Psychology for Nurses and the Caring Professions

This book introduces students and practitioners to psychological knowledge and understanding for clinical contexts, with emphasis on enhancing care.

Sheila Payne is an applied social scientist with a background in nursing. Over the last twenty years she has been involved in leading and contributing to research and teaching about research methods in palliative care. She has a special interest in end-of-life care for older people, family caregivers and bereavement support. She currently holds the Help the Hospices Chair in Hospice Studies based at the International Observatory on End of Life Care at Lancaster University, UK. She is also co-director of a large five year programme of collaborative research and development called the Cancer Experiences Collaborative. Sheila has published widely in academic and professional journals.

Jan Walker worked as a health visitor for eight years before taking a degree in psychology and then a PhD which focused pain in later life. Working as a university lecturer and reader, she taught psychology on a wide range of courses for nurses, allied health, medical and social care professionals, from introductory to masters level. She has held honorary contracts with several pain clinics, helping individuals to identify goals and resources for self management. She has conducted, supervised and published research on the lived experience of chronic pain and other chronic conditions. Jan is currently a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southampton where she works closely with the Complementary Medicine Research Unit.

Nikki Jarrett is a lecturer in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Southampton. She is a psychologist with a nursing background. Nikki teaches psychology to both pre-qualified student nurses and to post-qualified nurses/health and social care practitioners. Her research interests are broadly psycho-social issues in cancer and palliative care. She has worked on a variety of research projects over the last 15 years investigating issues such nurse-patient communication, referrals to specialist palliative care services and bereavement support in general practice