the item within one to seven working days. They sent my item right the next working day and got my book before the week was over. I was really glad. About the information in the book, what can I say, this book is the main source where I get the information for my class assignments, so it is great because I don't have to buy other extra books. Overall it is a great book with a lot of important information.

Olds' lacking index, February 13, 2008
While this text is a core for many parent-child health nursing courses and does have some great information, it's greatest drawback is the index. Yes, the index. The index is poorly designed such that students often cannot find the particular subject matter they are searching for. Although this appears to be a minor concern, after wasted hours at failed attempts to locate many different items, this issue is both frustrating and a drain on nursing students' precious resource - time. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Engaging and easy to read, this concise textbook offers just the right level of maternity and pediatric nursing coverage. It provides a solid foundation in normal body function, then builds on that knowledge to help you understand how to modify nursing care when the unexpected arises. Clear writing and interactive learning tools (including video and animation) reinforce key concepts and encourage you to think critically and apply what you've learned.

• Critical to Remember boxes highlight "need to know" information for quick and easy access.
• Critical Thinking Exercises challenge you to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to realistic clinical scenarios.
• Illustrated Procedure boxes provide clear, step-by-step instructions for performing key clinical nursing tasks.
• Nursing Care Plans in every clinical chapter help you learn to use the nursing process to develop individualized care for maternity and pediatric patients.
• Communications Cues provide practical verbal and nonverbal tips for communicating effectively with patients and families.
• Want to Know boxes offer helpful patient teaching guidelines.
• Photo Stories use engaging pictures to demonstrate the types of care nurses provide in a variety of clinical settings.
• Pathophysiology boxes in pediatric chapters provide illustrated overviews of common disorders.
Companion CD-ROM contains video clips, 3-D animations, illustrated skills, case studies with critical thinking questions, NCLEX® examination-style review questions, and an audio glossary complete with Spanish pronunciations.
• Evolve Student Resources Website offers up-to-date web links, video clips, resources for health care providers, review questions, and a variety of interactive exercises.

• Integrated electronic features match icons in the text, so you can use print and electronic resources more effectively together.
• Using Research to Improve Practice boxes help you determine proper care to reinforce best practice.
• Spanish translations are included for phrases commonly encountered with maternity and pediatric patients.
• Improved design makes the text easier to read, and up-to-date photos ensure accuracy.

Reviews

Easy to understand, terrific illustrations/pictures, July 18, 2001
This is a reference book I come back to again and again. The text is written in a no-nonsense straight forward manner. The technical terms are all defined in an easy to use glossary at the beginning of each chapter. This book describes every treatment step in detail in easy to understand language. Its the first book I turn to when dealing with matern-child treatment.

Great study guide, April 11, 2007
This study guide makes up for everything that the text book lacks. I got the study guide in time for the 2nd exam and oh boy has it helped. I have recommended to all my fellow class mates to get this book.

okay textbook, April 10, 2007
Mostly general information. I had a hard time finding some of the information that I needed. Honestly, I don't feel like I have gained a whole lot of studying out of this text. Some of the chapters were hard to understand.

Maternal-Child Nursing Study Guide, February 3, 2007
The study guide work book is okey. I've only read a few chapters on the actual txt book and doing the study guide really helps because it summarizes the content of the txt book. I recommend this study guide work book for both OB and Peds.

This book is a MUST, for nursing students!, November 5, 2006
This book and the study guide were required for my school of nursing. This book was very, very helpful for both pediatric nursing course and my maternal-child course. It helped so much with all homework assignments and careplans. The way each topic is broken down and labeled is extremely "user friendly". Each illness/disease has a nursing diagnosis as well as nursing interventions. Well worth the $ it cost. I highly recommend. :)

This book is great!, March 18, 2006
This book is an excellent tool for Maternal Child. I highly recommend it. It is well organized and well written. I didn't feel the need to use outside sources to supplement my information. It was all right there. The case studies and the Care Plans help to bring the abstract into focus. I really enjoyed this book.

Hate this book, November 16, 2002
Have you ever needed to look up a word for extra clarification, flipped back to the glossary and found what you were looking for? Can't do that with this book - no glossary. Have you ever read textbooks that had bolded words to make them easier to find? McKinney never did. They italisized their words making them HARDER to find. It's the wordiest book I've ever read and I have 3 degrees. It's overpriced and should be banned from college bookstores.

New update - every one of us - in my entire class had to buy this book - of course. And ALL, I repeat ALL of them fell apart after a month. The binding broke and the pages fell out. What a cheaply made expensive piece of junk! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Known for its user-friendly, easy-to-understand coverage of complex concepts, this outstanding textbook provides all the information you need to provide competent nursing care to women and newborns. Step-by-step instructions for assessments and interventions help you quickly master key skills and techniques. The importance of understanding family, culture, client teaching, communication, and clinical decision making is emphasized throughout. This edition also features a new title that reflects its expanded coverage of women's health issues.

• More than 30 Nursing Care Plans with critical thinking questions help you to apply the nursing process to clinical situations and provide models for effective client and family care.
• UNIQUE! Communication Cues provide guidance for interpreting client and family statements and behaviors.
• UNIQUE! Therapeutic Communication boxes illustrate actual client and family dialogues that can be used in clinical practice.
• Procedures provide clear instructions for performing common maternity skills and procedures, with rationales for each step.
• Critical Thinking Exercises present realistic clinical situations and challenge you to prioritize and think critically.
• Check Your Reading questions at the end of each section help you assess your mastery of key content.
• Drug Guides outline important indications, adverse reactions, and nursing considerations for the most commonly used medications.
• UNIQUE! Want to Know Boxes offer extensive client education guidelines for maternity and women's health settings.

• A new chapter on Preventive Care for Women emphasizes health promotion and health maintenance throughout the childbearing years and beyond, including the latest health screening recommendations.
• Evidence-based practice boxes reinforce the importance of integrating research-based practice guidelines into practice.
• Updated coverage includes current research on hot topics in today's practice, including elective inductions, cesarean deliveries, and the late preterm infant.
• Integrated electronic features enhance learning with interactive multimedia content such as video clips and animations.

Reviews

Textbook was required, January 27, 2010
My daughter needed this for nursing school. This was the best deal we found. It was delivered promptly.

Very Helpful, September 10, 2010
This text explains procedures and rationals very well, in a logical easy to understand way. The only draw back is at the end of each chapter there is no "reveiw questions" to quiz your knowledge.

