PREFACE

The year 2009 marks a monumental and almost unimaginable milestone – the 25^th Anniversary of the “little Blue Book”!  From year one until now, you have made this book the #1 selling pocket reference guide of all times in the field of Respiratory Care.  To this, I am very grateful for your continued trust and support. 

Over 200,000 therapists, nurses, and physicians have made this their Gold Standard Reference in hospitals throughout the entire world. Hundreds of therapists have personally expressed their gratitude for the information and assistance this book has provided them during their school years and career development.  Many have indicated that it has been the #1 reference source used to study for (and pass) the National Exams.

As with each previous Edition, my goal with this new 25^th Anniversary Edition, is to keep you up-to-date and abreast of all the latest changes within the Respiratory Field – especially in the areas of Patient Assessment, Disease Management, AARC Clinical Practice Guidelines, and National Standards and Guidelines.

And as always, one of it’s biggest attributes has been the ability to provide you with all this at a fraction of the cost that others publishers would charge for this type and style of book.

It is my sincere hope that you will consider this book to be one of the greatest investments of your career.  May this book enrich your life, as well as the lives of all those you help to save and restore to good health.