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, 2^nd edition (Routledge, 2006).