To the point, August 19, 2010
I made a commitment and tried to read all the book. It helped me so much for my OB rotation. Good reading not boring at all.

good, as far as text books go., August 15, 2010
I needed this book for school, so far it is easy to read. I like that it has a check your reading section after every few paragraphs, it really helps you make sure you are understanding and comprehending as you read.

Great product condition! Fast!, April 27, 2010
I recieved my book very quickly, and it was brand new, in the wrapping. The price was not too bad either. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Master content from the textbook with this helpful study tool! Designed to accompany Perry's Maternal Child Nursing Care, 4th Edition, this workbook will assist students in understanding and applying material from each chapter in the text. ... Read more

Reviews

good review, February 10, 2010
If you need repetition, this is an excellent study guide. I'm a B student and this just helped to solidify the information for each exam. Excellent review for NCLEX too.

Great seller!, August 10, 2010
My product arrived in a timely manner in perfect condition as I was promised. Thanks! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Each time she knelt to "catch" another wriggling baby -- nearly three thousand times during her remarkable career -- California midwife Peggy Vincent paid homage to the moment when pain bows to joy and the world makes way for one more. With every birth, she encounters another woman-turned-goddess: Catherine rides out her labor in a car careening down a mountain road. Sofia spends hers trying to keep her hyper doctor-father from burning down the house. Susannah gives birth so quietly that neither husband nor midwife notice until there's a baby in the room.

More than a collection of birth stories, however, Baby Catcher is a provocative account of the difficulties that midwives face in the United States. With vivid portraits of courage, perseverance, and love, this is an impassioned call to rethink technological hospital births in favor of more individualized and profound experiences in which mothers and fathers take center stage in the timeless drama of birth. ... Read more

Reviews

Liberating read for women, informative for men, March 16, 2002
After reading this book, I will never look at midwives, childbirth, or my body in the same way again. This honest, authoritative memoir, by a woman who started her career as an obstetrical nurse, liberates women from the embarrassment that starts in adolescence with a budding female anatomy.

In her memoir, she presents the miracle of birth and shouts aloud those things that some of our mothers could only whisper and blush about. Immersed in bodily fluids up to her elbows, Peggy checks a cervix as naturally as a mechanic checks the oil. She demonstrates that, regardless of differences in race, belief, life style, or age, birth is a celebration of life. She welcomes each new soul and stands in awe at nature's magic--birth.

The writing is warm and welcoming, with a storyteller's enthusiasm and a savvy eye for the humor and irony of every situation. Peggy crafts a must-read for every woman who ever thought about childbirth. Men will discover...they'll gain insight into the intimate world of women and the men who stand with them. A truly strong debut book that fills a remarkably empty niche on the bookshelf....

Different view of birth experience, May 30, 2003
I love reading about other women's birth experiences, and the view from the midwife was both informative and emotional. While I would never attempt a home birth due to known cardiac issues with my children, it made me wish that I could have had the experience. A balanced view of the home birth experience, without condemning those of us who have to opt for the hospital birth.

Honest and engaging, April 23, 2003
Although I am a strong advocate of midwife assisted home birth, I probably wouldn't have bought this book myself. That would have been my loss. My wife had borrowed it from our midwife, and I had run out of things to read, so I decided it would be a good way to pass the time.

Mrs. Vincent's story is not only the story of herself, but it is the story of midwifery in the late 20th century in general. The early portion of the story, chronicling her time as a nursing student in the early 60s when natural childbirth was not at all accepted, serves as a pretty good summation of the things that my wife hated about our first daughter's hospital birth, and the reason we chose to have our second at home. In short, the ideological conflict between midwifery and hospital birth is this: Mrs. Vincent and those like her believe each labour should be treated as normal unless some serious complication presents itself. Obstetricians see labour as an inherently dangerous medical condition requiring their intervention.

We follow the author through her career as she becomes a certified nurse midwife, gets privileges at a prestigious Bay Area hospital, and develops relationships with patients and doctors along the way. This also gives us a fascinating and humorous glimpse at the way American culture has changed over the last 40 years. For whatever reason, home birth seems to attract a greater percentage of unusual people than one might find in a random sample of the population. They're all here: people who have pets at their birth, recovering drug addicts, hippies making the transition to suburban yuppie life, families with complicated emotional dynamics.

The stories of individual births are great, and many are very uplifting, but the book as a whole is something of a downer. This is due to the time of its writing. In the early 90s, after many years of phenomenal gains, home birth had a dark period as the ability of midwives to secure malpractice insurance was severely constrained. Mrs. Vincent's own story provides a particularly tragic example of this. Thankfully, the situation has improved - a point she makes in a brief epilogue.

The book also has a few helpful appendices indicating what supplies one ought to have at a homebirth, cost studies of midwife assisted vs. physician assisted birth and so on.

a pleasure to read, January 22, 2003
As a student midwife and mother of three homebirthed babies, I have read every book out there regarding birth. Peggy's book is such a delight! What I love the most is that she imparts so much information and wisdom, not through preaching or lecturing, but through storytelling. Any one of the chapters could stand alone as a short story. It is equally compelling as a memoir and as an informative birth preparation resource. It is destined to become a classic in a genre glutted with how-to and how-not-to birth opinion pieces. Peggy embodies a concrete sense of trust in the birth process. As readers we can take that trust on as our own, since we feel that we are experiencing every birth right there with her! This would be very valuable reading for any expectant mother (or father!)

Finally, natural childbirth from someone I can identify with, July 16, 2003
I have been looking for a book about natural/gentle childbirth written by someone more like, well, me. I am not really a hippie (although I am a wanna-be, admittedly), I do not use crystals or herbs for healing, I don't hate the modern world with its technology and such, and neither does Peggy Vincent. She provides a very grounded view of natural childbirth, and is not afraid to point out the flaws in herself, and in what she sees others doing in the obstetrics arena. She is just very real, and she provides TONS of information about childbirth in a way that is totally NOT textbook. For those "unenlightened" ladies like me out there, trying to learn all I can about the best way to birth a baby, this is one of the most trustworthy books I have read. Thank you, Peggy!

Every pregnant woman needs to read this book, March 31, 2004
This has got to be the definitive book on childbirth. Better than any childbirth class, better by far than any advice you'll ever get from a doctor, better than any other book on the subject, it's the best, best, best.
Author Peggy Vincent writes from her heartfelt experience as a Berkeley midwife, and she 'teaches' her readers in a way that doesn't make you feel that you're 'being taught.' Instead, readers learn by osmosis: her message (You Can Do It) seeps into your pores, trickles into your brain, becomes entangles in the strands of your DNA, and by the end, you've gotten an entire course in midwifery, obstetrics, childbirth, and courage.
DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK. And buy copies for every pregnant woman you know. They will thank you forever.

