In recent years there have been major developments in how long term conditions are managed and so it is important nurses understand the rationale behind policy initiatives and their implications for practice. This timely book provides a unique examination of the sociology surrounding long term conditions and the experiences of the patients who have them. It examines the social context of chronic illness and contains individual chapters on the common long term conditions present in the United Kingdom today.

Some people have always had to find ways of living with long term conditions such as diabetes or coeliac disease, but as people live longer, increasing numbers of us now experience long-term poor health. While some conditions that previously limited the length of life are manageable a growing number of people live with long-term conditions. Against this backdrop, Long Term Conditions explores the complex issues surrounding the experience of long-term illness and the enormous pressure this puts on individuals, their families and carers and on health and social care services. The perspectives of each of these groups are voiced within this book, with chapters written by people who use health and social care services, carers, policy-makers and practitioners. Using a variety of research methods to get to the heart of the matter, the book probes assumptions about the experience of long-term poor health and what constitutes good care. Its aim is to challenge readers to think critically about existing policy and provision and to inspire change based on sound evidence and a drive towards greater multi-professional working. Long Term Conditions provides academics, practitioners and students with a thorough grounding in the complex issues surrounding the experience and management of long-term illness. It is an ideal text for courses on policy, management and practice in health and social care.

Long Term Conditions is a comprehensive textbook for all nursing and healthcare students and practitioners that explores the key issues surrounding caring for patients with chronic diseases or long-term conditions. Divided into three sections, this book explores living with a long-term condition, empowerment, and care management. Rather than being disease-focused, it looks at key issues and concepts which unify many different long-term conditions, including psychological and social issues that make up a considerable part of living with a long-term condition. Within each of the chapters, issues of policy, culture and ethics are intertwined, and case studies are used throughout, linking the concepts to specific diseases. Key features: A comprehensive textbook on the principles and practice of caring for people with long-term conditions User-friendly in style with learning outcomes, further reading, useful websites, and case studies throughout linking to specific conditions Moves away from a disease-focused medical model, and takes a needs-led approach Uniquely explores the overarching issues of living with one or more long-term conditions Focuses on the importance of multi-disciplinary team work and collaborative teamwork in the management of long-term conditions

Whilst the body has recently assumed greater sociological significance, there has been less engagement in social work and social care on the bodily experience of health, illness and disease. This innovative volume redresses the balance by exploring chronic illness and social work, through the specific lens of autoimmunity, engaging in wider debates around vulnerability, resistance and the lived experience of ongoing ill-health. Moving beyond existing conceptualisations of vulnerability as an issue of mental distress, ageing, child protection and poverty, Price and Walker demonstrate the role that society has to play in actively engaging the physical body, rather than working around and through it. The book focuses on auto-immune conditions such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma. Conditions like these allow for an exploration of the materiality of illness which exacerbates social and economic vulnerability and may precipitate personal and social crises, requiring a variety of interventions and support. The risks and challenges associated with chronic illness include disruptions to a sense of self and identity, altered relationships and the renegotiation of roles and responsibilities in a variety of relationships in addition to an economic impact, with the potential for disruption to employment status and financial insecurity. This text opens up a range of debates around some of the central concerns of the social work profession, including vulnerability, ill-health, and independence. It will be of interest to scholars and students of social work, nursing, disability studies, medicine and the social sciences.

"This book is a very welcome tool, which will enable health professionals to understand the complexity, challenge and rewards of proactively managing long-term conditions. Putting this knowledge into skilled practice, in partnership with patients, will transform the lives of many individuals and their families, and thus fulfil the fundamental purpose of nursing." —From the Foreword by Professor Rosemary Cook CBE, Director, the Queen's Nursing Institute and Visiting Professor of Enterprise, University of Northumbria Long-Term Conditions is a comprehensive, practical guide for nurses and healthcare professionals on the care and management of people with chronic illness. It explores case management, individual care and management, the role of the 'expert patient', quality-of-life issues, counselling skills, self-management, and optimum self-care. Long-Term Conditions discusses the three main long-term conditions currently resulting in most hospital admissions: diabetes, respiratory, and coronary heart disease, with a focus on empowering the patient to self-manage. Key Features: A comprehensive guide to the care and management of long-term conditions Focuses on the management of the conditions from the patients' perspective Practical and accessible in style

