This comprehensive book looks at the art and science of surgical nursing. Covering many of the essential issues relevant to the care of adults undergoing surgery in a range of settings, the text explores the nature of surgical nursing in all its guises, addressing challenging contemporary issues and measuring outcomes. It also explains the principles, whichunderlie the nursing care of patients throughout their surgical journey - from assessment and diagnosis, through pre- and intra-operative care, to the post-operative recovery phase and discharge. The physiological and scientific basis of practice is set out clearly and succinctly, while complex issues of care are explored through the use of reflection activities and short case studies. The text addresses issues, which will help nurses develop their role and their philosophy of care and assist in the improvement of patient management.The book looks at surgical nursing from the nurses not the surgeons point of view This is a British text, in a subject area dominated by US books

Action Research is becoming more popular in nursing and healthcare. It is used by practitioners who want to better understand and improve the quality of their work, and by students who need to do a research project for their course. An Action Research approach enables evidence-based care and links research directly to practice, making it the ideal method for a researcher in these fields. This book introduces readers to Action Research by presenting its key concepts and backing these up with practical examples throughout, often drawn from the authors' own extensive experience. Topics include: - Action research to advance patient care - Collaborative working - Ethics - Participatory Action Research - Writing up and disseminating projects Williamson, Bellman, and Webster - leading figures in the field - provide practical advice for using Action Research in healthcare settings, with patients and alongside other practitioners. Their book presents a flexible approach that can be adapted to researchers' real needs.