One of my favorite books, January 26, 2004
I read this during my last few weeks of pregnancy. I highly recommend the book, it was wonderful, but read it after you give birth. While many of the stories were happy ones, there are one or two sad ones and at nine months pregnant I had a hard time emotionally with the happy ones, I was a wreck with the sad ones! I've read a lot of women's birth stories, but this book is not just an accounting of the events of the births she attended (as so many birth stories are) but a really compelling read. Peggy Vincent is a wonderful storyteller and she really captivates you with her tales of catching babies while being mauled by the family cat or on a rickety boat during a storm. Highly recommended!

It gave me some context, November 18, 2003
The great thing about the stories in Baby Catcher is that they gave me some context for understanding labor and delivery. Before reading this book I only vaguely understood what they were. Peggy Vincent gives the reader a midwife's view of more than a dozen labors and deliveries. Although each birth is unique, some very helpful patterns emerged. I am grateful for having this vicarious experience and I will use it to decide whether to attempt a drug-free delivery.

Awesome! This book made me fearless, February 13, 2004
All the other books I read during my pregnancy scared me. Baby Catcher empowered me. It made me fearless. If all those women could do it - and do it in so many, many different ways, then for sure I knew I could do it, too.
And I did! I didn't have her at home, but I chose a midwife and a birthing center. And although I think I made a lot of noise, I felt fine about it. Everything went so smoothly, I had no drugs, my awesome midwife was with me the whole time, and my daughter came into the world with wide open eyes.
And I swear it's because someone gave me Baby Catcher to read. Otherwise I'd have stayed with my OB and probably ended up with pitosin and an epidural and a cesarean, like all my friends.
Thank you.

The best and most sensible book on the subject, February 13, 2004
This is the book for those who want an unbiased and balanced book on childbirth. Ms. Vincent has no agenda, no axe to grind, no diatribe. Her goal appears to be to open the eyes of women who are considering birth options so that they realize they have more choices than they may first have thought.
Baby Catcher is also a story of one modern midwife and how she was ultimately foiled by the Big Three: doctors, lawyers, and the insurance industry. As such, Baby Catcher serves as a wake-up call for women: there are still more battles to be won in this arena.
Read this one before all the others. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Essential for course review and NCLEX review, this resource is a complete, concentrated outline of maternal-newborn nursing. Each chapter contains objectives, pre- and post-tests with rationales, vocabulary review, practice to pass exercises, critical thinking case studies, as well as NCLEX alerts. Prentice Hall's Nursing Reviews & Rationales Series includes a comprehensive CD-ROM, to provide additional review. Content includes all of the "need-to-know" information covering reproduction, fetal development, nursing care during the normal and complicated prenatal, intrapartal, and postpartal periods, nursing care of the newborn, and much more. For nursing students in need of a resource that focuses on course review or NCLEX review as well as nursing professionals looking to familiarize themselves with a new specialty.

Reviews

Excellent Text, October 22, 2006
I honestly would not have passed my OB rotation without this book.
This text explained the concepts and vital details of maternal/newborn nursing. By only reading and in some cases answering the chapter questions, my understanding of this subject increased to the point that I went from below passing grades to a star of the class. This should be a required book at my college, and I;m sure that it would be helpful in any program.

Another good book from hogans, September 28, 2006
So i found out in april this book was coming out on August 1, 2006, and i kept checking to get my copy. dates got pushed to Aug. 25, then sept 6, then finally, it came out on Sept 20. do not like the fact that it did not come out the time predicted but stuff like this happens.

Pros:
Good content like the old edition. nclex pointers which are no longer represented by the nclex word but by something else (nothing fancy).
This edition provides pre and post test like the other edition EXCEPT in addition to giving the rationale, it also gives a test-taking strategy to help with answering the question and choosing the right answer. (really good strategies if you learn them)
This one follows the current nclex test plan in that it contains alternate format questions AS WELL AS diagrams or whatever you call it where you indicate the answer.
The nursing notes that comes with this has the same content as the other one except its of a better quality.
It has an audio glossary on the CD and the terminoly on the CD is matching so it is quite interactive.
I got my library to purchase this book while waiting for this new edition to come out, checked it out a few times and then someone stole it from the reserve desk so i did not get soo much into the content of the old one though i glanced through most parts of it. Hence, i can say this one has nicely formated tables,(in color, may i add) and various diagrams.
The questions are a little harder but i did them before reading the content so i know i'll find the answers in it. (i'm only answering based on information i've learned from other review books such as saunders, nsna, lippincott etc). did well on those tests but hogan has a lot more PERTINENT information based from seing everything i got wrong in the content.

THE NEUTRAL THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MADE BETTER
There is no online thing with an access code this time which is not bad in the sense that just as the online content associated with the other editions had a pretest, 10 practice nclex, 20 exam questions and the 10 ? postest, the CD has the prestest, postest and 30 practice questions so that comes out to the same 50 questions that would have been online. Good part is you get alternate format with the 30 questions as well.
It sucks that the same pre and post tests in the book are the same on the CD-ROM just like it was on the last edition.
I did the practice questions of chapter one on the last edition and so far, one of the questions is the same. But there are some new questions.
The fact that it says 700 bonus questions is quite misleading cuz only 30 of those questions per chapter are bonus. the remaining 20 are the same pre- and post-test in the book.

PART THAT SUCKS: THE CONS
The CD requires quick"bloody"time. I HATE QUICK TIME! (just not an apple person that's all- nothing crazy). The CDs i have had with my old hogan's did not require me to install anything. the little upside is that it allows you to do the interactive termilogy matching.

So, based on content, i give this book a 5 because of good info, great ?s and the test taking strategies which is helpful. The fact that the same pre and post tests are on the CD INSTEAD of new questions kinda sucks but it was the same with the old edition. Needing quicktime for the CD just makes me nauseas (joking). Considering i personally do like quicktime so based on the little cons, overall a 4. there's room for improvement at least with replacing the post and pre test with new questions to the CD . i'm sure most ppl can do with quicktime.

SO CONTENTWISE and helping you study 4 tests and NCLEX, I'LL SAY 5.
If you were expecting the 700 bonus questions not to include the same pre and post test, and you also hate quick time, then you'll agree a 4.5 overall.

I just got this book today. amazon delivered as promised and if i find any new things, i'll add it. If you are looking for a good review book, I SAY GET THIS BOOK cuz it sure is better than the old edition and the hogan series have helped me make A's in my nursing classes (i'm talking older editions) so I'm sure this edition would do better since it includes good test taking strategies with the material. i know people who used the older edition for maternity and scored excellent on their HESI as well as make their A's.
This book is well written and well edited and it is a great resource for nursing students. It's a great improvement from the old edition and it's WORTH every single penny. Quicktime or not, i still LOVE IT.

update: i've been out of school working for some time now and if you read this review, get this book. the reviews and rationales are good but i feel the maternity and medsurg ones are the best. I didn't read a textbook for maternity, everything i know comes from this book. No i would't work in labor and delivery but i seem to have such good knowledge on maternity. I passed the nclex at 75 questions the first time. it's soo worth the money. Pearson publishes this book and they're the ones behind nclex....make the link yourself.

This book is Great!, April 19, 2008
I purchased this book at the beggining of my women's health class. First test out I had a 19 chaper test, with well over 300 pages to read. Probably more.I was totally stressing over all the pages I had to read and how I was gonna retain all this information in such a short period of time. So I started reading this book,which is basically an outline that covers the key information, and gets rid of the "fluff" that's in alot of text books. I did the 50 or so questions for every chapter and made sure it correlated with what was in my text book.A few days later I went to my class , took my test and got a B on it. I was so happy. So now I have another test coming up soon and once again I plan to study this book and eat the NCLEX questions that accompany it. Wish me luck! This book is a GODsend! If you're in Maternal Neonatal Nursing this is the book u should get. It is WELL WORTH the money!

Well worth the $, January 9, 2007
This is a great reference book especially if you are a nursing student. This book is STRAIGHT to the point. The pre and posttest questions are great. In this edition the questions are formatted to give nursing students like myself, pratice with the new NCLEX format. The CD-ROM gives you additional practice questions and it links you to the internet for even more practice questions. Overall, this is a great reference.

Excellent, May 8, 2009
I purchased this book based on the recommendations of another nursing student and I'm only sorry I didn't buy it sooner. It is an excellent book that cuts out all the fluff and gets right to the point. I simply can't say enough about this review book as a supplement to any maternity class. Our classroom text book is horrible and I regret not having this book before I started my maternity rotation! There are pre and post tests plus some additional NCLEX style questions on the CD. I will purchase more of the books from this series (reviews & rationales).

very pleased, July 9, 2008
I purchased this book to be a specific review in this content for NCLEX since OB had been one of my first courses. It was wonderful in giving me all the info I was wanting to know. It gave pertinent assessment data, had chapters for each stage of the maternal process all the way through to normal/abnormal newborn, and it broke the info up into short chapters so studying it was easy to do during limited study hours. It also had a pre and post test for each chapter with NCLEX style questions, I loved that about this book. I would reccommend this to those studying for the NCLEX or as a study aid during your OB class.

awesome!!, July 14, 2008
I am an LVN who has only worked in Med-Surg. I used this book to brush up for RN boards. It was a tremendous help! especially for those who attend flex programs that have limited clinical time. Well worth the purchase and a Easy read!

Created for the nursing students in OBGYN rotation, February 28, 2010
This book is very intuitive, organized and informative. As a nursing student, i found it contained the most pertinent information for my OBGYN rotation. I did not spend any time reading my text book because this book covers the "need to know" information about maternal-newborn nursing. The pre and post tests were invaluable. The rationals were very informative. I would highly recommend this book!

ANY OB/MAT Student NEEDS this book!!!, December 29, 2009
A must-have for doing your OB/MAT rotations and lecture. This book utilized a few different resources so you are getting the most important info from resources compounded and easy to read. Questions are okay, but the text alone is beyond being both resourceful and structured. A MUST HAVE for sure! (I told my MAT professor this book, she was using a different OB book from the one that our school made us buy. She even purchased this book, PLUS, I made out even more because this book utilized the one she used for class and the one the school had us use!!)

GREAT BOOK. All the Prentice Nursing books ROCK!! Good luck fellow nurse-students!!!

A Necessity for OB/Maternity Class, November 8, 2010
This book is awesome. I'm still waiting to receive mine but a friend let me borrow hers. I loved it so much that I had to order one for myself. The book follows our OB text book for class and it's very easy for me to review key points and take NCLEX review tests with the disk that comes with the book. I love the rationales. I found this very helpful and I aced my first exam for this class. A definite must have if taking OB. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Part of the popular LPN Threads series, Introduction to Maternity & Pediatric Nursing provides a solid foundation in obstetrics and pediatric nursing. An easy-to-follow organization by developmental stages, discussion of disorders by body system from simple-to-complex and health-to-illness, and a focus on family health make it a complete guide to caring for maternity and pediatric patients. Written in a clear, concise style by Gloria Leifer, MA, RN, this edition reflects the current NCLEX^® test plan with additional material on safety, health promotion, nutrition, and related psychosocial care.

• Cultural Considerations boxes and a Cultural Assessment Data Collection Tool help in developing individualized plans of care.
• Updated health promotion content includes Health Promotion boxes focusing on preventive strategies for achieving prenatal wellness, health during pregnancy, postnatal health, and pediatric illness prevention and wellness -- including the complete immunization schedules for all ages.
• Nursing Tips provide information applying to the clinical setting.
• Objectives are listed in each chapter opener.
• Key terms include phonetic pronunciations and text page references at the beginning of each chapter.
• Nursing Care Plans with critical thinking questions help you understand how a care plan is developed, how to evaluate care of a patient, and how to apply critical thinking skills.
• A companion Evolve website includes animations, videos, answers to review questions and answer guidelines for critical thinking questions, an English/Spanish audio glossary, critical thinking case studies, and additional review questions for the NCLEX examination.

• Get Ready for the NCLEX^®Examination! sections at the end of each chapter help you prepare for classroom tests and the NCLEX examination.
• Increased focus on safety helps you prepare for safe nursing practice, with:
• Safety Alert! boxes based on The Joint Commission's 2009/2010 National Patient Safety Goals
• Medication Safety Alert! boxes highlighting serious and potentially fatal medication errors in infants and children
• New information on determining pediatric dosages and a discussion of the Pedislide system
• New skills include step-by-step instructions for:
• Bathing the Newborn
• Assessing the Length and Height of Infants and Children
• Calculating BMI
• Removal of a Peripheral Intravenous Catheter
• Using the Peak Flowmeter
• Using a Metered-Dose Inhaler
• Updated, vibrant full-color design highlights key information and enhances your understanding of important concepts.
• Updated nutrition content compares commercially available infant formulas and discusses organic, natural, and dietetic foods.
• Nutrition Considerations boxes cover prenatal care, nutritional issues during infancy, and the crisis in childhood obesity.
• Memory Jogger boxes help you remember important material with mnemonics, tips, and tricks.
• An updated glossary is available in the textbook, as well as on the companion Evolve website.

