Initial Management of Acute Medical Patients (eBook)

ABOUT THE EDITORS Ian Wood is a Lecturer in the School of Nursing & Midwifery, Keele University. His clinical background is in emergency nursing and, in this context, he has worked in emergency departments in Manchester, Leicester and Stoke on Trent. Michelle Garner is a Senior Lecturer and pathway lead for acute and critical care within the Faculty of Health & Wellbeing, University of Cumbria. Her clinical background is in cardiology and she has worked in cardiac units in Stoke on Trent, Macclesfield and London.

List of Contributors iv

Preface vi

Acknowledgements vii

Introduction viii

Normal Clinical Values ix

1 Initial Assessment of the Acute Medical Patient 1

Judith Morgan and Ian Wood

2 Vulnerable Adults 23

Louise Nelson, Scott Inglis, Fiona Howell, Michael Gibbs and Judi Thorley

3 Sudden Death 56

Sue Read and Jane Jervis

4 Cardiac Arrest 80

Carole Donaldson

5 Shock 108

Judith Morgan and Ian Wood

6 Altered Consciousness 133

Ian Wood and Carole Donaldson

7 Shortness of Breath 170

Michelle Garner, Susan Hope and Ian Wood

8 Chest Pain 221

Michelle Garner Copyrighted Material

9 Abdominal Pain and Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding 262

Toni Jordan, Ruth Harris and Terry Wardle

10 Extremity Pain and Swelling 288

Ian Wood

Index 300

"Even though aimed at nurses and healthcare practitioners
working in the acute sector, I would suggest that this book will be
equally appealing to those working in primary care and the
community setting whose aim it is to keep patients in their home
settings while recognising and managing exacerbations of their
conditions. I would also suggest that this book would appeal to
junior members of staff as a source of new knowledge, but also to
the advanced practitioner as an excellent update and clinical
reference." (Nursing Times, 26 September
2012)

"The book also presents a comprehensive account of the
assessment and management of these patients. It covers
disease-causing pathophysiology in less depth than other,
comparable texts, but many emergency nurses will find it a useful
resource." (Emergency Nurse, 1 September
2012)