and the part the nurse can play in the treatment process. The following paragraphs
provide a thumbnail description of each chapter.CHAPTER 1 CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
The mere mention of the cardiovascular system brings all sorts of images to mind;
however, these impressions are based on our experience as patients. Healthcare
providers have a different view because they see it as a system that distributes nutri-
ents and oxygen throughout the body and delivers carbon dioxide and metabolic by-
products to various organs for removal from the body. Failure of the cardiovascular
system has a compound effect because it interacts with the body’s other systems
causing a chain reaction of events. Healthcare providers need a thorough under-
standing of what can go wrong with the cardiovascular system; in this chapter you will
earn to recognize cardiovascular system disorders and to perform the interventions
that can assist in restoring its function.CHAPTER 2 RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
The respiratory system interacts with cells in the body to exchange oxygen and car-
bon dioxide, enabling the oxygenation of all cells in the body. In this chapter you
will learn which diseases and disorders can disrupt the respiratory system, how to
recognize these conditions, and what steps you can take to assist in curing the res-
piratory system problems.CHAPTER 3 IMMUNE SYSTEM
Remember the last time you experienced a bad cut. The site of the injury became
swollen and red and you might have felt feverish. This happened because your
immune system was trying to heal the wound by attacking the microorganisms that
were invading your body. However, the abilities to fight off disease and to heal a
wound are compromised when the immune system malfunctions. In this chapter you
will learn about immune system disorders and what actions the nurse can perform to
assist in the patient’s recovery,CHAPTER 4 HEMATOLOGIC SYSTEM
The hematologic system produces and circulates blood cells throughout the body. Any
disorder of this system jeopardizes the functioning of every organ in the body. Thisxvi Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified