Routledge Essentials for Nurses – serie

One of the fundamental aims of nursing is to safeguard or promote patients' 'quality of life'. In Nursing Perspectives on Quality of Life, Peter Draper examines existing ways of defining the concept and argues that nurses need to adopt a fresh approach, which more accurately reflects patients' concerns and helps them to develop practical ways of promoting the well-being of people in their care.The text provides an analysis of statistical approaches to quality of life, including social indicators, the Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY), and the medical outcomes literature. The author proposes an alternative, qualitative approach to organising care, which respects the patients' choice and individuality and presents the findings of new research into the quality of life of older people in hospital wards.Combining original research and a critical analysis of existing models, Nursing Perspectives on Quality of Life is suitable for students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

One of the fundamental aims of nursing is to safeguard or promote patients' 'quality of life'. In Nursing Perspectives on Quality of Life, Peter Draper examines existing ways of defining the concept and argues that nurses need to adopt a fresh approach, which more accurately reflects patients' concerns and helps them to develop practical ways of promoting the well-being of people in their care.The text provides an analysis of statistical approaches to quality of life, including social indicators, the Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY), and the medical outcomes literature. The author proposes an alternative, qualitative approach to organising care, which respects the patients' choice and individuality and presents the findings of new research into the quality of life of older people in hospital wards.Combining original research and a critical analysis of existing models, Nursing Perspectives on Quality of Life is suitable for students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Nursing theory is a major part of all nursing courses and nurses are encouraged to use theories in practice, but it is not always easy for the student to make a real connection between the two. Drawing on many years' experience of teaching and research, Hugh McKenna addresses the theory needs of both students and qualified staff. He demystifies the confusing terminology associated with nursing theory and shows how all nurses can build theory from practice through reflection and analysis. This text offers step-by-step guidelines on:* how to analyse concepts* how to generate and select theory* how to apply and test theory in practice.Written in a friendly, easy to read style, Nursing Theories and Models puts forward realistic strategies for bridging the theory-practice gap.

Nursing theory is a major part of all nursing courses and nurses are encouraged to use theories in practice, but it is not always easy for the student to make a real connection between the two. Drawing on many years' experience of teaching and research, Hugh McKenna addresses the theory needs of both students and qualified staff. He demystifies the confusing terminology associated with nursing theory and shows how all nurses can build theory from practice through reflection and analysis. This text offers step-by-step guidelines on:* how to analyse concepts* how to generate and select theory* how to apply and test theory in practice.Written in a friendly, easy to read style, Nursing Theories and Models puts forward realistic strategies for bridging the theory-practice gap.

Education for Patients and Clients sets out basic principles for providing patient education as an integral part of nursing care. It challenges the view that simply giving information is enough and investigates strategies for making education as effective as possible.The author explores:*the effect of psychosocial factors such as personal beliefs and family support on our behaviour *the importance of taking such factors into account when planning education for patients and clients*compliance and non-compliance*the role of the nurse as educator*the patient's right to knowledge regarding their health and treatment.Education for Patients and Clients will be essential reading for both pre and post-registration nurses studying health education in all settings.

Education for Patients and Clients sets out basic principles for providing patient education as an integral part of nursing care. It challenges the view that simply giving information is enough and investigates strategies for making education as effective as possible.The author explores:*the effect of psychosocial factors such as personal beliefs and family support on our behaviour *the importance of taking such factors into account when planning education for patients and clients*compliance and non-compliance*the role of the nurse as educator*the patient's right to knowledge regarding their health and treatment.Education for Patients and Clients will be essential reading for both pre and post-registration nurses studying health education in all settings.

An excellent introduction for nurses to all aspects of pain and its management. Topics examined are relevant to all areas of health care practice and include:*types of pain*the experience of pain, including psycho-social factors*interventions (pharmocological, physical and psychological)*alternative and complementary therapies.Caring for People in Pain clearly sets out the research base for practice and provides a thorough and accessible text for students of this core topic on all entry level and many post-registration nursing courses.

An excellent introduction for nurses to all aspects of pain and its management. Topics examined are relevant to all areas of health care practice and include:*types of pain*the experience of pain, including psycho-social factors*interventions (pharmocological, physical and psychological)*alternative and complementary therapies.Caring for People in Pain clearly sets out the research base for practice and provides a thorough and accessible text for students of this core topic on all entry level and many post-registration nursing courses.

Intended for health care professionals working with patients who have suffered a threat to body image, whether from trauma, injury, disease, or the developmental process, Body Image and Disfigurement Care:*offers practical advice about care*critically appraises the existing knowledge-base*describes the different theoretical approaches to body image disturbance*puts forward a new model of what happens to people with disturbed body image.While written in an accessible style, this is not a superficial text; it presents practical skills which can be used in clinical settings and these skills are based on appropriate research evidence, Interactive exercises enable the student to consolidate their learning and improve their understanding of the patient's experience of a threat to body image. Body Image and Disfigurement Care provides a sound source of help and advice about an issue of growing importance in modern health.

Intended for health care professionals working with patients who have suffered a threat to body image, whether from trauma, injury, disease, or the developmental process, Body Image and Disfigurement Care:*offers practical advice about care*critically appraises the existing knowledge-base*describes the different theoretical approaches to body image disturbance*puts forward a new model of what happens to people with disturbed body image.While written in an accessible style, this is not a superficial text; it presents practical skills which can be used in clinical settings and these skills are based on appropriate research evidence, Interactive exercises enable the student to consolidate their learning and improve their understanding of the patient's experience of a threat to body image. Body Image and Disfigurement Care provides a sound source of help and advice about an issue of growing importance in modern health.

This invaluable text on the design and analysis of clinical research studies explains the basis of experimental design and statistics in a way that is sensitive to the clinical context in which nurses work. It uses data from actual studies to illustrate how to:*design the study*use and select data*present research findings*use a computer for statistical analysis.The scope of the study designs and associated statistical techniques covered in the book allow both the beginning nurse researcher and the more seasoned professional nurse investigator to approach a research study with confidence and optimism. The authors show how qualitative data can be approached quantitatively, what the advantages of this are from the nursing viewpoint, and how quantitative methodology can help nurses to develop a common research language with other disciplines involved in patient care.

This invaluable text on the design and analysis of clinical research studies explains the basis of experimental design and statistics in a way that is sensitive to the clinical context in which nurses work. It uses data from actual studies to illustrate how to:*design the study*use and select data*present research findings*use a computer for statistical analysis.The scope of the study designs and associated statistical techniques covered in the book allow both the beginning nurse researcher and the more seasoned professional nurse investigator to approach a research study with confidence and optimism. The authors show how qualitative data can be approached quantitatively, what the advantages of this are from the nursing viewpoint, and how quantitative methodology can help nurses to develop a common research language with other disciplines involved in patient care.

Nursing students quite often find it difficult to relate what they learn with respect to normal and abnormal physiology to patient care. In this useful text Roger Watson and Tonks Fawcett clearly explain:* the concept of homeostasis* the relevance of physiology to common disorders* the patient's response to these disorders* the appropriate nursing response.Each chapter is presented in a standard format with a brief outline of the relevant normal physiology and how homeostatic mechanisms normally cope. The student is led to understand what the patient with a specific disorder feels like and why, and is clearly instructed in what nursing action to take. Pathophysiology, Homeostasis and Nursing shows clearly how understanding physiology can improve nursing care and covers the main issues that relate to basic observations. It includes questions to help the reader test their knowledge as they go along and provides an accessible concise text for health care students, particularly nurses.