Nursing as a part of healthcare industry is constantly adding value to the society. Over the years, the patterns of patient care have evolved to become better and a major chunk of contribution to this comes from nursing journals. Journals are the informative pieces with a weekly, monthly and quarterly frequency and they usually cater to a single subject at length. Nursing journals help to keep you updated, informed and aware about the latest inventions. They also address the issues arising in the field of nursing and focus on the way these issues are being met.
We often form an impression that practical learning is the essential requirement towards becoming an efficient nurse but we cannot deny the fact that there is an interconnection between theoretical and practical knowledge, which informs us about the power of practical learning. Had it not been for nursing books, one could have never realized the importance of putting textual information into practical action.
With science advancing in leaps, almost everything related to healthcare has advanced. This also includes the advancement of nursing as a profession. Unlike before, now there is a complete classification of different disciplines for nurses. The list includes specializations like palliative care nursing, critical care nursing, chronic disease management and coronary care nursing, to name a few.
So, to support each of these specializations there is a plethora of nursing books available, each with its own research agenda, purpose and principles. For now, let’s dig into more details for a few specializations and the international books which one must refer to, when studying these specializations.
1. Priorities in Critical Care Nursing (7th edition)
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About the book:
The book ensures to keep you updated with all the varying aspects of critical care nursing. It also highlights the common issues arising in a critical care unit and the prioritization strategy, depending upon the different situations. The book in consideration has eight editions till date. However, its seventh edition is the highly preferred one amongst the students and nursing educators. It is an evidence-based nursing book, which follows an authoritative approach of research and puts to use, many tools of information including case studies, QSEN-focused call-out boxes, digital glossary and chapter summaries.
About the authors:
The book has inputs from three authors namely, Linda Urden, Kathleen Stacy and Mary Lough.
- • Linda Urden is a nursing professor and the director for Master’s in healthcare informatics and international nursing programs, Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science.
- • Kathleen Stacy is a critical care nurse specialist and clinical associate professor at Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science.
- • Mary Lough is a clinical critical care nurse specialist and a clinical assistant professor at Stanford Health Care, Stanford University, California.
Each of these authors hail from healthcare backgrounds and with the help of this book, they have tried to sum up their professional learning for the coming generations of critical care nurses.
Reviews:
The seventh edition of “Priorities in Critical Care Nursing” provides an in-depth insight in terms of meta-analyses and timely patient care recommendations. The case studies included in this edition of the book throw some light on the key concepts, which are very important to critical care nursing. It also explains the importance of the practical application of these concepts for efficient patient-care. One special feature, which makes this edition of the book an interesting reading material, is that such a high volume of information is presented in an easy-to-comprehend manner with an appropriate usage of boxes, tables, concept maps and diagrams.
2. Palliative Care & End of Life: Clinical Practice Guidelines (2nd edition)
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About the book:
The second edition of Palliative Care & End of Life: Clinical Practice Guidelines brings along an exposure about important clinical practices for the nurses. This nursing book also talks about the necessary tools required for an effective delivery of palliative care nursing for patients with life-limiting illnesses. Along with the guidelines, the book also focuses on explaining the detailed nature of care and management for patients with advanced disease type. From diagnosis until death, a set of principles implies to palliative care nursing and this book goes at length to discuss about those principles.
About the authors:
The book is a research work by Kim K. Kuebler and it is co-authored by Debra E Heidrich. Both the authors are well-versed with the specialization of palliative care nursing and through this multi-edition book, they aim to educate the aspiring palliative care nurses.
- • Kim K. Kuebler is a former adult nurse practitioner from Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Throughout her medical career, she has written many books that turned her into an award-winning author on several textbooks for chronic conditions and palliative care.
- • Debra E. Heidrich is a palliative nurse clinician from Ohio, United States of America. She is a highly experienced nursing professional and within the book, she has provided detailed insights about how the “dying process” takes place.
Source: researchgate.net
Reviews:
“Palliative care & end of life” is a detailed nursing book, which has segregated all the lengthy information in an understandable manner. The book mentions about end of life issues, which must be known by practicing nurses and bedside practitioners. Keeping a student centric approach in mind, the authors have also highlighted the definitions, terminologies and relevant protocols to be known by palliative care nurses.
3. Miller’s nursing for Wellness in Older Adults – Canadian Edition
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About the book:
The Canadian edition of Miller’s Nursing for Wellness in Older Adults, has taken in consideration the nurses working in the healthcare settings of Canada. The approach used in this book puts across the various nursing fundamentals and practices, which enable the Canadian nurses to provide quality care. This nursing textbook also plays an important role as a source of reference for professionals finding answers to the situations faced in the practical field. Some of the lessons in this book also highlight the medical innovations, which originated within Canada and how those innovations helped in the advancement of the healthcare system of the country. The fact that this is a book preferred by the Canadian Nurses Association makes it a more credible source of teaching and learning.