Sociology for Nurses has become a leading textbook and an invaluable companion for students wishing to get to grips with how sociology can positively transform professional nursing practice. This thoroughly revised new edition maintains its commitment to providing jargon-free explanations of sociological theories and evidence to show how studying sociology can be useful in all branches of nursing. Readers will develop a clear understanding of what sociology is and why it is essential to practice, gain deeper awareness of social issues such as gender, ethnicity, class and the life course, and become more familiar with the social contexts of health policy and nursing as a profession. With updates in every chapter, the third edition includes a new chapter on research methods, a reorganized collection of chapters on health policy, extended coverage of long-term illness and disability, as well as contemporary case studies on topical healthcare issues such as dementia, the ‘obesity epidemic’ and recent attempts to integrate health and social care. In addition, the book provides clearly defined learning aims, a useful glossary of sociological concepts, structured activities and questions for discussion, and annotated suggestions for further reading. The editors and contributing authors to the book have a wealth of experience teaching sociology to nurses at diploma and degree pre-registration and post-registration levels. Their book will continue to spark interest and debate among all student nurses, particularly those approaching sociology for the first time. Please visit the accompanying website at: http://www.politybooks.com/sociologyfornurses.

The guidelines and skills required to become a nurse are always changing and it can be difficult to stay up-to-date with the current standards. This book has been specifically designed to address the main skills you need to meet NMC requirements. Becoming a Nurse will demystify what you need to know while preparing you to meet NMC standards and become a confident, practising professional. The book introduces the many subjects outside the biological which are none the less essential for both pre-registration and practising nurses. This new edition has been thoroughly updated throughout, and includes four new chapters on psychosocial concepts for nursing; sociological concepts for nursing; spiritual care; and preceptorship and transition. Like the previous edition the book also covers: Law, ethics and policy Management and leadership Communication, interpersonal skills and interprofessional working Evidence based practice Medicines management Public health and professional development Each chapter is packed full of case studies, discussion question and further readings to encourage critical thinking and reflection. It is an excellent resource to prepare you for your programme or to refresh your knowledge of NMC standards.

Using a life course approach, the main chapters in this truly original and enlightening text focus on health and well-being during each of our life stages. A wide range of contemporary literature from disciplines such as public health, sociology, epidemiology and social policy are drawn upon to examine key health and well-being issues in these stages, and to illustrate how health effects can accumulate across the life course. Interactive activities based on the text and on extracts from primary sources are used to encourage critical reflection and debate. Mary Larkin′s book will be essential reading for students on the many courses that need an understanding of health and well-being across all age groups. It will also be an invaluable resource for those in the health and social care sector as well as practitioners working in the field.

Alexander’s Nursing Practice is the most comprehensive textbook available for undergraduate nursing students today. This resource will prepare students for their future role as healthcare professionals in a variety of settings. It covers all the basics of nursing, including care of patients with common disorders, core nursing issues like medicines management and infection prevention and control, and how to nurse specific patient groups. The sixth edition has been fully updated to incorporate the latest evidence, policies and registration requirements, and reflects the transformative changes currently occurring in healthcare policies, procedures and technologies. With a host of features to enhance the learning and teaching experience, this book will make a significant contribution to preparing compassionate nurses who will deliver patient-centred, high quality and holistic care. Key features Designed to help the reader navigate the demands of the latest NMC educational requirements Expert team of contributors led by renowned editor, Ian Peate OBE FRCN Fully updated with the latest evidence and trends - incorporates the latest practice guidelines, research findings and clinical standards relevant to the nursing field Addresses the role of nurses in primary care settings, general practice nursing responsibilities, chronic disease management, health screening and the delivery of integrated, patient-centred care within the UK primary care landscape Richly illustrated throughout to reinforce key concepts, demonstrate clinical procedures and engage students in active learning Includes a wide range of helpful learning features including case studies and critical thinking exercises – helps the reader to analyse complex situations, make evidence-based decisions and communicate effectively with patients and healthcare team members Pedagogical features to help students navigate the textbook, organise their learning and review key concepts efficiently Supplemented with online material including MCQs, image bank, critical thinking questions, extra online material (supplementary text), website figure references and extra online images

Long-Term Conditions explores the complex issues surrounding the experience of long-term illness and the enormous pressure this puts on individuals, their families and careers and on health and social care services. The perspectives of each of these groups are voiced within this book, with chapters written by people who use health and social care services, careers, policy-makers and practitioners. Using a variety of research methods to get to the heart of the matter, the book probes assumptions about the experience of long-term poor health and what constitutes good care. Its aim is to challenge readers to think critically about existing policy and provision and to inspire change based on sound evidence and a drive towards greater multi-professional working.