The Minor Illness and Beyond Handbook

This handbook provides a concise outline of the origins and continuing development of the advanced nurse practitioner role and a highly practical guide to setting up a minor illness clinic. It then offers recommendations on patient history taking and outlines the multitude of conditions likely to present in the minor illness clinic.

Nurses in general practice are increasingly taking on advanced roles, involving the assessment, treatment and management of minor illness. They also supervise chronic disease management, particularly the monitoring of diabetes, hypertension, respiratory disease, primary and secondary CHD prevention, stroke and transient ischaemic attacks. This invaluable new handbook provides a concise outline of the origins and continuing development of the advanced nurse practitioner role and a highly practical guide to setting up a minor illness clinic. It then offers recommendations on patient history taking and outlines the multitude of conditions likely to present in the minor illness clinic. Each condition is defi ned in a consistent format for quick, easy reference, with an introduction, clues for aiding in diagnosis, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, prescribing issues, clinical complications and key messages. It also includes specific chapters detailing classes and selection of antibiotics and understanding blood results. The Minor Illness and Beyond Handbook is the ultimate guide for all nurses in general practice needing a concise, easy-to-read information source for daily reference. It is also highly recommended for nurses new to their role, as well as nursing students.