Reviews

Excellent book, April 10, 2007
As a nursing student myself, this is an excellent book for those who are going into OB. Easy reading, very informative for OB, but Peds not so much. Other than that, it's an excellent book.

Textbook Review, September 12, 2009
Wonderful seller, my product came as discribed and was in perfect condition. It arrived in clean package, and before estimated due date. Would rate at five stars, would by from again and again. Price was far better than competators prices, no other closely related product to that price!! Thanks!!

average, January 9, 2009
It wasn't in as good condition as advertised but it definately will do. I don't like how you dont know when your going to receive the book. I ordered two books at the same time. One for my friend and one for me. I had mine sent to my house and her's sent to her house. She got her's a week before me and mine was supposed to be in better condition then her's and it wasn't. Not the end of the world, but a little confusing. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A better way to learnmaternal and newborn nursing! This unique multi-media packagepresents tightly focused coverage in a highly structured book of 500 pages plus 10 hours of recorded content. Allof the fieldmust-have information is delivered in an easy-to-grasp, visuallyclear and precise print design, while the digital audio files on the enclosedCD enable students to download the material to their MP3 players or listen attheir computers. BONUS Audio Book on CD-ROM with 10 hours of narrated content from the text to play on a computeror download to an MP3 player or iPod. ... Read more

Reviews

Good but not great., June 20, 2010
This book is great for basic maternity information. Like reading notes from someone else's lectures, you'll get all the important info without getting into details. If you're looking for something more in-depth, this book is not for you. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This comprehensive workbook is designed to facilitate students' understanding of the material presented in the text. Each chapter corresponds to a chapter in the textbook and contains exercises and questions in varying formats to help students review material more efficiently and use the textbook more effectively. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Perfectfor course review now...and NCLEX prep later! 1,263 questions address all of maternal/newbornnursing class content. 1,013 questions in text are followed by a comprehensive100-question test. And as a bonus, therea CD-ROM with two final exams of 75questions each. The questions reflect the latest NCLX-RN test plan, with afocus on content related to physiological integrity. All questions in the finalexam and on the CD include rationales for both correct and incorrect answers. Click Here for a Special Mail-In Rebate Offer ... Read more

Reviews

Little disappointed, February 6, 2010
From this same publisher, I bought Med-Surg Success which was great and easily broken down into categories. This however, is the entire book in two sections, all questions really not relatable to and OB/Peds text. I would not recommend this as I would the Med-Surg Success book.

Very helpful!, January 25, 2010
I used this book for practice question during my nursing school second semester and it helped me a lot. I would definetly recommened this book for nursing students.

skip it, September 9, 2009
I read this book as a review for my OB review class and it did not help. I would suggest Prentice Hall Nursing Reviews & Rationals: Maternal-Newborn Nursing. It is straight to the point and will help you understand concepts way better.I would have bought it sooner if I only knew. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Maternal-newborn nursing is multi-faceted, challenging and rewarding. It provides multiple opportunities to touch lives and make a difference. In the new edition, those facets and their impact on maternal-newborn nursing is evident, while emphasizing that family members are co-particpants in care.  Because of the varied and rich opportunities for nurses, the theme emphasized in this edition are the many facets of maternal-newborn nursing. This thread is subtly woven throughout the book.

Reviews

Lots of ovelap, December 26, 2009
This is a good text book to have on hand if you want to learn med-surg of pregnancy and labour. However, preconception and antenatal info is better had from gynecological societies' latest publications, as well as the childhood content

I found with this text book there was a lot of overlap, I felt as I read through the chapters I was reading the same few concepts over and over again, so if you like reiteration, this book is for you, but it is far from concise. Its organization is also flawed. First you read about healthy mom, then healthy baby, then healthy labour and delivery, than complications from many specific points in pregnancy, each having their own chapter, each with lots of overlap.

A good introduction to infant maternal care but definately not for the nurse who already knows a fair bit about the field.

Newborn nursing, August 28, 2010
This is the textbook that I needed for school. I found it here and ordered it. Within days it was here.

very disappointed., January 20, 2010
I was very upset when I received my book. The last 20 pages in the back of the book were not binded correctly. I have barely used the book and it's already falling apart. I will never buy from this seller ever again.

AWESOME!!, April 30, 2009
The book was a great price for being new and shipped sooner than I could believe

Contemporary Maternal-Newborn Nursing Care, April 11, 2009
Awesome book....a real wealth of information. Was a little bummed that the DVD was not included. I would definitely recommend the book....best to get the 7th edition. Older editions obviously don't have all the same info. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Outstanding text-user friendly for students!, March 25, 2006
In a textbook review process designed for ABSN students on March 23, 2006, at the Duke School of Nursing, students reviewed, rated and chose this new text as their textbook for their summer 2006 course: The Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family.

As the course coordinator, I have become increasingly frustrated with the ongoing complaints of students about the size and "massive" amounts of material presented in the classic, maternity nursing text books. In frustration and in an attempt to be more sensitive to the adult learners (the ABSN students) I organized a team of 8 students who reviewed 12 contemporary maternity texts published or reissued in the last 12 months.

Hands down this was the #1 student choice. Students cited: the concise format, synthesis of core information, easy to understand nursing actions, readable charts, illustrations accompanied by real pictures, small size, and attractive cover as reasons for their choice. One students summed it up when she said, "When I look at this text book, I just know I can read it. It does not feel so overwhelming to me as a student."

While the author says it was designed for students in an ADN program, I would say it would be suitable for any beginning student. It has a very usuable on-line review section for students and a CD that accompanies the book.

While the vote is not in if the students will read the assigned readings in this text, I am confident that I am starting out the course with a text that is at least "user friendly" to students. I am very pleased with the choice of this textbook and would recommend it be given a review by maternity faculty and students.
Helen Gordon CNM, MS
Course Coordinator Duke School of Nursing

Good book!, December 18, 2008
Great book, easy to read. I give it a 4.5/5 because there are few errors in the book.

