The team of nurses that Tilda Shalof found herself working with in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a big-city hospital was known as “Laura’s Line.” They were a bit wild: smart, funny, disrespectful of authority, but also caring and incredibly committed to their jobs. Laura set the tone with her quick remarks. Frances, from Newfoundland, was famous for her improvised recipes. Justine, the union rep, wore t-shirts emblazoned with defiant slogans, like “Nurses Care But It’s Not in the Budget.” Shalof was the one who had been to university. The others accused her of being “sooo sensitive.” They depended upon one another. Working in the ICU was both emotionally grueling and physically exhausting. Many patients, quite simply, were dying, and the staff strove mightily to prolong their lives. With their skill, dedication, and the resources of modern science, they sometimes were almost too successful. Doctors and nurses alike wondered if what they did for terminally-ill patients was not, in some cases, too extreme. A number of patients were admitted when it was too late even for heroic measures. A boy struck down by a cerebral aneurysm in the middle of a little-league hockey game. A woman rescued – too late – from a burning house. It all took its toll on the staff. And yet, on good days, they thrived on what they did. Shalof describes a colleague who is managing a “crashing” patient: “I looked at her. Nicky was flushed with excitement. She was doing five different things at the same time, planning ahead for another five. She was totally focused, in her element, in control, completely at home with the chaos. There was a huge smile on her face. Nurses like to fix things. If they can.” Shalof, a veteran ICU nurse, reveals what it is really like to work behind the closed hospital curtains. The drama, the sardonic humour, the grinding workload, the cheerful camaraderie, the big issues and the small, all are brought vividly to life in this remarkable book.

People do not set out to become addicts. They start to use the drug or medication for a purpose. Maybe it is to relieve pain or to be social. As they continue to use, they cross a line. Crossing this line means that the body and mind have adjusted to having this chemical present. When this chemical is not present, an intense craving takes place which often leads the person to use again. Addiction has become more common in our society and it is time for nurses to respond. This book serves as a resource for any nurse who is interested in assisting patients who are trying to stop using/abusing a drug. It is time for all nurses to rise to the occasion and learn about this growing problem.

This book is a summary of my life. Sounds simple enough, but it was not simple to write. I am an alcoholic and a drug addict, I am also a nurse. I lost everything to my drug addiction. I stole my drugs from the hospital where I worked and when they found out my downfall began. But that is only the beginning. My recovery is the real story. There is a huge and growing problem of alcohol and drug addiction among healthcare professionals. It's time we started talking about it. We put our patients and coworkers at risk. We put ourselves at risk. The problem is taboo and nobody wants to talk about it. I want to talk about it. I want to help stop this insidious disease from continuing to infect our entire healthcare system.

In this age of increasing headlines about drug addiction and prescription drug abuse, this book is a timely revelation of how the nursing profession is also impacted by substance abuse. It allows nurses, who are the most trusted profession in society, who have been hidden within their profession and living with substance use disorders, to openly voice their personal experiences with addiction. Seven nurses detail their journey through family dynamics, early use as nursing students and later career nurses as they traveled deeper and deeper into their addiction. They discuss their shame, humiliation and dejection under the throes of the compelling forces of drugs and alcohol. They also describe how their family, other nurses, the healthcare system, and society assisted them in perpetuating their deception and denial about their disease. They explain how they lied, stole and cheated those around them to maintain their addiction. Each explains in detail the confrontations and the “jolt” and “wake up call” it took for them to awaken, become sober and truly enter recovery. They are all candid and forthright in order to help others that are impacted by this horrific and complex disease. They each share how recovery is possible when appropriate attitudes and tools are put in place to support nurses suffering from the devastation of addiction. Their stories bring attention to the importance of intervention, treatment, and recovery communities within the nursing profession. Recovery is emphasized as a “gift” by each of these nurses. The nurses and the researcher provide suggestions and recommendations to assist the healthcare community in addressing addiction in nursing. This book reveals how recovery for nurses is a major public health benefit.

The Complete Recovery Room Book, Sixth edition is an essential resource for health care professionals involved in post-operative care.

Core Concepts Perianesthesia Organization and Administration Preanesthesia Care and Preparation of the Patient and Family Phase I and Phase II Recovery Airway Issues Pain Management Postoperative and Postdischarge Nausea and Vomiting Thermoregulation Issues Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Imbalance Integumentary Issue Infection Prevention Strategies Population Specific Principles of Anesthesia Bariatric Patients Patients with Chronic Diseases Critically Ill Patients Extended Care/Observation Care Patients Geriatric Patients Trauma Patients Patients with Mental Health Considerations Families of Perianesthesia Patients Pediatric Patients Pregnant Patients Surgery Specific Abdominal Cardiac Surgery Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Dental and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery The Endocrine System ENT Surgery Genitourinary Surgery Gynecologic & Obstetric Neurosurgical Surgical Oncology Ophthalmic Orthopedic Surgery Thoracic Liver and Kidney Transplantation Vascular Surgery Cardiovascular Interventional Endoscopic/Laparoscopic/Minimally Invasive Procedures.

Promoting recovery from mental health problems is a guiding principle within modern mental health care. Working in partnership with service users, new practice techniques are being designed and delivered that can allow individuals to thrive within society and move towards a fulfilling life beyond their diagnosis. Recovery remains a broad and subjective term though and understanding what this means for your service users and how to implement recovery into your practice is an important challenge. Developed in partnership with Certitude – an influential charity providing support for people with mental health problems or learning disabilities – this book will answer all your questions about recovery in mental health nursing. It provides clear explanations and practical guidance that you can immediately bring into your work on placement.