Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) play a critical role in ensuring the implementation of high-quality evidence based care, improved patient outcomes, and reduced health care delivery costs. Professional certification is one way we distinguish our unique contributions and advanced practice nursing expertise from other advanced practice roles. This first edition of the book represents a compilation of Clinical Nurse Specialist practice knowledge contributed by respected clinicians from across the nation for certification examination preparation. The book incorporates content from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS) Population Focused Competencies and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses Scope and Standards for CNS Practice. It begins with an introduction to the current AGCNS examination options, test plans and processes, as well as test taking strategies for success. The remainder of the book organizes test plan subject matter according to the three spheres of impact of CNS practice. The book includes twelve chapters presenting the overview, pathophysiology, etiology, assessment, diagnosis, treatment/management, and related pharmacology content according to each body system. It addresses the nurse and nursing practice sphere of impact. Relevant content includes age-related response to illness and adult-gerontology population specific practice standards for care and advocacy of the older adult. Emphasis is placed upon culturally competent care and safe care transitions. Nursing practice content includes consultation, collaboration, education, mentoring and communication skills. Nurse and nursing practice advocacy topics review public policy, professional practice issues, and ethical concerns. The book covers systems and systems leadership competencies of the CNS. Relevant content involves quality improvement principles, safety initiatives, financial stewardship, organizational level program development and systems change. Clinical inquiry subject matter covers evidence- based practice, research methodology, and skills for dissemination of CNS work.

This book offers suggestions regarding how pastoral counselors can navigate the changing landscape of mental health care in our current context to maintain unity amid our diversity. Pastoral counseling continues to evolve from its origins as a specialized ministry to an approach to mental health care offered in a wide array of contexts, including both religious and secular settings. The book first offers an introduction to the discipline of pastoral counseling by outlining a brief history of pastoral counseling as well as an understanding of how the discipline maintains unity amid the vast diversity of practices and practitioners. Then, it details pastoral counseling theory and practice according to three precepts: a way of being, a way of understanding, and a way of intervening. Next, the book reflects the religious diversity present among pastoral counselors and those they serve. It further illustrates special issues in pastoral counseling. These special issues further exemplify the distinctiveness of pastoral counseling as evidenced by the functions of referral, consultation, and collaboration, the education and supervision of pastoral counselors, and the use of both qualitative and quantitative research methods. In recognition of our increased technological abilities, as well as the dearth of mental health resources available in some geographic regions, the book guides the reader in understanding distance counseling and how to engage in an ethical distance counseling practice. Finally, the book builds on the theory and practice of pastoral counseling by offering a prophetic call for the future of the discipline.

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are the backbone of primary care. They see a wide variety of patients who experience different types of pain. Knowing how to deal with a multitude of patients with different pain complaints can help move these patients through the healthcare system efficiently with positive outcomes. With substance abuse disorders on the minds of both providers and patients, information on the best practices to use for pain management with medication as well as other treatment modalities is vital to providing patient-centered care. In light of the opioid epidemic, the authors reveal safe prescribing methods, inclusion of the patient in the decision-making process, and ways to monitor opioid use. In addition, topics such as opioid withdrawal, working in systems with pain management, and when to refer to a pain clinic, are covered. More important, information on what the clinician and the patient should expect from such a referral is provided. This book provides useful information on treating both simple and complex pain conditions. Clinically pertinent information on assessment, opioid risk assessment, and treatment options help the clinician treat patients most effectively. Case studies provide the clinician with an opportunity to consider realistic pain presentations. Clinical pearls focus on the important aspects of each chapter, and trending points highlight new and upcoming treatments as well as information on specific topics. The section on integrative and interventional therapies offers valuable and contemporary alternatives to the treatment of pain that can be used in other areas of practice besides pain management.

The field of counseling is an exciting and challenging career choice. It is a profession that has a prolific history of enabling person-centered counseling approaches for individuals, couples, partners, and families, and facilitates therapeutic services for children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. This book offers an excellent resource for graduate-level coursework that relates to an orientation to the counseling profession, professional issues, and special topic seminars, as well as other counseling-related coursework. It provides both contemporary insight and practical strategies for working with the complexity of real-life issues related to assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of diverse clients and their families. The book provides professionals with chapters organized into the 10 CACREP and CORE content areas that address the awareness, knowledge, and skills required to work with children, adolescents, individuals, groups, couples, families, and persons from diverse cultural backgrounds. The content areas are: professional counseling identity, ethical and practice management issues, case management and consultation issues, multicultural counseling awareness, counseling theories and techniques, career counseling and human growth, assessment and diagnosis, counseling couples, families, and groups, counseling specific populations, and contemporary issues in counseling.

