Dermatological surgery is practised routinely in primary care, and most minor procedures are straightforward and require minimal time. Success is dependent on the practitioner's ability to recognize lesions, choose and plan appropriate treatment and surgical interventions, and perform surgical procedures. 'Fast Facts: Minor Surgery', second edition provides an overview of the good practice and operative set-up required for dermatological surgery, the skin lesions commonly encountered in primary care and the various techniques and procedures involved in their treatment. Contents: • Operative set-up and equipment • Local anesthesia • Lesion identification and management • Treatment planning • Avoiding complications • Suturing techniques and removal • Surgical procedures • Examinng your practice
Most men with BPH can be diagnosed and managed in the primary care setting. In choosing appropriate treatment, clinicians must take into account not only the nature and severity of symptoms but also the preferences of the patient and his immediate family, cost–benefit considerations and long-term effectiveness of therapy. Written by two leading urologists, 'Fast Facts: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia' provides a refreshingly readable, practical overview of the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of BPH including: • Use of DRE and PSA results to discriminate between prostate cancer and BPH • An evidence-based review of the latest medical therapies • A concise overview of the surgical and minimally invasive treatment options • When to refer to a urologist There is important work to do to raise awareness of men’s health issues in general and the problem of BPH in particular. Lower urinary tract symptoms are among the commonest reasons for a man to consult his doctor, and this ever-popular book – the first 7th edition in the Fast Facts series – remains a must-read for all primary care providers. Contents: • Pathophysiology • Diagnosis • Medical management • Traditional surgical treatment options • Minimally invasive treatment options • Considerations in treatment decisions • Issues in BPH • Useful resources
Providing dermatology care to the large number of people with skin disease requires a workforce that is appropriately trained and competent to meet patients’ needs safely and effectively. Nurses form a critical part of the team that provides that care and they are increasingly developing new skills and approaches that complement the skills of the other healthcare professionals they work with. Here, we aim to provide practical guidance for developing these more advanced roles, with signposting to additional resources. After reading this Fast Facts resource, dermatology nurses will: • be aware of a variety of career pathways in subspecialist dermatology fields • have a clear understanding of the clinical skills required in these areas • know how to proceed with their training. Table of Contents: • Succeeding as a dermatology nurse • Practical skills • Skin cancer • Skin surgery • Phototherapy • Monitoring systemic therapies • Paediatric dermatological nursing • Lower limb management
This handy clinical guide provides speedy access to information and guidelines cardiac surgery nurses need to know and use daily. It covers all aspects of care from preoperative to recovery, with an emphasis on prevention and management of postoperative complications—an area where nurses can really make a difference and improve care. The second edition is completely revised and updated, with such highlights as new coverage of risk factors for stroke, thoracic aortic aneurysms, and congenital heart disease, and updates on new surgical techniques and devices. New illustrations help to clarify crucial information and tables are reorganized to emphasize commonly used medications. The second edition retains all of the expedient features of the Fast Facts guides, including Fast Facts in a Nutshell boxes delineating especially important content, chapter introductions and objectives, short, easy-to-read chapters, and a convenient pocket size. The heart of the book focuses on post-op complications and nursing interventions to prevent and treat them. The book’s five sections are comprised of the Preoperative Period, the Intraoperative Period, the Immediate Postoperative Period, the Extended Postoperative Period, and the Recovery Period, including discharge and long-term rehabilitation. Each section includes nursing considerations and patient education topics. Nurse-sensitive indicators and strategies for improving nursing care are featured throughout. The resource will be highly valuable to new graduates and nurses who are considering a switch to cardiac care, and will reinforce the knowledge of seasoned practitioners. New to the Second Edition: Updates including new surgical techniques and devices Additional graphics to increase reader comprehension Modifications to tables for ease of access to information New sections on thoracic aortic aneurysms and congenital heart disease New chapter on stroke with a focus on postoperative treatment options Key Features: Delivers a handy pocket reference for new and experienced cardiac care nurses Organized for easy access to equipment, procedures, and pre- and post-op specialty care Includes Fast Facts in a Nutshell delivery of timely content Formatted in short paragraphs packed with timely and accessible information
