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Oxford Handbook of Nursing Older People

Edited by Beverley Tabernacle, Marie Honey, Annette Jinks

Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Print Publication Date:
Jan 2009
Print ISBN-13:
9780199213283
Published to Oxford Medicine:
Aug 2010
DOI:
10.1093/med/9780199213283.001.0001

Disclaimer

Oxford University Press makes no representation, express or implied, that the drug dosages in this book are correct. Readers must therefore always check the product information and clinical procedures with the most up to date published product information and data sheets provided by the manufacturers and the most recent codes of conduct and safety regulations. The authors and the publishers do not accept responsibility or legal liability for any errors in the text or for the misuse or misapplication of material in this work. Except where otherwise stated, drug dosages and recommendations are for the non-pregnant adult who is not breastfeeding.

Preface

This book provides a guide to the nursing care of older people. We hope it will be useful to nurses in all fields, and other health and social care professionals, in providing an outline to the principles of care for older people.

The handbook acknowledges that older people are a precious resource for society. They have wisdom that comes from having a lifetime's experience of living. It is often overlooked that older people are full, active, and useful members of society, who make valuable contributions to such things as childcare, as well as care for the sick and disabled family members.

The aim of the earlier chapters of the handbook is to give a balanced picture of old age, which identifies both the positives and negatives of growing older. The later chapters of the book look at common conditions that the nurse may encounter when providing care for older people. Concluding chapters identify areas where the nurse is able to make particular and often unique contributions to the care of older people. Evidence-based literature is given, but the advice given is often experience-based.

The role of the nurse is pivotal to care of the older person. The handbook covers the wide variety of places where older people may require nursing care, including hospital and community settings, as well as the independent sector. Focal to the nursing care of older people is the provision of compassionate care based on person-centred approaches. Integral to the content of the handbook is that the nurse should promote opportunities for well-being and psychological growth, whilst maintaining the dignity of the older person.

Finally, there is recognition within the text that nursing older people is often very complex and sometimes exacerbated by the existence of co-morbidities, which requires team approaches that cut across traditional care boundaries. As well as nurses there are a range of other professional groups and agencies that are needed to provide optimal health and social care for older people.

Beverley Tabernacle,

Marie Honey, and

Annette Jinks