The social work role in nursing facilities is a valuable resource in the lives of residents, families, and staff. Whether the nursing facility is called a nursing home, a long-term care center, or a subacute or a rehabilitation center, the social worker is an essential, vital member of the healthcare team. As in other settings, social workers in nursing home settings use professional casework skills to help people in particular times of crisis and stress. As a contributing member of the interdisciplinary team, the social worker provides an opportunity for residents and families to examine problems, mobilize existing resources and/or refer to resources that are more appropriate, and develop positive resolutions. This third revised edition of A Guide for Nursing Home Social Workers provides the knowledge and information that social workers, regardless of their education and experience, need in the performance of their role in nursing home settings. The book is divided into six parts to help categorize the content: Social Work in Nursing Facilities; The Interdisciplinary Team; Nursing Facilities and Governing Oversights; Diagnosis, Treatment, and Care Issues; Ethics; and Community Liaisons. The first part presents key informational topics that social workers may utilize in their day-to-day work, such as assessments, care planning, and documentation. The second part contains information about team meetings, room changes, staff training and in-services, and social work consultation. The third part addresses a range of topics including Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) and the Minimum Data Set 3.0, as well as state surveys and facility policies. The fourth part provides current information about care topics such as neurocognitive disorders, mood disorders, medication, and pain in older adults, as well as groups, families, and diversity within the nursing facility. The fifth part contains chapters on social work ethics, legal representation, abuse, neglect, mistreatment, and confidentiality. The final part includes chapters on resident finances, transfer and discharge, community resources, funeral arrangements, pandemics and disaster planning, and trauma-informed care and adverse childhood experiences. The goal of this guide is to provide some of the necessary supports and assistance needed by social workers in this field as they pursue their profession of helping residents, families, and others involved in long-term care.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful therapeutic approach. However, without the proper training and consultation, an untrained clinician (and this includes very experienced clinicians) could put their clients at risk. This Primer’s goal is to target those clinicians who have completed the EMDR therapy two-part basic training, 10 hours of supervised consultation, and have read Dr. Shapiro’s basic text (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures, 3rd ed.) and Getting Past Your Past, but still want additional information on using it skillfully. The Primer will encourage and raise the confidence levels of those trained but wanting to increase their ability to use EMDR therapy with consistent success. The primary intention of the Primer is to supplement Dr. Shapiro’s explanation of EMDR therapy. It is not meant to be a substitute for her training or previous writings. The reader is urged to read and study them all. The book adds case histories and extensive examples of successful EMDR reprocessing sessions. The cases represent composite or conglomerate portraits of the many clients with whom the author has utilized EMDR therapy over the past 20 years. The text is a Primer and presents the writing, examples, and illustrations in a less formal and more personal manner. The Primer has been written from a practical, learning-focused approach so that the clinicians who read it can become more familiar with the principles, protocols, and procedures of EMDR therapy. An attempt is made to take the clinician through complete and incomplete EMDR therapy sessions, explaining treatment rationale at given points. The book offers a Primer that can facilitate the process of mental health professionals becoming more confident and experienced clinicians in EMDR therapy. The process has been simplified as much as possible with diagrams, tables, and other illustrations.

For more than six decades, the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) role has been an integral part of healthcare in the United States. This book is an essential text for students, faculty, and those currently in practice. The editors are expert CNSs with a proven track record of accomplishments, both academically and professionally. For this new edition, they have, once again, assembled a host of other notable CNSs to author chapters that address topics relevant to CNS practice, regardless of specialty or practice setting. The mission is to advance the unique expertise and value of the clinical nurse specialist contributions to healthcare. Further, this text pays homage to Peplau’s concept and vision of the CNS role and brings it forward to the present day. For contemporary CNS practice, this text serves as a comprehensive and cohesive professional reference owing to its focus on quality, safety, leveraging of technology and Big Data, evidence-based practice, leadership, and consultation. This edition has a new section, Creating a Culture of Quality, that focuses on the importance of patient safety, high-reliability organizations, leveraging of Big Data, and improving efficiency of CNS practice. A key element of the text is the inclusion of the CNS practice conceptual framework along with the CNS practice competencies, such as consultation, mentorship, and leadership. Organization of chapter content in this manner helps provide structure and guidance and reinforces the CNS practice competencies.