Delivers the “big picture” from pre-op through extended recovery in quick-access format This concise clinical guide provides nurses who care for cardiac patients with speedy access to information and guidelines they need to know and use daily. Heavily updated with the newest clinical practice information, the third edition emphasizes postoperative complications and the nursing interventions designed to prevent and treat them. It includes updated coverage of risk factors for stroke and congenital heart disease and discusses new antithrombotics and antiplatelet medications. Bulleted information, brief paragraphs, boxed indicators highlighting key information, and Fast Facts boxes are included in each chapter. The book’s consistent organization facilitates quick access to information on equipment, procedures, and pre- and post-op specialty care. Ideal for new graduates and nurses considering a switch to cardiac care and critical care, this resource reinforces existing knowledge and provides a foundation for developing additional skills. New to the Third Edition: Encompasses the latest research and guidelines Emphasizes postoperative complications and care Discusses diagnostic testing, preparing a patient for cardiac surgery, initial post-op complications, extended recovery complications, and stroke care Updated rehabilitation chapter includes important patient education content Educates readers about new antithrombotics and antiplatelet medications Offers new guidelines for use of ventricular assist devices Focuses on patient safety throughout Key Features: Delivers a handy pocket reference for new and experienced cardiac care nurses Provides bulleted information, brief paragraphs, and boxed indicators highlighting critical information Organized for easy access to equipment, procedures, and pre- and post-op specialty care
Most hemorrhagic problems are emergencies, requiring rapid diagnosis and prompt management to stop bleeding. In some cases, such as nose bleeds, large bruises and heavy menses, it is the clinician’s responsibility to discern whether the patient has a clinically significant bleeding disorder that may predispose to excessive or potentially serious bleeding. 'Fast Facts: Bleeding Disorders' keeps a complex subject simple and clinically oriented. The authors have made numerous updates to this second edition to ensure it provides essential information in a readily accessible format. Highlights include: • An expert overview of normal hemostasis • A clear assessment pathway, from taking an accurate history and focused clinical examination, to essential laboratory investigations • Objective criteria for diagnosing hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia • The latest guidelines on diagnosing and treating primary immune thrombocytopenia • A discussion of the benefits of prophylaxis in patients with hemophilia • Updated methods for evaluating and treating bleeding disorders in pregnancy • An overview of the scoring system for disseminated intravascular coagulation • Information on the latest anticoagulants and antithrombotics, including bleeding risks and strategies to control bleeding. 'Fast Facts: Bleeding Disorders' remains a comprehensive up-to-date reference that reflects the latest research and clinical guidelines. It will assist primary care providers, physician assistants, nurse-clinicians, pharmacists, residents and doctors in training as they confront the challenges of controlling bleeding in patients with hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, platelet disorders and thrombosis, or as a result of antithrombotic or anticoagulant therapy. It is a small book packed with important information, designed to swiftly improve patient treatment and outcomes. Contents: • Normal hemostasis • Assessment of bleeding symptoms • Vascular purpuras • Platelet disorders • Pharmacological hemostatic products • Hemophilia • von Willebrand disease • Uncommon congenital coagulation disorders • Liver and kidney disorders • Pregnancy • Perioperative bleeding • Disseminated intravascular coagulation • Anticoagulants and antithrombotic agents • Useful resources
'Succeeding as a Nurse' is an invaluable book for aspiring nurses, new nurses and those who are further into their careers. It combines general guidance and information with an insight into the working lives of today’s successful nurses. The first part of the book, 'Key skills', looks at the general skills required by a successful modern nurse, from writing skills to time management, and from coping with violence to getting the most out of training. The second part, 'Career destinations', is written by contributors working in specific nursing or nursing-related roles. They tell it how it is – what the job is like, what type of person would enjoy it and how you can get there if you think it could be for you. Most importantly, they pass on their own tips and advice so you can benefit from their experience. So if you’re on the path to success already, or you’re just starting out, give yourself a helping hand with Succeeding as a Nurse.
