**American Journal of Nursing (AJN) Book of the Year Awards, 2nd Place in Gerontologic Nursing, 2025** **Selected for 2026 Doody's Core Titles in Geriatrics**
Prepare to compassionately care for the aging population with Gerontologic Nursing, 7th Edition, uniquely known for its comprehensive coverage of the most common medical-surgical problems associated with older adults. Organized by body system for easy retrieval of information, it delves into health promotion and both basic and complex gerontologic concepts and issues. A disorder-focused approach addresses nursing management and care coordination across health care delivery settings. This text emphasizes topics such as nutrition, chronic illness, emergency treatment, patient teaching, home care, and end-of-life care — and provides you with a solid foundation to meet the future challenges of providing nursing care for the vast and growing older adult population.
1. PART I. Introduction to Gerontologic Nursing - p. 1 2. 1. Overview of gerontologic nursing - p. 2 3. 2. Healthcare policy that affects older adults - p. 18 4. 3. Assessment of the older adult - p. 36 5. PART II. Influences on Health and Illness - p. 59 6. 4. Family influences - p. 60 7. 5. Socioeconomic and environmental influences - p. 70 8. 6. Health promotion and illness/disability prevention - p. 81 9. PART III. Influences on Quality of Life - p. 93 10. 7. Nutrition - p. 94 11. 8. Sleep and activity - p. 108 12. 9. Safety - p. 124 13. 10. Sexuality and aging - p. 150 14. 11. Pain - p. 163 15. 12. Infection and inflammation - p. 182 16. PART IV. Diagnostic Studies and Pharmacologic Management - p. 195 17. 13. Laboratory and diagnostic tests - p. 196 18. 14. Drugs and aging - p. 211 19. PART V. Nursing Care of Physiologic and Psychological Disorders - p. 235 20. 15. Integumentary function - p. 236 21. Age-related changes in skin structure and function - p. 236 22. Common problems and conditions - p. 238 23. Malignant skin growths - p. 246 24. Lower extremity ulcers - p. 248 25. Pressure injuries - p. 250 26. Summary - p. 266 27. References - p. 267 28. 16. Sensory function - p. 270 29. 17. Cardiovascular function - p. 290 30. Age-related changes in structure and function - p. 290 31. Common cardiovascular problems - p. 291 32. Hypertension - p. 291 33. Risk factors for heart disease - p. 296 34. Coronary artery disease - p. 298 35. Arrhythmia - p. 303 36. Orthostatic hypotension - p. 305 37. Syncope with cardiac causes - p. 306 38. Valvular heart disease (VHD) - p. 307 39. CHF - p. 309 40. Peripheral artery disease - p. 314 41. Chronic venous insufficiency - p. 316 42. Anemia - p. 318 43. Summary - p. 320 44. References - p. 321 45. 18. Respiratory function - p. 325 46. Age-related changes in structure and function - p. 325 47. Factors affecting lung function - p. 328 48. Respiratory findings common in older patients - p. 329 49. Respiratory alterations in older patients - p. 330 50. Obstructive pulmonary disease - p. 330 51. Restrictive pulmonary disease - p. 341 52. Other respiratory alterations - p. 348 53. Summary - p. 353 54. References - p. 354 55. 19. Gastrointestinal function - p. 357 56. Age-related changes in structure and function - p. 357 57. Prevention - p. 360 58. Common GI symptoms - p. 360 59. Common diseases of the GI tract - p. 364 60. Disorders of the accessory organs - p. 374 61. GI cancers - p. 381 62. Esophageal cancer - p. 381 63. Gastric cancer - p. 382 64. Colorectal carcinoma - p. 383 65. Pancreatic cancer - p. 384 66. Liver cancer - p. 385 67. Summary - p. 385 68. References - p. 386 69. 20. Urinary function - p. 388 70. Age-related changes in structure and function - p. 388 71. Prevalence of UI - p. 389 72. Common incontinence problems and conditions - p. 389 73. Nursing care guidelines for incontinence - p. 391 74. Age-related renal changes - p. 397 75. Common renal problems and conditions - p. 398 76. Summary - p. 412 77. References - p. 412 78. 