Named a 2013 Doody's Core Title!Nursing practice is a complex and varied field that requires precision, dedication, care, and expertise. Clinicians must have both the skills and the tools to attend to changes in patients' responses, recognize trends, and understand the nature of their patients' conditions over time. This book clearly delineates the skills needed to become an expert nurse. In this new edition, the editors present a report of a six-year study of over 130 hospital nurses working in critical care. Expanding upon the study conducted in the previous edition, this new book documents and analyzes hundreds of new clinical narratives that track the development of clinical skill acquisition, including caring, clinical judgment, workplace ethics, and more. Highlights of this book: Includes transitional guidance for nurses new to the field Discusses the primacy of caring and the importance of good clinical judgment Includes new practice models, including the Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition Provides guidelines for strengthening the nurse-patient relationship Presents implications for nursing education and patient safety Ultimately, this work defines expertise in nursing practice. The book serves as a valuable resource that will enable nurses to expand their knowledge base, cultivate their clinical skills, and become successful experts in nursing practice.