Nursing Care an essential guide for nurses and healthcare workers in primary and secondary care

Go ‘back to basics’ with this concise, clear text on the essentials of nursing care. Comprehensively covers all aspects of essential care Puts care into context and relates it to current UK Government policy and targets Shows how to apply theory in practice using diagrams and case studies Uses a ‘reflective’ theme throughout, in line with current teaching practice Explains Clinical Skills in the context of care The book is designed to help the student develop a proactive approach to the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of the care that they give. The invaluable advice can be applied to all branches of nursing and to all environments where patients are nursed, whether in hospital, at home or care homes. Essential reading for nursing students, qualified nurses and all health and social care workers

Acknowledgements Guided tourIntroductionChapter 1: What is caring?IntroductionLearning objectivesWhat do we mean by ‘caring’?QualityThe assessment processSummaryKey pointsPoints for debate Links to other chaptersFurther reading ReferencesChapter 2: Dignity and privacyIntroductionLearning objectivesDignity in care Culturally sensitive healthcareCommunication Protecting individuals from abuseSummaryKey pointsPoints for debate Links to other chaptersFurther reading ReferencesChapter 3: Basic observations IntroductionLearning objectivesThe importance of basic observations Pulse RespirationsTemperature SummaryKey pointsPoints for debate Links to other chaptersFurther reading ReferencesChapter 4: HygieneIntroductionLearning objectivesPersonal hygieneOral hygiene Infection controlSummaryKey pointsPoints for debate Links to other chaptersFurther reading ReferencesChapter 5: NutritionIntroductionLearning objectivesThe importance of good nutritionEssential nutrients Nutritional requirementsFactors affecting nutritional choiceNutritional assessmentNutrition in hospitalFeeding patientsDysphagia awareness SummaryKey pointsPoints for debate Links to other chaptersFurther reading ReferencesChapter 6: Fluid balance and continence care IntroductionLearning objectivesFluid balanceRecording fluid balanceUrinary continenceIncontinence Promoting continence Catheter careProblems with elimination of faecesSummaryKey pointsPoints for debate Links to other chaptersFurther reading ReferencesChapter 7: Pain management:IntroductionLearning objectivesWhat is pain?How is pain felt?Government policy developments in pain managementPain assessmentPain perception Pain management Other methods of pain reliefSummaryKey pointsPoints for debate Links to other chaptersFurther reading ReferencesChapter 8: Pressure ulcersIntroductionLearning objectivesWhy study pressure ulcers? How and why pressure ulcers developAvoidance of pressure ulcersScreening and assessing the possibility of skin damage due to pressurePressure ulcer healing SummaryKey pointsPoints for debate Links to other chaptersFurther reading ReferencesChapter 9: Rehabilitation and self-care IntroductionLearning objectivesWhat is rehabilitation?Independence and self-careFramework for rehabilitation nursing Factors that impact on individual wellbeingSummaryKey pointsPoints for debate Links to other chaptersFurther reading ReferencesChapter 10: Record-keepingIntroductionLearning objectivesOverview of record-keeping Purpose of recordsLegal aspects of record-keepingNursing documentationStandards for record-keeping SummaryKey pointsPoints for debate Links to other chaptersFurther reading ReferencesIndex