21. Musculoskeletal function - p. 414 79. Age-related changes in structure and function - p. 414 80. Common problems and conditions of the musculoskeletal system - p. 415 81. Hip fracture - p. 415 82. Colles fracture - p. 419 83. Clavicular fracture - p. 419 84. Casts and cast care - p. 419 85. Osteoarthritis - p. 420 86. Spinal stenosis - p. 423 87. Rheumatoid arthritis - p. 424 88. Gouty arthritis - p. 426 89. Osteoporosis - p. 428 90. Paget’s disease - p. 433 91. Osteomyelitis - p. 434 92. Amputation - p. 435 93. Polymyalgia rheumatica - p. 437 94. Foot problems - p. 438 95. Muscle cramps - p. 439 96. Summary - p. 440 97. References - p. 440 98. 22. Cognitive and neurologic function - p. 444 99. The central nervous system - p. 444 100. Cognitive disorders associated with altered thought processes - p. 447 101. Other common problems and conditions - p. 460 102. Suicide - p. 460 103. Parkinson disease - p. 462 104. Cerebrovascular accident - p. 468 105. Anxiety - p. 473 106. Schizophrenia - p. 474 107. Mental health resources - p. 475 108. Summary - p. 476 109. References - p. 478 110. Websites - p. 480 111. 23. Endocrine function - p. 481 112. Endocrine physiology in older adults - p. 481 113. Common endocrine pathophysiology in older adults - p. 484 114. Summary - p. 501 115. References - p. 502 116. Websites - p. 504 117. PART VI. Health Care Transitions - p. 505 118. 24. Health care delivery settings and older adults - p. 506 119. Characteristics of older adults in acute care - p. 506 120. Characteristics of the acute care environment - p. 507 121. Nursing in the acute care setting - p. 509 122. Continuity of care - p. 511 123. Implementing the plan of treatment - p. 513 124. Oasis - p. 514 125. Community-based providers - p. 514 126. Factors affecting the health care needs of older adults - p. 514 127. Home health care - p. 517 128. Overview of long-term care - p. 518 129. Clinical aspects of the nursing facility - p. 520 130. Management aspects of the nursing facility - p. 525 131. Specialty care settings - p. 526 132. Innovations in the nursing facility - p. 527 133. The future of the nursing facility - p. 528 134. Hospice - p. 528 135. Summary - p. 530 136. References - p. 531 137. 25. Chronic illness and rehabilitation - p. 534 138. 26. Cancer - p. 548 139. 27. Loss and end-of-life issues - p. 572 140. Appendix A: Resources and advocacy groups for older adults - p. 588 141. Index - p. 591
**American Journal of Nursing (AJN) Book of the Year Awards, 2nd Place in Gerontologic Nursing, 2025** **Selected for 2026 Doody's Core Titles in Geriatrics**
Prepare to compassionately care for the aging population with Gerontologic Nursing, 7th Edition, uniquely known for its comprehensive coverage of the most common medical-surgical problems associated with older adults. Organized by body system for easy retrieval of information, it delves into health promotion and both basic and complex gerontologic concepts and issues. A disorder-focused approach addresses nursing management and care coordination across health care delivery settings. This text emphasizes topics such as nutrition, chronic illness, emergency treatment, patient teaching, home care, and end-of-life care — and provides you with a solid foundation to meet the future challenges of providing nursing care for the vast and growing older adult population.
1. PART I. Introduction to Gerontologic Nursing - p. 1 2. 1. Overview of gerontologic nursing - p. 2 3. 2. Healthcare policy that affects older adults - p. 18 4. 3. Assessment of the older adult - p. 36 5. PART II. Influences on Health and Illness - p. 59 6. 4. Family influences - p. 60 7. 5. Socioeconomic and environmental influences - p. 70 8. 6. Health promotion and illness/disability prevention - p. 81 9. PART III. Influences on Quality of Life - p. 93 10. 7. Nutrition - p. 94 11. 8. Sleep and activity - p. 108 12. 9. Safety - p. 124 13. 10. Sexuality and aging - p. 150 14. 11. Pain - p. 163 15. 12. Infection and inflammation - p. 182 16. PART IV. Diagnostic Studies and Pharmacologic Management - p. 195 17. 13. Laboratory and diagnostic tests - p. 196 18. 14. Drugs and aging - p. 211 19. PART V. Nursing Care of Physiologic and Psychological Disorders - p. 235 20. 15. Integumentary function - p. 236 21. Age-related changes in skin structure and function - p. 236 22. Common problems and conditions - p. 238 23. Malignant skin growths - p. 246 24. Lower extremity ulcers - p. 248 25. Pressure injuries - p. 250 26. Summary - p. 266 27. References - p. 267 28. 16. Sensory function - p. 270 29. 