Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 17th Edition
Richard E. Behrman, MD; Robert M. Kliegman, MD; and Hal B. Jenson, MD. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2,618 pp, $129.
For over 60 years, Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics has provided those who practice in the field of pediatric health care with a complete, authoritative source that covers every aspect of childhood disorders - etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and prognosis. As a textbook written primarily for physicians, the emphasis is on abnormal conditions, but this reference also includes comparisons and descriptions of normalcy.
This text is always valuable to NPs treating a child with a challenging or puzzling medical condition. Adhering to the "Nelson" recommendations for management of disorders assures the NP that he or she is meeting care standards, because the text's contributors represent pediatric medicine's best authorities.
The authors have updated and revised sections on allergic disorders, the respiratory tract, diabetes mellitus in children, neuromuscular disorders, behavior and developmental disorders, genetics, biological and chemical terrorism, and obesity.
Though the book contains vast amounts of information, it is easy to use because it is organized into chapters and well indexed. Also available is the Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics Online- the entire contents of the book in a computer version accessed by CD-ROM, complete with a passcode to provide continuous updates.