Critical Care Handbook of the Massachusetts General Hospital: Formerly Known as Postoperative Critical Care of the Massachusetts General Hospital

I have been an nurse in a critical care area for over 5 years, this book tells you what you need to know in a concise way, and leaves all the non-essential information out. If you want to know th quick answer without reading a bunch of fluff, this is the book for you.

This is easily the best crit care handbook around. Well written chapters - the one on mechanical ventilation is the best I've read in a handbook - and hits most topics you need to know. Downsides - it can use some updating, and I think most chapters can be a little more detailed. (better to have more detail than less)Another good option would be Joseph Varon's Handbook of Practical Critical Care Medicine.If you're going to buy a crit care handbook it should be one of these.