Good 2 Go!!, January 27, 2008
I received my brand new book two days before expected. I am pleased with my order and would order with company again. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

The worst textbook I have used to date., December 13, 2009
I bought this textbook for OB and Peds and after having taken both classes, I honestly feel like burning this textbook. Like I said in the title, this is the worst textbook I have used to date. This is throughout my entire educational experience, not just nursing school. The reasons are as follows:

Cons:

Poor editing - This book is riddled with errors.

Contradictory information - There is nothing more frustrating that reading about a given value in one page and two pages down, getting a different value for the same thing. This of course may be attributable to the poor editing or due to there being two authors but given how much I paid, I should not have to consult another book in order to get something I can use.

Poor layout - This text has the most illogical and irritating layout ever. The tables and boxes for a given topic/subtopic typically appear in the middle of the next topic/subtopic which throws you off your stride as you read through the text book. Really annoying.

Online answers to book questions - Why they could not put the answers in the back of the book is beyond me. All the answers to the end of chapter questions are online. If you don't have the online code, you can't access them.

Pros:

Full text online: You need a code to access the online text but once you do, it is really handy. You can even print out the entire book online if you wish.

Wish I could think of more pros but that is it. If you have to use this book, I sympathize.

poor illustrations, June 30, 2010
The book is readable (if only it didn't weigh 1000 lbs--why aren't these textbooks on Kindle??) but many of the illustrations are poor and difficult to figure out. It's like the illustrator didn't understand what he/she was drawing. They look pretty, but don't portray what they're supposed to portray!

Good book, December 15, 2009
This book is very simple to read for people who have a hard time focusing on a lot of information. Not very complete for RN students, but if you are having a hard time understanding the content of your other books, this one will simplify it all and give you a good base. For LPN students, this should be more than enough.
Also a good option for reviewing the material before N-Clex or starting to wolk on the floor (If you have been working on Med-Surg or ER, and are being transfered to Peds, OB, or Nursery, and need to polish up on it.)
I wouldnt count on this book for all the information I need, if this is all you read, you will be lacking some knowledge. ... Read more

Editorial Review

For over two decades, HEART & HANDS has been a beloved guide for both midwives and parents interested in the benefits of midwifery care. This all-new fourth edition has been revised from start to finish, featuring updated material that emphasizes independent midwifery, physiologic (natural) birth, and the art of nonintervention. Midwifery expert Elizabeth Davis includes valuable hints for turning breech and posterior babies, mediating pain in labor, and supporting newborn physiology. Davis also reveals the keys to postpartum recovery, with practical tips on breastfeeding for busy mothers. Comprehensive and compassionate, HEART & HANDS remains a dog-eared classic for parents, midwives, and other birthing helpers. ... Read more

Reviews

Amazingly helpful!, June 10, 2000
This *textbook* is awesome. There is so much information in here, do not borrow this book from your library! Purchasing this wonderfully helpful book is the only way to go. You won't be sorry! There are so many pictures, drawings and exemplary descriptions to assist you in your lifetime learning of this 'calling' - midwifery care and assistance.

If you're a doula - you want this book. If you're a childbirth educator - you want this book. If you're an aspiring midwife of any kind - you want this book. If you're a mother, a grandmother, an expectant parent, or a natural childbirth advocate - you too, want this book!

Guiding you through prenatal care, problems during pregnancy, the birth process, complications during labor, postpartum care for mothers and babies - this guide will last many, many lifetimes over. Included also, is information about becoming a midwife, and even setting up your own practice - or finding the right careeer route for yourself.

This is a timeless piece of artwork! Enjoy!

excellent book for midwifery students, January 4, 2000
Newly revised, this book is an old friend of mine. One of the first midwifery books I read, it covers an enormous breadth of information, yet is understandable for the beginner. It is still one of the 2 or 3 books I refer to first when I need to look something up. Elizabeth Davis just revamped and revised this book in 1997, and it is better than ever, with new sections on herbs and homeopathy, working with apprentices, hepatitis and HIV, midwifery practices, and issues of legalization, NARM, and MANA.

The book is very well-organized, with lots of excellent illustrations that make concepts easy to understand. There are many boxed areas for quick reference on herbs, and issues for pregnant women reading the book. These include questions to ask a potential midwife, self-care in pregnancy, danger signs in pregnancy, and many more. I recommend this book to consumers as well as midwives, as I think educating yourself during your pregnancy is very important, and this book is a wonderful resource.

My only criticism with the book is that the information is not very well documented- Davis will mention that research has found such-and-such, but doesn't cite the researcher or where it was published.

Wonderful resource for expectant mothers, too, May 12, 1999
I'm not a midwife, but I wanted lots of information about childbrith before the birth of my first baby. This was our favorite book about childbirth: the information was specific, the drawings were clear and beautiful, and the whole book was encouraging.

Full of heart, May 17, 2003
Elizabeth Davis's classic Heart and Hands just keeps getting better and better with each new edition as she strives to keep current with the craziness that is going on in obstetrical practice today. Geared toward midwives of all persuasions (CNM, CM, LM, DEM, etc.) some of whom may find themselves in a homebirth practice by default (as I did after completing midwifery school in 1980 and unable to secure hospital privileges until 1984), it's also essential reading for those pregnant couples who plan to give birth with a midwife in attendance. It is also an excellent resource for those who, because of their insurance, are destined to birth with doctors in hospitals but still want to be prepared with knowledge that will help them claim as much control as possible.
Beautiful photographs, exquisite drawings, and personal stories complement the appeal of this classic book that is destined, one hopes, never to go out of print.

To the person who said: More pronography then medical guidance, May 21, 2007
This reader has an issue with a woman's whole body. In many birth books all you see is from the wasit down like the woman is not a whole person. When we focus on the whole picture (a womans torso, breasts and FACE!) we remember this isn't a birthing machine that needs fixing; this is a person, a woman, a mother.

A lovely book for midwives and women!, November 23, 2004
Within the first few lines of this book, it is clear that this has a very different feel from your `average' midwifery textbook: Elizabeth begins by talking about how women have helped each other give birth since the dawn of time and her words throughout the book focus on the social ~ rather than the medical ~ context of birth and midwifery. In fact, throughout the book, the woman remains the focus of the whole experience, something which might sound obvious but isn't always achieved in reality. The text is interspersed with quotes from women, practical suggestions and stories from her own experience, beautiful photographs and drawings which clearly show the positions of relevant organs while acknowledging that women and babies come in three dimensions (as opposed to the cross-sectional pictures which tend to characterise the more medically-focused textbooks).