17. Cardiovascular function - p. 290 30. Age-related changes in structure and function - p. 290 31. Common cardiovascular problems - p. 291 32. Hypertension - p. 291 33. Risk factors for heart disease - p. 296 34. Coronary artery disease - p. 298 35. Arrhythmia - p. 303 36. Orthostatic hypotension - p. 305 37. Syncope with cardiac causes - p. 306 38. Valvular heart disease (VHD) - p. 307 39. CHF - p. 309 40. Peripheral artery disease - p. 314 41. Chronic venous insufficiency - p. 316 42. Anemia - p. 318 43. Summary - p. 320 44. References - p. 321 45. 18. Respiratory function - p. 325 46. Age-related changes in structure and function - p. 325 47. Factors affecting lung function - p. 328 48. Respiratory findings common in older patients - p. 329 49. Respiratory alterations in older patients - p. 330 50. Obstructive pulmonary disease - p. 330 51. Restrictive pulmonary disease - p. 341 52. Other respiratory alterations - p. 348 53. Summary - p. 353 54. References - p. 354 55. 19. Gastrointestinal function - p. 357 56. Age-related changes in structure and function - p. 357 57. Prevention - p. 360 58. Common GI symptoms - p. 360 59. Common diseases of the GI tract - p. 364 60. Disorders of the accessory organs - p. 374 61. GI cancers - p. 381 62. Esophageal cancer - p. 381 63. Gastric cancer - p. 382 64. Colorectal carcinoma - p. 383 65. Pancreatic cancer - p. 384 66. Liver cancer - p. 385 67. Summary - p. 385 68. References - p. 386 69. 20. Urinary function - p. 388 70. Age-related changes in structure and function - p. 388 71. Prevalence of UI - p. 389 72. Common incontinence problems and conditions - p. 389 73. Nursing care guidelines for incontinence - p. 391 74. Age-related renal changes - p. 397 75. Common renal problems and conditions - p. 398 76. Summary - p. 412 77. References - p. 412 78. 21. Musculoskeletal function - p. 414 79. Age-related changes in structure and function - p. 414 80. Common problems and conditions of the musculoskeletal system - p. 415 81. Hip fracture - p. 415 82. Colles fracture - p. 419 83. Clavicular fracture - p. 419 84. Casts and cast care - p. 419 85. Osteoarthritis - p. 420 86. Spinal stenosis - p. 423 87. Rheumatoid arthritis - p. 424 88. Gouty arthritis - p. 426 89. Osteoporosis - p. 428 90. Paget’s disease - p. 433 91. Osteomyelitis - p. 434 92. Amputation - p. 435 93. Polymyalgia rheumatica - p. 437 94. Foot problems - p. 438 95. Muscle cramps - p. 439 96. Summary - p. 440 97. References - p. 440 98. 22. Cognitive and neurologic function - p. 444 99. The central nervous system - p. 444 100. Cognitive disorders associated with altered thought processes - p. 447 101. Other common problems and conditions - p. 460 102. Suicide - p. 460 103. Parkinson disease - p. 462 104. Cerebrovascular accident - p. 468 105. Anxiety - p. 473 106. Schizophrenia - p. 474 107. Mental health resources - p. 475 108. Summary - p. 476 109. References - p. 478 110. Websites - p. 480 111. 23. Endocrine function - p. 481 112. Endocrine physiology in older adults - p. 481 113. Common endocrine pathophysiology in older adults - p. 484 114. Summary - p. 501 115. References - p. 502 116. Websites - p. 504 117. PART VI. Health Care Transitions - p. 505 118. 24. Health care delivery settings and older adults - p. 506 119. Characteristics of older adults in acute care - p. 506 120. Characteristics of the acute care environment - p. 507 121. Nursing in the acute care setting - p. 509 122. Continuity of care - p. 511 123. Implementing the plan of treatment - p. 513 124. Oasis - p. 514 125. Community-based providers - p. 514 126. Factors affecting the health care needs of older adults - p. 514 127. Home health care - p. 517 128. Overview of long-term care - p. 518 129. Clinical aspects of the nursing facility - p. 520 130. Management aspects of the nursing facility - p. 525 131. Specialty care settings - p. 526 132. Innovations in the nursing facility - p. 527 133. The future of the nursing facility - p. 528 134. Hospice - p. 528 135. Summary - p. 530 136. References - p. 531 137. 25. Chronic illness and rehabilitation - p. 534 138. 26. Cancer - p. 548 139. 27. Loss and end-of-life issues - p. 572 140. Appendix A: Resources and advocacy groups for older adults - p. 588 141. Index - p. 591
