The impetus for this book came from the experience of teaching undergraduate and postgraduate nursing students and the realisation that a comprehensive textbook on medical and surgical nursing was needed to inform and guide learning related to the nursing care of adults. This book is designed to provide a broad overview and a practical understanding of the principles related to adult nursing. It examines the principles underpinning medical and surgical nursing and includes contemporary devel opments in clinical care, drawing extensively on national and international evidence. Using a systems approach, the book is designed to provide a comprehensive application of the relevant anatomy and physiology, which will inform medical and surgical nursing practice. The book comprises 22 chapters and is presented in two sections that are designed to guide readers so they can reach an understanding of the context and the key aspects of medical and surgical nursing practice.