Heart and Hands intersperses the clinical with the practical, social, psychological and spiritual, and key terms are in bold, which makes it easy to find what you are looking for and to scan a whole page for relevant information. There are fourteen appendices including suggestions for records / notes for different stages of childbearing, a birthkit list and a "postnatal instructions" handout.

It is noticeable that some aspects of this book have changed over time, so it is well worth taking a look at the new edition even if you have one of the older versions. For example, the book now incorporates more reference to research on key clinical topics (while managing to retain both the practical flavour and the emphasis on women's ways of knowing that have always made it popular with midwives) and Elizabeth herself reflects on how practice has moved on from the days when midwives tended to `overinvolve' themselves in labour. All in all, this is a lovely book which I am sure would soon become well loved (and probably quite tatty from repeated use!) in the hands of any midwife, doula, childbirth educator or pregnant woman!

Sara Wickham, author of "Midwifery: Best Practice"

Must have for homebirthing parents, August 8, 2003
As an unassisted homebirthing mother, I love this book. It gives a wonderful amount of information without giving too much. I have a copy of Williams Obstetrics and several other texts, but this is my favorite!

Excellent Resource, January 14, 2000
I was exceedingly pleased when I received this book. As a student interested in Midwifery as a career I found this book up to date, simple to understand, but detailed in its explanations. It's list of resources was very helpful for me to find educational plans and schools.

Super!, April 28, 2001
This book has got to be one of the best books written for childbirth professionals. The information is informative and interesting, and the book actually contains professional forms for readers to consider in their own practice. This is a book I recommend for the shelf of anyone who is interested in studying midwifery, or anyone interested in hiring a midwife for their own birth.

A Beautiful book promoting the essence of Midwifery, January 9, 1999
This tender book has given me, as a student Nurse-Midwife, a precious insight to the essence of Midwifery that has gotten lost for some. In the midst of Midwifery school where details on the hows of birth are heavily concentrated on I pick up this book when I need to 'feel' that deep-seeded passion that Midwives have for their careers and their precious patients. The text is simply written, but also complex in its coverage of many aspects of birth. Ms. Davis does a fantastic job giving an explanation to the psychological and mystical events surrounding birth. Thank goodness that this sister Midwife shares her insight and experience with those of us who are doing everything we can to learn this challenging information. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This essential study tool provides additional exercises to help you master the material presented in the textbook including chapter review activities, critical thinking exercises, multiple-choice and matching questions, and more. ... Read more

Reviews

Great companion guide, May 31, 2010
This book is very helpful to use as a study aid and review for tests. It coincides with the textbook well. I highly recommend this guide to go along with the textbook even when it is not a mandatory purchase.

Wrong item...but still pleased with service, July 11, 2010
The wrong item was mailed to me, but they replied very promptly to my concerns. They gave me a prepaid postage stamp and they promptly reimbursed me for my purchase.

Public Health Class, February 26, 2010
I bought this for a senior level public health class I took recently. It was very well written and comes with a cd that allows you to learn and take tests on the material along the way. My nursing background is limited only to what I have learned from my mother (nurse of 30+ years) but it was enough to get me interested in looking into attending nursing school myself. Whether you take the class or not, I highly recommend the book.

nursing study guide at a decent price, August 15, 2009
I recently ordered this study guide for my daughter. She is a nursing student and has found that the study guides really help her prepare for tests. It was priced fairly and arrived when expected in great condition.

Perfect!, August 1, 2008
This was a book that I needed for school. It was a good price here, way cheaper than buying it from the school bookstore. It was just what I needed. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This is a Davis' "Notes" book. "OB Peds Women's Health Notes: Nurse's Clinical Pocket Guide" provides students and clinicians quick access to detailed information in OB/Women's Health and pediatric clinical practice. It will help not only with situations for which there has been no preparation, but also as a quick review for newly learned patient care information. The focus will be on key issues with brief inclusion of supporting theories, such as those related to growth and development and patient teaching. ... Read more

Reviews

Pleasantly surprised, November 21, 2008
During my OB/Peds rotation for nursing school I was pleasantly surprised at how helpful this little pocket book was. I found myself looking up interventions that were really useful. I liked that it had all the more common complications and diseases of childhood and pregnancy. I would recommend this book for anyone that needs a quick reference to help with questioning instructors.

A perfect tool for nurses and midwives, August 16, 2010
my wife recieved a perfect gift that she uses for her line of work. A great gift for a student nurse or midwife and an asset to woman learning about self.

it works, November 22, 2009
It works. I haven't had much use for it yet but it is full of information. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Encompassing the entire scope of the practice of midwifery, Varney's Midwifery covers the provision of primary care to women frompuberty through senescence, including the maternity cycle and primary care of the well newborn. This new edition has been extensively revised and updated to reflect the full scope of current midwifery practice.

It contains new chapters on nutrition in women's health, primary care and midwifery, pharmacology and midwifery, international midwifery and safe motherhood, cultural competence in midwifery practice, and common diagnoses in women's gynecological health. Four new skills chapters are also included. ... Read more

Reviews

This book is a must reference for every practicing midwife., June 12, 1999
I have read the other posted reviews of this textbook and feel obliged to respond to those who negatively critiqued its application to out-of-hospital birth. Midwifery IS midwifery. The principles put forth in this third edition set the gold standard for safe and competent care of mothers and neonates ... regardless of the setting ... and also provide the parameters for well-woman care. It would behoove every midwife to become as knowledgeable as possible about full-scope midwifery practice and Varney's Midwifery provides an ideal resource.

Keep Your Second Edition and Your Money!, June 27, 1998
A great disappointment after a long wait. The midwifery community, eagerly anticipating the release of this third edition, and expecting promised text changes and updates on practice, received a political travesty instead of a midwifery textbook. Historical information pertaining to the midwifery movement in the United States is not only inaccurate, but intentionally deceiving. Sadly, this book endeavors to further divide midwives from differing educational backgrounds in the U. S., where great efforts are being made to unite the profession. As for core educational and reference content, the book does not provide enough updated information to justify its purchase if one already owns the second edition. For one small example, even though the text touches on information pertaining to out-of-hospital birth, it does not give adequate information in these areas. It is apparent that the author is occupied with political rather than educational agendas. Don't let the name change deceive you ... this is most certainly "nurse-midwifery" from the author's perspective. An extreme disappointment.

