High Dependency Nursing Care: Observation, Intervention and Support for Level 2 Patients

Level 2 (highly dependent) patients are nursed in a variety of clinical areas. High Dependency Nursing Care has been written for pre qualified and post qualified students undertaking modules and placements to prepare them for nursing the acutely ill and nurses caring for these patients. Written by a team of nurses experienced in providing, supporting and developing high dependency care, it discusses practical issues and explores the current evidence base for clinical practice.

This essential textbook covers the context of care with chapters on fundamental aspects, such as sleep, nutrition, pain management and stress. It goes on to look at the main causes of critical illness and the treatments often given, as well as the skills necessary for monitoring patients. Completely updated throughout, this second edition also includes new chapters on infection control, heart failure, tissue removal and transferring the sicker patient.

High Dependency Nursing Care is:
Comprehensive: it covers all the key areas of knowledge needed
User-friendly: it includes learning outcomes, introductions, time out exercises, implications for practice, useful websites and up-to-date references
Clearly written: by a team of experienced nurses
Practically based: clinical scenarios provide stimulating discussion and revision topics

Tina Moore is a Senior Lecturer in Acute and High Dependency Care at Middlesex University, London.
Philip Woodrow is a Practice Development Nurse in Critical Care at the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust, where he delivers a six-day course for ward staff caring for level 2 (highly dependent) patients. He is also the author of Intensive Care Nursing: A Framework for Practice, 2nd edition (Routledge, 2006).

Part 1: Contexts for Care 1. Comprehensive Critical Care 2. Patient-Centred Care 3. Ethics 4. Family Care 5. Cultural Issues 6. Nursing Assessment 7. Nutrition 8. Infection Control Part 2: Neurological 9. Neurological Assessment 10. Acute Pain Management 11. Psychological Disturbances 12. Sleep 13. Stress 14. Acute Neurological Pathologies Part 3: Respiratory 15. Respiratory Assessment 16. Pulse Oximetry 17. Arterial Blood Gas Analysis 18. Respiratory Pathologies 19. Oxygen Therapy 20. Suctioning 21. Intrapleural Chest Drains 22. Temporary Tracheostomies 23. Non-Invasive Ventilation Part 4: Cardiovascular 24. Haemodynamic Assessment 25. ECGs and Common Dysrhythmias 26. Acute Coronary Syndromes 27. Shock 28. Heart Failure 29. Fluid and Electrolyte Disturbances Part 5: Abdominal 30. Acute Kidney Injury 31. Gastrointestinal Disorders 32. Haematological Disorders 33. Diabetic Emergencies 34. Acute Liver Dysfunction 35. Gynaecology Part 6: Positive Outcomes 36. Rehabilitation 37. Transferring Patients 38. Critical Care Outreach and Early Detection of Illness 39. End of Life Care 40. Tissue Retrieval 41. Professional Issues