High Dependency Nursing Care: Observation, Intervention and Support for Level 2 Patients

Written by a team of nurses experienced in providing, supporting and developing high dependency care, this book discusses practical issues and explores the current evidence base for clinical practice. It covers all important skills needed and best practice for caring for high dependency patients or undertaking post registration courses to prepare them for high dependency nursing. Structured in four parts, the first, `Perspectives on High Dependency Care’ explores the contest of care, focusing on fundamental aspects like sleep, nutrition, pain management and stress, demonstrating how to achieve quality nursing care. `Pathophysiology and Treatments’ describes the main diseases that cause critical illness and treatments that patients will often be given. `Monitoring and Skills’ enables nurses to interpret and understand the information gained from observation and monitoring. The final part, `Professional Issues’ explores topics like clinical governance, reflection, practice development and managing change to assist nurses in developing their own clinical practice and professional development.

Table of Contents:
Part 1: Perspectives on High Dependency Care 1. The Nature of High Dependency Nursing 2. Humanism 3. Stress 4. Psychological Disturbances (Sensory Deprivation) 5. Sleep 6. Nutrition 7. Acute Pain Management 8. Death & Dying 9. Cultural Issues 10. Health Promotion 11. Family Care 12. Ethics Part 2: Pathophysiologies and Treatments 13. Neurological Assessment 14. Respiratory Assessment 15. Acute Respiratory Pathologies 16. Oxygen Therapy 17. Temporary Tracheostomies 18. Bilevel Non Invasive Ventilation 19. Intrapleural Chest Drains 20. Acute Coronary Syndromes 21. Shock 22. Haemotological Disorders: Sickle Cell Anaemia, Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation 23. Acute Renal Failure 24. Gastrointestinal Bleeds and Acute Pancreatitis 25. Diabetic Emergencies 26. Acute Liver Failure 27. Neurological Pathologies Part 3: Monitoring and Skills 28. Nursing Assessment 29. Pulse Oximetry 30. Arterial Blood Gas Analysis 31. Suctioning 32. Arterial Blood Pressure 33. Central Venous Pressure and Cardiac Output Studies 34. Reading Electrocardiograms and Recognising Common Dysrhthmias 35. Fluid and Electrolyte Balance Part 4: Professional Issues 36. Clinical Governance 37. Outreach 38. Reflection 39. Practice Development 40. Managing Change 41. Professional Issues

About the Author :
Tina Moore is a Senior Lecturer in Adult and High Dependency Nursing at Middlesex University, London. Her publications include journal articles relating to sensory deprivation and suctioning. Philip Woodrow is a Practice Development Nurse in Critical Care at the East Kent NHS Trust where he delivers a five-day course for ward staff caring for highy dependent (level 2) patients. His previous publications include Intensive Care Nursing: A Framework for Practice (Routledge 2000) and many articles in nursing press.

Review :
'Moore and Woodrow have compiled what might be described as a definitive and highly accessible text for nurses working in high dependency or similar critical care areas. Its depth and coverage of pathophysiological changes, interventional therapies, psychosocial concepts and professional issues makes this an unusual book and one that represents added value. Each chapter has been carefully structured and devised to enable readers to apply the evidence in a practical way.' - John Albarran, Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of the West of England, UK 'An excellent and up-to-date guide for health practitioners caring for the acutely ill and highly dependent adult within the hospital setting...High Dependency Nursing Care is organised into four distinct sections which comprehensively address the spectrum of high dependency care from psychosocial needs, social and interpersonal skills, pathophysiology, common treatments, respiratory and haemodynamic monitoring to professional issues. It also provides very good reference material and practical information on several aspects not all included in similar texts, for example, health promotion, care of patients with trachyostomies, Bilevel NIV and chest drains.' - Jane Roe, St George's Hospital Medical School, London 'An important book for all nurses who look after the acutely ill. The authors have produced a text with an emphasis on the many intangible and difficult-to-manage aspects of high dependency nursing. It encourages nurses to reflect on the art and science of nursing and how they can use their unique skill to achieve quality outcomes for the patient and their family.' - Kathy Daffurn, Liverpool Health Service, Australia