This book is the quintessential textbook for midwives., June 12, 1999
As Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Nurse-Midwifery (JNM), the official publication of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, I would like to share my own unequivocal 5-star rating of this textbook for midwives as well as some excerpted comments taken from the excellent review it received in the March/April 1997 issue of JNM. Here's what Judith Carveth Trexler, CNM, PhD, the reviewer, had to say: "Midwives have long awaited the third edition of this classic reference. Its expansion in size and scope make it the definitive text for midwives and one that clearly serves as a primary reference for the profession .... Although midwives remain the primary audience for this book, it also serves as an excellent resource for medical students, nurses (particularly those in advanced practice), physician assistants, and other health professionals who find themselves in need of a comprehensive text that applies the physiologic and psychosocial dimensions of women's and infant health to safe, client-centered clinical management."

This book is a huge snore, December 13, 2007
Perspective of a soon-to-graduate direct-entry midwifery student: I would rather read almost ANY book rather than this one. I know some of you have to buy it like I did, but if you don't *have* to, don't. My toddler ripped a few pages out of it, and honestly, instead of getting upset that she had totally messed up a $100 book, I was kind of glad she did it, because I hate this book so much. I'd rather read anything by Anne Frye, Myles, heck, even Williams over this thing. It is boring as all get out, completely non-dynamic, there's no glossary, the index stinks, there are no words in bold or anything, no little case studies in a box beside the text... I mean NOTHING to relieve the monotony of the tone. Gag me with a spoon.

An excellent resource for Nurse-Midwives of all types, December 4, 1998
I am currently a Nurse-Midwifery Student in Northern Virginia and have found Varney's to be an excellent resource for students. I have read it from cover to cover many times and find that the scientific rationale provided in the chapters of the text help guide a new Midwife into this challenging and stimulating field of work. Ms. Varney is complex in her review of the care of women throughout their lifecycle. I have used this book so much that I also purchased 'The Pocket Midwife' to be a handy reference to the text. Although I may not practice all of the skills taught within the text, they were certainly thought provoking. I am sure to continue to read and reread this text in my preparation for starting my long-awaited career as a Nurse-Midwife! We are blessed that Ms. Varney has offered students a comprehensive and insightful text of Nurse-Midwifery! Thank you!

A must read, November 20, 2003
I have always found Varney to be useful and easy to read, especially in comparison to Speroff or Gabbe. I think that this book was never intended to be the definitive text on home birth. If a midwife's interest lies in homebirth, seek out books that cater to that option. I found the skills sections especially helpful. It isn't Varney's job to unite midwives, her primary job is to educate. You can not teach the spirit of midwife through a book, that's where mentoring comes into play. This is certainly a must have for all practicing midwives, regardless of educational background.

Excellent refereal and teaching text, April 23, 1999
I commend Ms. Rooks on her accomplishment, HOWEVER , please DELETE the section on circumcision. Let the patient and pediatric practitioner address this subject. We midwives do not belong in this field except to personally respond to inquiries of the patient. We should point out the "cons" of this barbaric procedure in the same way we do to routine anesthesia during labor and birth.

Scientific Midwifery explored,but lacks Midwifery's spirit!, September 14, 1998
I am currently a student CNM and have found Varney's to offer a great insight to the scientific end of Midwifery. However, I feel that Ms. Varney neglects the beautiful and spiritual side of providing Midwifery care. Although I found her text to be comprehensive in certain aspects of theory and rationale of Nurse-Midwifery I was disappointed that such a classic Midwifery text would leave out the wholistic focus of Midwifery. It is a book I refer to often, but I place it alongside my William's Obstetrics and Gabbe's text. I was hoping to place it among Spiritual Midwifery, Heart and Hands, Frye's Holistic Midwifery, and many countless others that place the primary focus on sharing with women. I am glad that I purchased the text for my library and found it helpful, but it was certainly not what I expected. I feel that certain sections of this text whould not be included (ie. Circumcision for one could feel that the author of this chapter believes wholeheartedly in the practice of routine circumcision). I did not expect such brutality in a Midwifery text.

Holy Grail of Midwifery, October 12, 2010
This book is very well written, detailed, and easy to understand. I couldn't have been more excited when UPS pulled up to my house with this package! It's the Holy Grail of Midwifery!

A staple for students, a resource for midwives, June 3, 2008
A classic textbook that has it all. Essential reference for students and practicing midwives alike. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Instantly access the latest information on evaluating fetal status in a practical, portable format perfect for use in the clinical environment! Using an evidence-based approach, Pocket Guide to Fetal Monitoring and Assessment provides detailed guidance on standardized interpretation and management, incorporating patient safety concepts throughout. As the first multidisciplinary text on fetal monitoring, this resource is geared towards the busy clinician.

• Portable and practical information for evaluating intrapartum and antepartum fetal status
• Single source of information for care designed specifically for use in the clinical environment
• Consistent, two-color outline format includes the description, characteristics, etiology, clinical significance, and intervention for each situation or condition

• Detailed review of the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD) standardized terminology
• A new approach to fetal assessment based on the oxygen pathway and fetal response to hypoxemia
• Current information on excessive uterine activity and fetal acidemia, with suggestions for oxytocin management
• Standardized interpretation and management of fetal heart rate response using an evidence-based algorithm
• Patient safety and risk management strategies with case study illustration
• Practical information on documentation in electronic fetal monitoring, including legal issues
• Information on neonatal encephalopathy and intrapartum events
• Deposition excerpts from actual malpractice cases related to EFM
• Adjunct fetal assessment using analysis of the fetal ST segment

Reviews

Excellent pocket guide, October 28, 2008
This is an excellent, compact book with everything you need to know about fetal monitoring. Fantastic pathways, clinical guidelines, and examples of EFM strips. Wording is clearly defined, and is the most up to date according to NICHD guidelines. This handy little book is small enough to keep in your pocket while working in the hospital unit. Great for nurses, students, midwives, and physicians!

Mosby's Fetal Monitoring 6th Edition, November 27, 2009
This pocket guide is great learning! It is the basis for an 8 hour course and exam for the Labor & Delivery nurses at Women and Children's Hospital in Buffalo, NY. The authors actually taught a course to familiarize the instructors that teach our class.

School Textbook, December 24, 2008
We used this book as a textbook for my midwifery college. The information within the book is easy to understand and well written. Some points in the book are somewhat vague, so I do recommend combining this book with other sources (such as Dr. David Miller's webcast on FHR, or other books or videos). Overall though it is an excellent resource! ... Read more