About the authors:
The Canadian edition of this book includes inputs from three authors namely, Sandra P. Hirst, Annette M. Lane and Carol A. Miller.
- • Sandra who has held a number of leadership positions in the specialization of Gerontology is also a recipient of the Jeanne Mance award from the Canadian Nurses Association. She also served a 3-year appointment from the PM to sit on the National Seniors Council, Canada.
- • Annette M. Lane is an associate professor in the Faculty of Health Disciplines at Athabasca University and her inputs in this book come from her areas of expertise in treating older adults and families with mental illness.
- • Carol A. Miller is a Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist from Ohio. Apart from this book, Miller is also an author to multiple other nursing education books that cater to the need of wellness in adults.
Reviews:
The approach used to address the concerns in this book is evidence-based which makes learning a relatively easy process. With the inputs from three different authors, the students also get an account of different learning experiences coming their way. Focus of this book is on the professional Canadian nurses and the functioning of the healthcare system. It also provides the nursing students with insights about the health issues faced by older Canadians and the resources that the country can offer to provide quality nursing care. Usage of nursing research data also makes the readers aware about the various research programs conducted by the country.
Source: Goodreads
4. Leading and Managing in Canadian Nursing – Canadian Edition
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About the book:
This book is a helpful tool for international nursing students looking to improve their knowledge and skills. It majorly highlights the importance of nursing care delivery in the 21st century. Special emphasis is given to the Canadian nursing practices and how the shortage of nurses is putting an unwanted pressure on the healthcare practices in the system.
About the authors: The book has two authors, Patricia Kelly and Heather Quesnelle, each contributing their own set of experiences and learnings.
- • Patricia Kelly is a highly experienced nursing professional. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from DePaul University and a Master’s Degree from Loyola University in Chicago. In addition, she has also served as the program coordinator for the Associate Degree Nursing Program at Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, Indiana. This book is an addition to the list Kelly has authored ten editions of textbooks about Nursing Leadership and Management.
- • Heather Quesnelle is a co-author to the book and she has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Toronto. She has held many responsible positions at multiple hospitals and nursing institutes in Canada. Heather is also a member of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario and it is from these associations that she finds the rooted issues and challenges faced by the healthcare sector in Canada.
Reviews:
The Canadian edition of the book, “Leading and Managing in Canadian Nursing” is a popular source of reference among the budding nursing professionals and nursing educators in Canada. Students find it to be a relatively trusted source to gain knowledge about the ethics, culture and healthcare practices followed in Canada. The share of importance given to the ethical and cultural values of the country’s nursing practices is something that helps the students to understand things better. The idea is to broaden the scope of education for nurses in a way that the theoretical information can be applied in the practical field too.
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About the book:
The book educates the readers about the importance of diversity and it instills in you a sense of realization to study more about the diverse practices followed in Canada. With an approach of awakening self-reflection among the readers, Walk a Mile also stresses on the need for social development. Canada being a multi-cultural country includes a population of people coming from different religions, backgrounds and cultures. This book has taken in consideration all these aspects and emphasized on the need for an even more empathetic, open, just and fair society that can lead towards a better development of the masses.
About the Author:
Author, Theresa Anzovino is a post-graduate in Sociology from York University. After completing her academic education in the year 1994, she has been actively involved in sharing her knowledge as a professor in the sociology department of Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology.
Source: RateMyProfessors.com
Reviews:
The book does not mention anything particularly about nursing as a profession. However, it has a holistic approach towards the societal development, taking place in Canada. Theresa also informs the readers about everything that is inter connected to social development, irrespective of the professional specializations. Readers looking forward to dig out the multiple aspects of diverse culture in Canada can explore Walk a Mile as a helpful reference.
With these books, be assured to gain knowledge about the international nursing practices followed in Canada. However, it is only after the practical implication of this knowledge that you gain the real exposure. Becoming an international nurse is a long journey that brings along many experiences with it. During your graduation program, you might also get a chance to read these books but the real test will begin when you implement this knowledge in the field, saving a life.
The profession of nursing will always open new opportunities for you, where you will save many lives and lose a few. There will also come instances when you will have to replace traditional practices and keep evolving with the modern procedures but with the range of these books, you can always be sure to find all your how’s and whys answered right away, giving you an overview of the subject in consideration.
