District Nursing Manual of Clinical Procedures

Description

"This manual, the first of its kind focused on district nursing, provides the means to build competence and confidence in nurses new to the community, or developing their skills. The comprehensive and evidence-based content provides essential information for competence in key areas of district nursing."
—From the Foreword, by Rosemary Cook CBE, Hon D Lett, MSc, PG Dip, RGN Director, The Queen's Nursing Institute

Clinical skills are a fundamental aspect of district nursing care. The District Nursing Manual of Clinical Procedures is a practical, evidence-based manual of clinical skills which reflects the unique challenges of district nursing care within the patient's home. It provides a comprehensive resource for all district nurses, community nurses, students, and health-care professionals involved in the district nursing team, enabling them to practice competently and confidently and deliver clinically effective, person-centred care.

The District Nursing Manual of Clinical Procedures addresses the complexity of district nursing care and encompasses key aspects of clinical practice, including decision making in areas that district and community nurses often struggle with or find difficult when they are on their own in a patient's home. It utilises the latest clinical research and expert clinical knowledge to address these challenges, and to provide the underlying theory and evidence for district nursing care.

Key features

• Evidence-based manual of practical clinical skills in district nursing care
• Clear, user-friendly and easy to understand
• Contains recommendations for expert care within a patient's own home
• Addresses key concerns of district and community nurses working on their own within a patient's home
• Encompasses key aspects of district nursing care
• Placed in the context of person-centred care
• All procedures include the rationale for each action - 'why' as well as 'how'

Hallmark Features

• Evidence-based manual of practical clinical skills in district nursing care
• Clear, user-friendly and easy to understand
• Contains recommendations for expert care within a patient’s own home
• Addresses key concerns of district and community nurses working on their own within a patient’s home
• Encompasses key aspects of district nursing care
• Placed in the context of person-centred care
• All procedures include the rationale for each action - ‘why’ as well as ‘how’

Table of Contents

• Contributors
• Foreword
• Preface

• Chapter 1 Assessment and communication (general principles)
• Background evidence
• The Single Assessment Process (SAP)
• Communication
• Conclusion
• References and further reading

• Chapter 2 Blood glucose monitoring for people with diabetes mellitus
• Background evidence
• Metabolic control (physiology of blood glucose)
• Urine versus blood testing
• Capillary blood glucose testing
• Blood glucose monitoring training and education
• Types of blood glucose monitoring system
• Limitations of blood glucose meters
• Contraindications for the use of blood glucose meters
• Maintenance and care of the meter
• References and further reading

• Chapter 3 Bowel management
• Background evidence
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Faecal incontinence
• Conclusion
• References and further reading

• Chapter 4 Discharge planning
• Background evidence
• Discharge planning process
• Community Care Delayed Discharge Act 2003
• Informal carers
• Risk management
• Training
• Conclusion
• References and further reading

• Chapter 5 Ear irrigation
• Background evidence
• Purpose of ear irrigation
• Preparation of the patient prior to irrigation
• Risk management
• Training
• Conclusion
• References and further reading

• Chapter 6 Infection prevention and control
• Glossary
• Background evidence
• Healthcare-associated infection (HCAl)
• The epidemiology of infection
• Infection prevention and control in the community
• Standards
• Outbreak of infection in the community
• Health clearance for healthcare workers
• Universal/Standard precautions
• Conclusion
• References and further reading

• Chapter 7 Intravenous therapy and central vascular access devices
• Background evidence
• Referrals
• Education and training
• Quality of life issues
• Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs)
• Skin-tunnelled cuffed catheters
• Implantable ports
• Administration of medications and/or infusions
• CVAD insertion complications
• Complications of CVADs
• References and further reading

• Chapter 8 Medicines management
• Background evidence
• Accountability, responsibility and consent
• Risk management
• Delegation of administration
• Storage
• Transportation of medication
• Transcribing
• Changes to medication doses
• Incident reporting
• Adverse drug reaction (ADR)
• Disposal
• Non-medical prescribing
• Administration
• Intravenous (IV) drug administration
• Diagnosis and management of anaphylaxis
• Conclusion
• References and further reading

• Chapter 9 Moving and handling
• Background evidence
• The legal aspects of manual handling
• Manual handling equipment
• Conclusion
• References and further reading

• Chapter 10 Nutritional support
• Background evidence
• Nutritional status and health
• Malnutrition
• Identifying patients at risk of malnutrition (initial nursing assessment)
• Nutritional risk screening tools
• Anthropometric assessment
• Diagnostic tests
• Referral to the community dietetic department
• Patients with weight loss/loss of appetite
• Patients who are overweight
• Nutritional support in the home
• Conclusion
• References and further reading

• Chapter 11 Personal hygiene
• Background evidence
• Assessment
• Multicultural needs
• Manual handling and risk assessment
• Conclusion
• References and further reading

• Chapter 12 Syringe driver/pump management and symptom control in palliative care
• Background evidence
• Education and training
• Prescribing and administering drugs in the community
• Using a syringe driver/pump
• Symptom management
• Crisis box
• Pain control
• Anxiolytics
• Terminal agitation/acute confusional state
• Anti-emetics
• Drugs used for excess secretions
• Drugs used for intestinal obstruction
• Steroids
• Rescue doses of medication
• Monitoring
• Reactions at the infusion site
• Ethical issues and consent
• Risk management
• Reporting adverse incidents
• Conclusion
• References and further reading

• Chapter 13 Urinary catheterisation and management
• Background evidence
• Risk management
• Training and education
• Catheter selection
• Anaesthetic/Lubricating gel
• Suprapubic catheterisation
• Intermittent catheterisation
• Meatal hygiene
• Drainage systems
• Infection
• Catheter blockage and encrustations
• Conclusion
• References and further reading

• Chapter 14 Venepuncture
• Education and training
• Anatomy and physiology
• Selecting a vein
• Improving venous access
• Selection of equipment
• Specimen handling and transportation
• Safety of staff
• Infection control issues
• Patients’ perspective of venepuncture
• Reducing pain during venepuncture
• Legal and professional issues
• Problem solving
• Conclusion
• References and further reading

• Chapter 15 Wound management
• Background evidence
• Wound healing
• Wound management
• Types of wound commonly managed by community nurses
• Procedural guidelines
• References and further reading

• Index