Acute Medicine: A Handbook for Nurse Practitioners

Traditional Doctor / Nurse boundaries are being eroded with nurses expanding their sphere of practice to encompass assessment skills and enable them to manage total episodes of patient care with true autonomy (DOH 2000). More recently we have seen the emergence of Nurse Practitioners undertaking this advanced level of health assessment in the acute medical arena. This book will support the decision–making process and treatment that can be offered by these individuals.
Acute Medicine – A Handbook for Nurse Practitionersis an up–to–date, practical and comprehensive guide, offering invaluable information and advice on the management of acute medical conditions. Key features include:
Assessment, investigation, diagnosis and management of the most acute medical conditionsA guide through the management of the patient and identification of priorities for treatmentLegal, professional and ethical issues faced by nurses working at an advanced levelRole developmentThe development of protocols and prescribingExamples of Clinical Management Plans for the supplementary prescriber and Patient Group Directions to support practice
Written by an experienced Consultant Nurse in Acute Medicine, this engaging book will serve as a text from which the busy and highly skilled nurse can refer to for information on assessment, diagnosis and management of acute medical conditions.

Spis treści:
Foreword.
Preface.
Introduction.
Chapter 1 – Assessment.
A step by step approach to history taking.
The functional enquiry.
Physical examination.
The cardiovascular examination.
The respiratory examination.
The abdominal examination.
The neurological examination.
Psychiatric history and examination.
Chapter 2 – Emergencies.
The assessment, investigation, diagnosis and management of:
Acute anaphylaxis.
Cardio–respiratory a rrest.
Chapter 3 – Acute poisoning and drug overdose.
The assessment, investigation, diagnosis and management of:
Paracetamol overdose.
Aspirin overdose.
Tricyclic overdose.
Alcohol overdose.
Alcohol withdrawal.
Drug withdrawal.
Chapter 4 – Infection.
The assessment, investigation, diagnosis and management of:
Sepsis and septic shock.
Meningitis.
Infective endocarditis.
Gastroenteritis.
Urinary Tract Infection.
Fever in the returning traveller.
Hot swollen joints.
Chapter 5 – Respiratory conditions.
The assessment, investigation, diagnosis and management of:
Asthma.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
Pulmonary Embolism.
Pneumothorax.
Community Acquired Pneumonia.
Hospital Acquired Pneumonia.
Type I Respiratory Failure.
Type II Respiratory Failure.
Chapter 6 – Cardiovascular conditions.
The assessment, investigation, diagnosis and management of:
Acute Coronary Syndromes.
Acute Myocardial Infarction.
Arrhythmias.
Atrial Fibrillation.
Cardiac Failure.
Deep Vein Thrombosis.
Aortic dissection.
Cardiac tamponade.
Chapter 7 – Gastrointestinal conditions.
The assessment, investigation, diagnosis and management of:
Upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage.
Acute liver failure and encephalopathy.
Ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease.
Chapter 8 – Metabolic conditions.
The assessment, investigation, diagnosis and management of:
Diabetic Ketoacidosis.
Non–Ketotic Hyperosmolar Coma.
Hypoglycaemia.
Hyperglycaemia in the critically ill patient.
Hypercalcaemia.
Hyponatraemia.
Hypernatraemia.
Hypokalaemia.
Hyperkalaemia.
Addisonian crisis.
Thyroid crisis.
Myxedema crisis.
Chapter 9 – Neurological conditions.
The assessment, investigation, diagnosis and management of:
Status Epilepticus.
Stroke.
Isolated seizu re and unexplained loss of consciousness.
Headache.
Subarachnoid haemorrhage.
Chapter 10 – Renovascular conditions.
The assessment, investigation, diagnosis and management of:
Acute Renal Failure.
Accelerated  (malignant) hypertension.
Chapter 11 – Elderly Care.
The assessment, investigation, diagnosis and management of:
Hypothermia.
Confusion.
Chapter 12 – Haematological conditions.
The assessment, investigation, diagnosis and management of:
Severe anaemia.
Sickle cell crisis.
Neutropenic sepsis.
Blood transfusion guidance.
Chapter 13 – Advanced Practice.
Legal, ethical and professional issues.
Informed consent.
Assessment of capacity.
Role Development.
Prescribing.
Appendices.
Examples of:.
Clinical Management Plans.
Patient Group Directions.
Glossary.
Subject Index.

Nota biograficzna:
Lisa Carroll RGN, MSc, Consultant Nurse Acute Medicine. University Hospital of North Staffordshire, UK.

Okładka tylna:
Traditional Doctor / Nurse boundaries are being eroded with nurses expanding their sphere of practice to encompass assessment skills and enable them to manage total episodes of patient care with true autonomy (DOH 2000). More recently we have seen the emergence of Nurse Practitioners undertaking this advanced level of health assessment in the acute medical arena. This book will support the decision–making process and treatment that can be offered by these individuals.
Acute Medicine – A Handbook for Nurse Practitionersis an up–to–date, practical and comprehensive guide, offering invaluable information and advice on the management of acute medical conditions. Key features include:
Assessment, investigation, diagnosis and management of the most acute medical conditionsA guide through the management of t he patient and identification of priorities for treatmentLegal, professional and ethical issues faced by nurses working at an advanced levelRole developmentThe development of protocols and prescribingExamples of Clinical Management Plans for the supplementary prescriber and Patient Group Directions to support practice
Written by an experienced Consultant Nurse in Acute Medicine, this engaging book will serve as a text from which the busy and highly skilled nurse can refer to for information on assessment, diagnosis and management of acute medical conditions.