Ruth Taylor – författare

The rapid increase in global services during the last few decades is without doubt one of the most challenging social, cultural, political, and especially economic, forces of our time. Services have supplanted agriculture, manufacturing and resources, as the primary source of international competitive advantage in many countries, providing wealth, employment, and almost unlimited future opportunities for growth, whether in traditional or more innovative forms. This book explores the strategic management of services through an Integrated Services Management Model which links operational, marketing, financial and human resource management functions, within a broad and diverse collection of international, regional, and local service contexts. It contains numerous case examples, student projects and exercises, designed to illustrate common problems and innovative approaches, with a particular focus on the Asia Pacific and Australasian regions.

This new approach to leadership focuses on how students can develop leadership skills right from the start of their nursing programme through to transitioning to their first role. The book first takes students through the underpinning knowledge and theory and then through practical skills to help them understand all aspects of leadership and how it is a key component of providing quality care to patients in a range of environments and settings. Real stories from nursing leaders, practitioners and students are included to inspire students and show them how they can impact positively on practice, whatever level they are working at.    

Key features include:

Real life focus, grounded in everyday practice, with lots of case studies and examples to help students see how theory relates to practiceActivities to help students reflect about their own practice, and about themselves as leadersVideo interviews with nurse leaders and students on the companion websiteFurther reading and links to journal articles in both the book and the companion website help students delve deeper and prepare for assessments.

This new approach to leadership focuses on how students can develop leadership skills right from the start of their nursing programme through to transitioning to their first role. The book first takes students through the underpinning knowledge and theory and then through practical skills to help them understand all aspects of leadership and how it is a key component of providing quality care to patients in a range of environments and settings. Real stories from nursing leaders, practitioners and students are included to inspire students and show them how they can impact positively on practice, whatever level they are working at.    

Key features include:

Real life focus, grounded in everyday practice, with lots of case studies and examples to help students see how theory relates to practiceActivities to help students reflect about their own practice, and about themselves as leadersVideo interviews with nurse leaders and students on the companion websiteFurther reading and links to journal articles in both the book and the companion website help students delve deeper and prepare for assessments.

For some students, research can be a daunting and intimidating topic when beginning your degree. This lively book helps you understand why research is important, gives a straightforward account of the essential knowledge that you will need and demystifies the language and process of research. It focuses on the skills you will use throughout your degree, and how research and evidence can make a difference to the world you will encounter in practice.

It outlines:

·       What research is

·       Qualitative and quantitative approaches

·       The practicalities of doing research

·       Using evidence in practice.

The chapters are full of practical tools and draw on a range of student experiences, making it the perfect textbook for undergraduates.

Ruth Taylor is a Professor of Nursing and Deputy Dean at Anglia Ruskin University.

Is there a doctor who wouldn’t want to work on a cruise ship sailing to Rio?Ruth sets off on the voyage of a lifetime with her husband, Tom, yearning for a blissful break away from fifteen years as a hectic GP in the East End of London.Within days an epidemic of Norovirus takes over the ship. Strict sanitary measures are implemented. Passengers are quarantined. The mood on board changes.As the sole doctor Ruth works alongside two nurses one of whom is an alcoholic. Tensions in the Medical Centre mount. Medical cases include life-threatening emergencies. A GP surgery it is not.At the doctor’s table apparently colourless passengers reveal surprises as the trip unfolds. By day Ruth struggles with the masculine hierarchy while evenings bring romantic escapism for Tom and Ruth.Ruth’s unease grows as she realises that the ship retraces the Atlantic slave trade ports. Her family story as Ten Pound Poms emigrating to Australia in 1949 and their subsequent four Atlantic crossings ignites her lifelong attachment to the sea.But will this be Ruth’s last voyage?

Will Matthew Flinders find fame and fortune? This intrepid explorer circumnavigated and charted the coast of Australia between 1802 - 1803 accompanied by his mischievous but faithful cat, Trim. Faced with a leaking ship, stormy seas, sickness and an unknown land, Matthew and Trim overcome every obstacle until they are shipwrecked on the Great Barrier Reef. Their adventures don't stop there. After surviving the shipwreck they sail to Mauritius where they are imprisoned by the French as spies. What will become of them?Teaching notes for The Cat and the Captain are available on the Little Steps website: https://www.littlestepspublishing.co.uk/books/the-cat-and-the-captain-trim-the-cat-and-matthew-flinders