Lewis’s Medical-Surgical Nursing has long been considered a comprehensive and reliable resource for nursing students preparing for their transition into clinical practice. This sixth edition has been fully updated to incorporate the latest research, data, current clinical practice, procedures and guidelines.

The text addresses core skills and knowledge that students need to pass their exams and go on to provide expert clinical care. It prepares nurses to assess patients, understand underlying diseases and their signs and symptoms, and go on to plan and deliver care. The text encourages readers to develop their clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills in order to apply theory to their work.

This edition has been produced by leading expert nursing academics and clinicians who bring a strengthened focus on inclusion and diversity.

• Provides a person-centred holistic approach to patient assessment and care.


• Complex concepts are illustrated with figures, tables, summaries and reflections of best practice.


• Case studies throughout—based on real-life medical-surgical scenarios—help students to apply theory to real life.


• Clinical practice features offer practical guidance for students.


• Underpinned by the nursing process framework.

Instructor resources on Evolve:

• Image collection


• PowerPoint slides

Student and Instructor resources on Evolve:

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  Answer guidelines for clinical reasoning questions in case studies

  
  


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  Student case studies

  
  


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  Fluids and electrolytes tutorial

  
  


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  eNursing Care Plans

  
  


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  Clinical Cases Case Study

  
  


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  Review questions and answers with answer rationale

  
  


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  Conceptual Care Map Creato

  
  


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  Refreshed and up-to-date evidence, statistics, standards and procedures.

  
  


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  Updated chapters on the deteriorating patient and advanced life support to reflect recent international (ILCOR) and national (ARC) practice guidelines.

  
  


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  New chapter on caring for individuals with intellectual disability and autism.

  
  


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  Increased focus throughout on culturally safe care that aims to improve access to services and improved health outcomes for Māori, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

  
  


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  Focus on the impact of COVID-19.

  
  


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  Enhanced content on gender equity, mental health, intellectual disability and autism, harm minimisation for people experiencing the effects of alcohol and other drugs, patient safety and nurses’ wellbeing and safety at work.

  
  


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  Updated Evolve resources for students and instructors