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The Nurse's Clinical Skills Pocketbook
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The Nurse's Clinical Skills Pocketbook

Third Edition
Edited by:


March 2022 | 200 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

This pocket-sized book is an ideal reference for nursing students. It puts the facts at your fingertips, giving you immediate access to 50 different clinical procedures.

  • Handy checklists covering the things to consider before starting the procedure
  • Clear instructions guide you step-by-step through the skill
  • All fields of practice included to ensure your care is person-centred

Whether revising for an OSCE, preparing for a new clinical placement or looking for a clear description of how to perform a certain task, this book will become a trusted companion and daily reference as your practice experience steadily grows.

 
Common Abbreviations - Wendy Wright and Fiona Everett
 
Useful Prefixes and Suffixes - Wendy Wright and Fiona Everett
 
Infection and Prevention Control - Rose Gallagher
Hand-washing

 
Using hand sanitiser

 
When to remove your gloves and why

 
 
Clinical Measurement - Caroline Dobson and Trevor Simpson
Fundamental steps for all clinical measurements

 
Respirations

 
Pulse/heart rate

 
Manual blood pressure

 
Measuring body temperature

 
 
Pain Assessment - Ann Kettyle
Undertaking a pain assessment

 
 
Aseptic Technique and Specimen Collection - Rose Gallagher
Principles of asepsis

 
Common steps for the collection of all types of specimen

 
Taking a wound swab

 
Collecting a faeces specimen

 
Collecting a urine specimen

 
Collecting a sputum sample

 
Taking a throat swab

 
 
Skin Integrity - Alexandra Carlin
Principles of wound care

 
Removal of clips/sutures

 
 
Safe Movement of People - Michelle O’Reilly and David Best
Movement guidelines

 
Emergency Care - Sara Morgan

 
Head tilt chin lift

 
Jaw thrust

 
Using an oropharyngeal airway

 
Recovery position

 
Paediatric life support

 
Dislodging an obstruction to the airway

 
 
Medicines Administration - Carol Hall, updated by Christina Roulston
Administering medication (oral or topical route)

 
Administering a subcutaneous injection

 
Administering an intramuscular injection

 
Recording administration and outcome

 
 
Assisting People with their Nutritional Need - Kate Goodhand and Jane Ewen
Nutrition-related skills

 
Weighing a patient

 
Assisting a patient to eat and drink

 
Passing a nasogastric tube

 
Maintaining a nasogastric tube

 
Removing a nasogastric tube

 
Caring for a PEG (pertcutaneous endoscopic gastronomy)

 
Stoma care

 
Peripheral vascular cannula care

 
 
Assisting People with their Elimination Needs - Mairead Collie, David J. Hunter and Valerie Foley
Common steps for all elimination-related skills

 
Assessing bowel function

 
Assisting a patient to use a bedpan, urinal or commode

 
Performing catheter care

 
Emptying a patient’s catheter bag

 
Urinalysis

 
 
Assisting Patients with their Hygiene Needs - Catherine Delves-Yates
Common steps for all hygiene procedures

 
Bathing a person in bed

 
Assisting a patient with a wash (out of bed)

 
Shaving

 
Teeth-cleaning

 
Trimming nails

 
Washing a patient’s hair in bed

 
 
Care after Death - Maria Parry
Care after death

 
 
Appendix 1: Commonly Used Medication and Side Effects - Wendy Wright and Fiona Everett
 
Appendix 2: Normal Laboratory Values - Wendy Wright and Fiona Everett
 
Appendix 3: Hand-washing technique
 
References

Nice size book, with a good range of skills within. However, we felt it was not clear enough for our more junior/inexperienced students- the book would have benefitted from including some diagrams or pictures- for example when discussing injection technique, it does clearly mention sites of administration, but for our students they may not be familiar with the specific terminology of the sites- when I showed my students the instruction section for injections, they had to go and find another resource that would indicate exactly where the administration site would be.
Some of the photos included (e.g. catheter cares) were not clear enough- appeared pixelated and difficult to see the details due to lack of colour.
The overall lack of colour throughout also made it difficult to engage with.

The rationales for actions were a good idea to include. I can see this would be beneficial in another module perhaps where they discuss care plans and how rationales are needed. For my module in question, I needed more clarity on the actual psychomotor actions for the students. I did appreciate some references included, however, many of them were older which means that this resource would be out of date rather quickly (many from 2012-2015) as we encourage students to use references within the last 10 years.

Mrs Jessica Haworth
Institute of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University
August 5, 2024

This is essential reading as it looks at the clinical skills that T-levels students need to understand and apply - in a pocketbook, it provides the fundamental skills that are necessary.

Mrs Julie Ann Knowles
Health, Dudley College
May 9, 2023

My students have said that they would sooner have the actual book than the e-format. I still want them to have access to this format for those who were to shy to speak up in class!

Mrs Julie Ann Knowles
Health, Dudley College
May 9, 2023

A must have pocketbook for any students entering the nursing profession. It is an easy read, simplified and understandable. It sets clear procedures and steps to follow with regards to clinical skills that a nursing student would require to start their career.

Ms Priya Govender
Nursing, Sunderland University
March 7, 2023

Excellent resource for first year nursing students. Quick and easy overview of the nursing procedures.

Mrs Devibala Kasinathan
Nursing, Aberystwyth University
August 31, 2022

This book contains all useful information for the practical elements of our course. I am personally impressed by the detail of the skills.

Miss Beccy Smith
H&SC, New College Swindon
June 20, 2022

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 2 - Clinical Measurement


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