A manual designed to assist nurses working in small rural hospitals in countries of the WHO Western Pacific Region. Focused on basic care of the sick and injured, the manual aims to support nurses working under extremely difficult circumstances that may include chronic shortages of essential drugs and supplies, primitive equipment, inadequate water supply and sanitary facilities, few reference works, and no doctors. Details range from the dos and don'ts of maternal care during labour and delivery, through instructions for determining the drip rate for IV fluid, to advice on how to prevent infection in patients with urinary catheters. Throughout the manual, drawings illustrate key points and boxes communicate clinical alerts to the dangers or problems. An introduction to the role of the nurse as part of the health-care team is followed by advice on how to give good, clear, and supportive information to patients and their families, including patients who may be difficult, angry or incoherent. Subsequent chapters explain how to perform such essential functions as monitoring the patient and recording nursing care, providing basic hygiene and daily care, protecting the patient from infection, and administering medicines, including injections, safely. Against this background, separate chapters are devoted to the care of children, maternity patients, and patients having problems with elimination, nutrition or mobility. The remaining chapters cover care of the surgical patient, pain management, emergency treatment in life-threatening situations, care for the dying patient, and preparation of patients for discharge.