Essentials of Nursing – serie

The change in title of this the first book in the Series emphasises that this is the foundation forming the link with all the texts in the Series - including the new book Mental Handicap. The content aims to help nursing students preparing for registration and qualified nurses updating their knowledge as recommended by the statutory bodies - the UKCC and National Boards. The second edition contains considerable new material, including the publications from the UKCC regarding guidelines on the rules and competencies for registration and guidelines on the administration of medicines (1986). References and further reading lists have been brought up-to-date, for example reference is made to the disease AIDS and the RCN guidelines for nurses. The sequence of the text has been changed radically to re-emphasise the uniqueness of the individual - both as a patient, and a nurse.

This new edition has been updated throughout to reflect recent changes in how the family and society care for children. The book follows a health to ill health continuum in the care of the child and his family. Current trends in treatment of children's disease and related policies are clearly explained and there is more information included dealing with child abuse. The book also reinforces the importance of appropriate application of nursing models in structuring care plans and the nursing process. Two specific models of nursing care, Roper et al and Orem, are included in this new edition. Each of the numerous care plans in the text now also include a complete section on evaluation and its importance in the nursing process.

In the second edition of this most successful nursing text, the authors have concentrated on developing the nursing model of care, especially in relation to a patient's specific needs. Adulthood - the concept and perception of it - is highlighted and Henderson's model is considered as applied to this theme. A series of patient histories are included with self-testing questions and guidelines for suitable answers which will stimulate discussion and encourage self-directed learning. Another new development is the insertion of 'Evaluation of Care' and suggested Record of Progress Sheets.