The Students Guide to Becoming a Nurse

The Student s Guide to Becoming a Nurse is an essential guide for all student nurses who want to become competent practitioners. It explores the knowledge, skills and attitudes that all pre–registration nursing students must acquire by the end of their programme of study, enabling them to become confident, successful nurses.

Thoroughly re–written and updated to include the latest 2010 NMC standards for pre–registration nursing education, this invaluable textbook is divided into four key sections:

With case studies, top tips, activities and questions throughout, The Student s Guide to Becoming a Nurse is ideal for all pre–registration nurses and those about to qualify.

Preface vi

Acknowledgements vii

Abbreviations Commonly Used in Health Care viii

Introduction 1

Part I: Professional Values 9

1 The Code of Conduct and Professional Practice 11

2 The Vulnerable Person 59

3 Inequality, Discrimination and Exclusion 91

4 Partnership Working, Roles and Responsibilities 128

Part II: Communication and Interpersonal Skills 145

5 Therapeutic Relationships, Communication and Interpersonal Skills 147

6 Interprofessional Working and Learning 181

7 Health Promotion, Promoting Self–care and Wellbeing 196

Part III: Nursing Practice and Decision–making 223

8 Evidence–based Practice 225

9 Assessing, Planning, Implementing and Evaluating Care Needs 245

10 Public Health 273

11 Patient Safety 303

12 Recognising, Interpreting and Managing Deterioration in Health and Wellbeing 335

Part IV: Leadership and Management 359

13 Leadership and Management 361

14 Continuing Professional Development 386

15 Teaching and Learning in Clinical Practice 409

Activity Answers 431

Glossary of Terms 439

Index 453

For all nursing students working towards their degree, this is a must–have additional text book. This would also aid the newly qualified nurse in their first post as lifelong learning continues."  (Nursing Times, 28 Feruary 2013)

This book offers an honest approach to preparing students in the foundation of nursing. It is similar in content to other books geared at preparing nursing students for practice, but it sets itself apart with its focus on topics such as vulnerable patients, inequality, discrimination, exclusions, and public health.   (Doddy s, 7 December 2012)

I highly recommend this book.   (Nursing Standard, 3 October 2012)

"The content is brilliant for a student nurse of all experiences...goes into detail where needed without drowning in information which may be difficult for newly studying students." (Liam Crawford, 3rd year learning disability nursing student, Keele University)

"An excellent all–round text encompassing a broad range of theoretical topics relevant to modern nursing practice." (Samuel McCreesh, 3rd year paramedic student, University of Brighton)

"Great information and to the point!...The tables, figures and illustrations are brilliant and great additions to the book." (Melissa Thompson, 2nd year nursing student, University of Abertay, Dundee)

"An invaluable qualitative source of information for any student nurse, holding your hand through the tough and challenging areas of nursing...It s refreshing to read a book which takes your hand and teaches you rather than talks at you." (Jon Kingaby, 2nd year nursing student, Oxford Brookes University)

"Simple and easy to understand...a good read to introduce student nurses to the profession." (Kay Morrill, 3rd year nursing student, Glasgow Caledonian University)

"A very interesting book for future nurses...well written, on interesting and relevant topics, in an effective and easy to read style." (Clare Allberry, 3rd year nursing student, University of Nottingham)