Professional Skills in Nursing
A Guide for the Common Foundation Programme
- Rita Debnath - formerly at University of Surrey
Nursing
- Mike Parkinson, Edinburgh Napier University
What do I need to learn in order to progress through my course? How do I achieve the best possible patient-care?
Professional Skills for Nurses answers both of these questions and supports the development of key nursing skills underpinned by theory. Designed specifically to meet the needs of nursing students in the initial stages of training, the book focuses on the essential knowledge and skills needed for effective patient-care while at the same time helping students to achieve the NMC outcomes required for entry into branch programmes.
Each chapter focuses on a key aspect of nursing care backed up with
- practical tips,
- examples drawn from all branches of nursing, and
- a range of study activities to help you reflect on your learning and get the most from practice placements.
Key themes in healthcare such as ethics, evidence-based practice and health promotion are discussed throughout the book, highlighting how these relate to everyday nursing practice.
Focusing on the core skills covered in the initial stages of training, Professional Skills in Nursing is the ideal introduction for students during the Common Foundation Programme.
An excellent book to support study skills and CPD in nursing. relevant and easy to read. An ideal companion.
Excellent resource for students to refer to following clinical skills sessions
I have used this book for my first year students. It is clear and easy to read and the students can relate to it.
This text presented a number of essential core subject areas for student and registered nurses' use. Its easy to access format made it enjoyable to read.
The practical tips and examples can help students in developing their clinical skills.
This book disappoints in some areas and whilst it is well laid out and covers important clinical aspects of care for the foundation student niurse there are some inaccuracies eg. Administration of Injections Learning Activity 11.2 informs the reader on page 200 to inform the child that the injection "won't hurt". With a background in OperatingTheatre Nursing I can confidently state that telling a child an injection will not hurt can seriously compromise the child's trust in the Nurse. Even using EMLA cream is inaccurate information because the child requires urgent analgesia and EMLA cream requires 60 minutes to take full effect.
Page 62 - Putting on Sterile Gloves. The instructions regarding washing and drying of hands requires more detail eg Hands must be rinsed from fingertips to elbows to prevent re-contamination from forearms. Hands and arms must also be dried using each corner of the absorbent paper towel.
Some sections are very good and very informative, but the bold type indicating key words in the glossary should be more inclusive. eg page 36 MRSA,page 70 Myocardial Inforction, Carotid, Brachial, Radial, Femoral, Popliteal and Pedal pulse sites page 92 TED Stockings. These are just a few examples. I feel this book does not live up to it's potential and there are better books available for the first year Student Nurse.
Good range of topics covered in easy read style. Ideal for first years, as indicated in title, but felt a little basic to stand students in good stead through all their training.
An excellent student resource, gives comprehensive essential information in a very readable and understandable way.
This book has been set out well and would be easy for students to follow. I have put it onto my reading list
A good basic text for students undertaking studies leading to initial registration or return to practice. The study guide is very useful for those commencing academic studies. The inclusion of examples of care plans is an excellent resource for novice nurses.