Wherever you are in your career, and whatever involvement you have with caring for women with breast cancer, the fifth edition of 'Fast Facts: Breast Cancer' has something for you. The world-class authors of this popular fact-packed handbook provide practical advice on all the key areas of breast cancer management, from risk factors and diagnosis to treatment of all cancer stages. But what really makes it stand out from the crowd is the authors' awareness of the information you need when you talk to a woman concerned about breast cancer. The chapter dedicated to perception of risk will refresh your knowledge and help you talk to your patients about their individual prospects, while the short chapter on clinical trials will help you discuss potential participation in trials and answer common questions. Improvements in the management of breast cancer have followed three major themes in recent years: greater optimization of individualized local treatment, longer duration of therapies, and the use of biological therapies targeted at specific receptors. This colorful up-to-date handbook addresses all these trends, alongside the disturbing issues of overdiagnosis as a result of screening and overtreatment. Given the explosion in information technology, patients and their families have access to much more information on their condition and as a result assume a more active role in their medical management. Health professionals have an important role in helping patients sort the facts from the fallacies, put the risks and benefits into perspective and balance their treatment choices. For this reason alone, 'Fast Facts: Breast Cancer' is an invaluable evidence-based resource for everyone working in breast cancer care in primary and secondary settings, from medical and nursing students, to GPs, specialist nurses and residents. And one for your patients too … The authors encourage you to make your patients well-informed active partners in their breast cancer care by sharing this highly readable book with them. Contents: • Risk factors • Perception of risk • Pathophysiology • Diagnosis • Local control of primary tumor • Adjuvant therapy • Follow-up and rehabilitation • Management of advanced cancer • Clinical trials • Future trends • Useful resources
'Fast Facts: Menopause' is a concise handbook designed to provide an overview of menopausal and postmenopausal health issues and their management. Although effective therapies for symptoms are available, controversies surrounding some of the available treatments have made potential users wary. In the second edition of this succinct and practical text, two eminent specialists review, in detail, the causes and consequences of menopausal symptoms, and the options available to women today. The text is evidence-based, drawing on the results of the most recent research to provide general practitioners, specialist nurses, gynaecologists and other healthcare professionals with an increased understanding of the physiological and psychological effects of the menopause and to contribute to more effective management. Contents: • Stages, effects and implications • Vasomotor function • Osteoporosis • Urogenital changes • Neurological symptoms • Sexuality • Symptom management • Types of hormone therapy • Side effects of hormone therapy • Endometrial bleeding with hormone therapy • Risks of hormone therapy • Tibolone • Alternatives to hormone therapy.
Abnormalities of thyroid function rival diabetes mellitus in terms of prevalence and can affect any system in the body. In the UK and North America it is estimated that palpable thyroid nodules are present in 1 in 20 of the population, and in the UK alone 20,000 tests are carried out each year in clinical chemistry laboratories. Thus, all doctors can expect to encounter thyroid disease in one form or another. Thyroid disorders are generally very responsive to treatment, but there are traps for the unwary - not least because of the frequent atypical presentations and the widespread prevalence of subclinical disease. 'Fast Facts: Thyroid Disorders' is written by two leading experts of international standing who share a wealth of clinical and research experience. The text, which is comprehensively illustrated to make core clinical information easily accessible, is a concise and practical guide for all who manage patients with these common conditions. • A concise guide to the recognition of thyroid disorders and the selection of appropriate thyroid function tests • Provides expert advice on when to test, when to treat and when to refer, ensuring rapid initiation of appropriate therapy • Highlights the particular challenges posed by thyroid disease during pregnancy • Covers the management of thyroid eye conditions • Sound, dependable advice for the healthcare team and patient in coping with these common conditions Contents: • Glossary • Introduction • Thyroid physiology and function tests • Hyperthyroidism: etiology and presentation • Hyperthyroidism: diagnosis and management • Hypothyroidism: etiology and presentation • Hypothyroidism: diagnosis and management • Pregnancy and the thyroid • Thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer
