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.
'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 Careis 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
