Clinical Nursing Skills at a Glance

Sarah Curr is a Lecturer in Nursing Education with a strong clinical skills and simulation focus at the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery, and Palliative Care, King’s College London, UK. Carol Fordham-Clarke is a Lecturer and Clinical Skills Lead for Nursing at the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing & Midwifery, King’s College London, UK.

List of contributors viii

Acknowledgement ix

About the companion website x

Part 1: 1 Introduction: the setup of this book and how to use it   2

Part 2: Principles of skills    3

2 Care planning and the nursing process   4

3 Communication – fundamentals   6

4 Record keeping   8

5 Communication – de- escalation   10

6 Communication – difficult conversations   12

7 Informed consent   14

8 Privacy and dignity   16

Part 3: Mandatory skills    19

9 Moving and handling   20

10 Moving and handling: turning in bed, transfers, and hoisting   22

11 Basic life support   24

12 The choking patient; the recovery position   26

13 Infection control   28

14 Medicine management   30

15 Injection technique   32

16 National early warning score (NEWS) track and trigger system   36

Part 4: Neurological skills    39

17 Assessing level of consciousness   40

18 Assessing pupil reaction and limb strength   44

19 Assessing cognition   46

20 Pain assessment   48

21 Neurovascular assessment   50

22 Assessing and managing seizures   52

Part 5 Respiratory skills    55

23 Assessing and managing the airway   56

24 Respiratory assessment   58

25 Monitoring oxygen saturations   60

26 Arterial blood gas analysis   62

27 Chest auscultation   64

28 Peak expiratory flow rate   66

29 Administering oxygen   68

30 Nebulisers and inhalers   70

31 Tracheostomy care   72

32 Chest drain management   74

Part 6: Cardiovascular skills    77

33 Taking a pulse   78

34 Blood pressure   80

35 Temperature assessment   82

36 Non- invasive circulatory assessment   84

37 Central venous pressure monitoring   86

38 Electrocardiogram   88

Part 7: Gastrointestinal skills    91

39 Nutritional screening   92

40 Supporting eating and drinking   94

41 Nasogastric tube insertion   96

42 Enteral feeding   98

43 Management of diarrhoea   100

44 Management of constipation   102

45 Administration of suppositories and enemas   104

46 Stoma care   106

Part 8: Genitourinary skills    109

47 Urinalysis   110

48 Continence assessment   112

49 Urinary catheterisation   114

50 Catheter care   116

51 Catheter removal   118

Part 9: Musculoskeletal skills   121

52 Assessing tone and ability to mobilise   122

53 Venous thromboembolism assessment and risk reduction   124

54 Anti- embolic stockings   126

55 Musculoskeletal minor injuries: assessment and treatment   128

56 Falls – prevention, assessment and management   130

57 Stabilisation: neck collar   132

58 Care of the patient with spinal cord injuries – log roll   134

Part 10: Integumentary skills    137

59 Personal hygiene   138

60 Personal hygiene – mouth and hair care   140

61 Pressure ulcer – prevention and management   142

62 Venous ulcer assessment   144

63 Wound dressing using aseptic non- touch technique (ANTT)   146

64 Burns management   148

65 Care after death   150

66 Management of surgical drains   152

67 Suture and staple removal   154

Part 11: Endocrine skills    157

68 Capillary blood glucose monitoring   158

Part 12: Circulatory Skills    161

69 Venepuncture   162

70 Cannulation   164

71 Intravenous fluid therapy   166

72 Fluid balance monitoring   170

73 Blood transfusions   172

Index 174