UK Nursing Reference books?

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Hi, so I haven't posted for ages (I've started doing 14hr shifts now)...again and I've managed to slug it out with the NMC's overseas nursing exam in an intense do-or-die battle and I'm now a newly qualified band 5. Thing is, much of my nursing from where I came from isn't really quite useful in the UK setting and I'm going through tons of growing pains at the moment, not to mention grueling 14hr shifts and it's just frustrating to have done years of nursing and back to scratch now since I can't apply most of my knowledge/skills.

So I've decided to try and find reading materials to help me catch up quicker. There's the usual Royal Marsden manual which I have already, but is there any other major nursing books out there that you think might help me out? Like the "Nursing Bible" of books? (I mean, we have one for general nursing and medical-surgical back home but they're US based and UK practice is quite different as I'm beginning to learn now.

And if there are any books centered around Acute Care that'd be great since I'm working in the acute care unit at the moment.

My colleagues have been really great in helping me in the adjustment. It's not like they're rushing me at work but I'm just really frustrated with myself at the moment and I don't think I'm doing a good enough job. So I'll take anything that could help me improve.

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Specializes in Critical care.
Hi, so I haven't posted for ages (I've started doing 14hr shifts now)...again and I've managed to slug it out with the NMC's overseas nursing exam in an intense do-or-die battle and I'm now a newly qualified band 5. Thing is, much of my nursing from where I came from isn't really quite useful in the UK setting and I'm going through tons of growing pains at the moment, not to mention grueling 14hr shifts and it's just frustrating to have done years of nursing and back to scratch now since I can't apply most of my knowledge/skills.

So I've decided to try and find reading materials to help me catch up quicker. There's the usual Royal Marsden manual which I have already, but is there any other major nursing books out there that you think might help me out? Like the "Nursing Bible" of books? (I mean, we have one for general nursing and medical-surgical back home but they're US based and UK practice is quite different as I'm beginning to learn now.

And if there are any books centered around Acute Care that'd be great since I'm working in the acute care unit at the moment.

My colleagues have been really great in helping me in the adjustment. It's not like they're rushing me at work but I'm just really frustrated with myself at the moment and I don't think I'm doing a good enough job. So I'll take anything that could help me improve.

I'm sorry I'm not of use with suggestions of a book that covers nursing in the UK in a general sense, I know of a couple of decent ones for critical care if that's any use to you.

Have you spoken to someone in work about how you feel? There should be support you can access to help with your transition within your own department with their practice development team and the trust should have an education team who will be able to help you as well. You won't be the first nurse employed from overseas whose had this problem and you won't be the last.

I hope you manage to get up to speed, we're in need of experienced nurses in the NHS and I'm sure yours will shine through once you're more settled.

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I'm sorry I'm not of use with suggestions of a book that covers nursing in the UK in a general sense, I know of a couple of decent ones for critical care if that's any use to you.

Have you spoken to someone in work about how you feel? There should be support you can access to help with your transition within your own department with their practice development team and the trust should have an education team who will be able to help you as well. You won't be the first nurse employed from overseas whose had this problem and you won't be the last.

I hope you manage to get up to speed, we're in need of experienced nurses in the NHS and I'm sure yours will shine through once you're more settled.

Well, I've given them a heads-up not to expect too much even though I did years of nursing back home as I've already been struggling to keep up with them, good thing is that my colleagues are all very supportive and they're not really rushing me into things.

My manager has even started to send me out to study days along with the newly qualifieds long before I had my pin (I had to work as an HCA while I'm grinding to get prepped for the NMC exam) as she was so sure I'd pass the exam :p..which I didn't, failed my first try and my visa goes kaputs if I don't pass the next one (which I did, thank God).

It's more of my frustration to catch up with them that's eating me. And I've been keen on anything that can help me get the hang of how the NHS work. Usually, when I go nights are the best times to do "special training" as things are slightly slower paced at nights, I get to ask the senior nurses on how to do this and that, what to do if this happens or something. I've been taking home and studying care plans (we don't use printed care plans, bundles at back home).

I just figured I could do some extra reading when I'm off. Well, I know have to take some time off when I'm not at work, but I can do that when I get the hang of things. And boy do I get off days here in the UK as long as I do 14hr shifts, I'd have to stage my death to get a nice day off with my previous work

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My go to text book was

Nursing Practice, hospital and home the adult. Nursing Practice: Hospital and Home -- The Adult: Amazon.co.uk: Margaret F. Alexander CBE BSc PhD RN RM RNT FRCN, Josephine (Tonks) N. Fawcett BSc(Hons) MSc RN RNT ILTM, Phyllis J. Runciman BSc MSc MPhil RN RM RHV RNT: 97844374578: Books

This was my bible through university and I used it after I qualified as well.

Good luck!

BOOM! Bought 5 pounds ( inc shipping ) used copy from Amazon! :D Thanks a bunch for this suggestion! I missed out on a used royal marsden paperback (older edition) they sold on our library for just 50 pence the other night.

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

No problems í ½í¸€

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