Oxford Handbook of Adult Nursing + Oxford Handbook of Clinical Skills in Adult Nursing

Two titles from the bestselling Oxford Handbook series are available together in this great value pack.

The central title of the Oxford Handbooks in Nursing series, the Oxford Handbook of Adult Nursing is written for nurses, by nurses. It gives concise, practical and expert advice on all aspects of the nurse's role. Written for both practising and student nurses, it is a comprehensive and reliable guide to the care of adults with chronic and acute illness. The handbook covers care from the initial assessment to discharge and continuing care, giving a complete picture of a patient's progress. It also gives up-to-date advice on the role of the nurse working in a multidisciplinary team and as manager, team leader and co-ordinator of care. To help you achieve the best possible results for your patients, the authors offer a wealth of recommendations, guidance and information from their years of experience. Whatever situation you are in, the Oxford Handbook of Adult Nursing will give you the information you need. Starting with the fundamentals of good patient care, it covers the vast majority of clinical scenarios you will encounter. It also offers advice on performing relevant tests and procedures, investigations with normal ranges, common drugs, emergency situations, rare cases and how to manage unexpected events.

So you can find the information you need without delay, the book is clearly laid out with one topic per page, and written in an easily readable note-based style. Blank pages for writing notes, observations and local protocols allow your handbook to be customised to meet your specific needs. All this is available at your fingertips, in a pocket-sized handbook with a hard-wearing plastic cover. Written by practising nurses and checked by subject experts, theOxford Handbook of Adult Nursing will be an invaluable companion to both practising and student nurses. Whether you need a comprehensive introduction to adult nursing, general nursing care, or a reliable resource to dip into when the need arises, theOxford Handbook of Adult Nursing will be an invaluable companion for years to come.

Increasingly nurses are developing and extending their clinical skills into areas that were once considered only for doctors. With the rise of post-registration clinical skills courses, advanced practitioners, and the new medical assistant roles, it is anticipated that future professional practice will involve more emphasis on clinical skills for nurses.

The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Skills in Adult Nursing provides a practical, easily accessible, concise and evidence-based guide to all the essential elements of clinical skills for nursing practice in one portable format. The first section deals with the principles underlying patient assessment, and professional issues relating to clinical skills in order to help practitioners perform procedures safely and competently. This is followed by chapters on generic skills such as communication, hygiene and comfort, infection control, intravenous access, and care of the theatre patient. There are separate sections on drug administration and emergency and high dependency care. The book then takes a systems-based approach to the care of patients covering the key concepts which underpin all good nursing practice, including the social and psychological aspects of nursing. Information is included on how to relate the principles of clinical skills to different groups such as the elderly and the mentally ill, which will have relevance to practitioners whether in a hospital or community setting.
A unique and comprehensive guide to clinical skills in nursing, the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Skills in Adult Nursing will help nurses and other health care workers to perform clinical skills safely and competently.

George Castledine, Professor of Nursing and Consultant in General Nursing, University of Central England at Birmingham, Faculty of Health and Community Care, UK,Anne Close,National Clinical Advisor,, Care Quality Commission, London, UK,Jacqueline Randle,Associate Professor, School of Nursing, University of Nottingham, UK,Frank Coffey,Consultant in Emergency Medicine, chool of Nursing, University of Nottingham, UK,Martyn Bradbury,Clinical Skills Network Lead, School of Nursing and Community Studies Faculty of Health and Social Work, University of Plymouth, UK

George Castledine was appointed Professor of Nursing and Community Health at The University of Central England, where he held the Assistant Dean post and helped in the transfer of the local schools of nursing into the university. He now holds a joint Clinical Professorship and Consultant of Nursing post between the University and The Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust. He was made a fellow of the Royal College of Nursing in 1980 for his outstanding contribution to clinical nursing. He has been a visiting professor at many universities around the world and has worked in the Middle East and Africa for various aid agencies. His research is based in clinical practice and he is an expert in specialisation in nursing and care of the older person. He is seen as one of the early pioneers in the development of higher education for nurses, combining practice with theory and maintaining clinical links. Professor Castledine is also Editor-in-Chief of the British Journal of Nursing, and was knighted in 2007


Ann Close started her nursing career in Lancashire where she was born and raised. Through her work as a nurse teacher and experiences as a patient she developed an interest in health promotion and patient education and subsequently presented and published widely on the subject.This was followed by almost 5 years working at the West Midlands Regional HA where she was responsible for the amalgamation of schools of nursing into colleges and for supporting the development of Project 2000 across the region. During this period Ann obtained degree qualifications from University of Wales. Subsequently Ann had a change in career direction to return to provider services, firstly as Nursing Director at a learning disability Trust, and then for the last 12 years at The Dudley Group of Hospitals. She maintains a national profile as vice chair of the Nurse Directors Association and is a previous member of the Standing Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee.


Jacqueline Randle, PhD, MSc, BA, PGDip, RN
Jacqueline is an Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham, UK. She works primarily with adult branch nursing students undertaking a pre-registration Masters of Nursing Science course but also works across other pre and post-registration courses. She teaches and assesses clinical skills and her clinical speciality is infection prevention and control. She publishes widely in the area of nursing.


Martyn Bradbury, RGN, BSc, MSc. Cert Ed.
Following qualification in 1980, Martyn completed an Intensive Care and Cardiac Care course at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton. Later, he became a Charge Nurse in acute medicine and then Clinical Supervisor for ITU/CCU and medicine at East Surrey Hospital, Redhill. Martyn was awarded a BSc in Nursing Studies from Brighton Polytechnic in 1987 and MSc in Health Care from Exeter University in 1995. Having worked as a Senior Lecturer since 199l, Martyn is now employed as Clinical Skills Network Lead within the School of Nursing & Community Studies at Plymouth University. In addition, he is an editorial board member and referee for the British Journal of Nursing. Professional interests include high dependency care and general medicine with a particular interest in cardiac care, pathophysiology and clinical skills teaching.


Frank Coffey, MB DCH, Dip Sports Med, MMedSci, MRCPI, FRCSEd, FFAEM.
Since 1999 Frank has worked as a Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham. He is also Course Director of the MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice at the University of Nottingham. His main clinical and research interests include: medical education, Nurse Practitioner service development and training, inter-professional and team training, simulated patients and emergency medicine. He has extensive experience in Advanced Clinical Assessment and OSCEs (medicine and nursing).