Clinical Skills for Student Nurses: Theory, Practice and Reflection

Clinical Skills for Student Nurses is a comprehensive learning resource for student nurses in the UK. This textbook is based on the NMC Essential Skills Clusters and covers all the key clinical skills required for effective and efficient practice in UK Healthcare. The book maps the development of the student nurse in relation to clinical skill acquisition, focussing not only on the dexterity aspects but also on the underpinning theory and the attitudinal aspects of skill delivery. Using a scenario-based approach, this book relates skills to 'real' people and situations. In addition to providing instruction on how to perform clinical skills, it also asks the students to reflect and consider how these skills and related principles may be transferred to other situations and contexts. Above all, the authors are offering students a friendly, interactive and visual approach to skills acquisition. Contents: Introduction; Acknowledgements; Author Biographies PART 1 COMMUNICATION 1 Interpersonal skills 2 Assessment of patients 3 Transferring and discharging patients 4 Pain management 5 Venepuncture and cannulation PART 2 PERSONAL CARE 6 7 Catheterisation (male and female) 8 Bowel care, suppositories and enemata 9 Skin integrity assessment and pressure area care PART 3 CARE AND COMPASSION 10 Nutritional support, hydration and fluid balance 11 Moving and handling 12 Breaking bad news 13 Last offices PART 4 MEDICINE MANAGEMENT 14 The legal, ethical and professional aspects of medicines management 15 The administration of medicines 16 Medication errors, drug storage and controlled drugs PART 5 CARE MANAGEMENT 17 Observations 18 Early Warning Scores the early detection of deterioration 19 Airway management and life support 20 Pre- and post-operative care 21 Specimen collection and infection control Appendix: Essential Skills Clusters (ESCs) for Pre-registration Nursing Programmes List of abbreviations Glossary Index

'I have asked some student nurses their opinion and they thought the book was excellent, very easy to read and understand and they were going to try and purchase it the same day'. --(Lecturer, Sheffield Hallam University)

'The scenarios in each chapter are an excellent tool to reinforce that clinical skills are not an isolated activity but part of an holistic package of care. The diagrams and photographs throughout the book are of high quality and particularly helpful to novice students. The clinical procedures are clearly described, together with the theoretical underpinning and related to the NMC outcomes and activities of daily living'. --(Lecturer, Coventry University)

'Excellent content which closely links to the outcomes of the module for which I will be recommending it. Good use of the activity approach to reinforce learning. Overall an extremely well-presented text.' --(Lecturer, University of Chester)

'Clinical Skills for Student Nurses: Theory Practice and Reflection' is a valuable contribution to pre-registration nursing education. It is based around the NMC Essential Skills Clusters which provides focus to the various sections and allows the reader to cross reference to areas of their education where they may be struggling or just require further development. Although it is aimed primarily at students on the Common Foundation Programme or in the Adult branch of pre-registration education, there are sections which are helpful to all branches, such as the section on breaking bad news and Specimen collection and infection control. The textbook covers all of those essential skills with which most people are familiar, such as the recording of observations, personal hygiene and medicines administration. It also covers aspects of clinical practice where there is little specific teaching but which students frequently come across in practice such as Pain Management and Transferring and Discharging Patients. This textbook also provides frequent invitations for the reader to reflect upon their own experiences and tasks aimed at further personal development. It also provides the reader with the helpful benefit of the authors professional and personal expertise by highlighting hints and cautions . There are also examples of documentation and diagrammatic explanations of, for example, airway support. The book is divided into five parts which groups skills together in a manner which makes for ease of reference and clear explanation. Each part is opened with a scenario which allows the reader to contextualise their reading and which allows the author to develop the subject. Every chapter begins with extracts from the NMC Skills Clusters which helps to maintain focus to the author s writing and also the readers understanding. There are also extensive further reading and reference lists to allow the student to further their own development. In conclusion, this text covers a variety of skills which students need to develop in an appropriate manner and without being unnecessarily verbose. It prompts the student to challenge their own practice and to develop a good evidence based approach to their pre-registration education and their subsequent practice. --(Paul P. Corrigan, University of Salford in 'Nurse Education in Practice' 10 (2010) e10)

'Excellent content which closely links to the outcomes of the module for which I will be recommending it. Good use of the activity approach to reinforce learning. Overall an extremely well-presented text.' --(Lecturer, University of Chester)

'Clinical Skills for Student Nurses: Theory Practice and Reflection' is a valuable contribution to pre-registration nursing education. It is based around the NMC Essential Skills Clusters which provides focus to the various sections and allows the reader to cross reference to areas of their education where they may be struggling or just require further development. Although it is aimed primarily at students on the Common Foundation Programme or in the Adult branch of pre-registration education, there are sections which are helpful to all branches, such as the section on breaking bad news and Specimen collection and infection control. The textbook covers all of those essential skills with which most people are familiar, such as the recording of observations, personal hygiene and medicines administration. It also covers aspects of clinical practice where there is little specific teaching but which students frequently come across in practice such as Pain Management and Transferring and Discharging Patients. This textbook also provides frequent invitations for the reader to reflect upon their own experiences and tasks aimed at further personal development. It also provides the reader with the helpful benefit of the authors professional and personal expertise by highlighting hints and cautions . There are also examples of documentation and diagrammatic explanations of, for example, airway support. The book is divided into five parts which groups skills together in a manner which makes for ease of reference and clear explanation. Each part is opened with a scenario which allows the reader to contextualise their reading and which allows the author to develop the subject. Every chapter begins with extracts from the NMC Skills Clusters which helps to maintain focus to the author s writing and also the readers understanding. There are also extensive further reading and reference lists to allow the student to further their own development. In conclusion, this text covers a variety of skills which students need to develop in an appropriate manner and without being unnecessarily verbose. It prompts the student to challenge their own practice and to develop a good evidence based approach to their pre-registration education and their subsequent practice. --(Paul P. Corrigan, University of Salford in 'Nurse Education in Practice' 10 (2010) e10)

'Excellent content which closely links to the outcomes of the module for which I will be recommending it. Good use of the activity approach to reinforce learning. Overall an extremely well-presented text.' --(Lecturer, University of Chester)