Gastrointestinal Nursing

Many nurses work as specialist practitioners within several areas of gastrointestinal medicine, including inflammatory bowel disease, stoma care, nutrition, endoscopy and counselling. There has been a steady increase in nurse-led services and gastrointestinal nursing is an expanding area. This comprehensive text lays the foundation by reviewing the anatomy and physiology underlying common conditions before covering the pathophysiology of clinical features, causes, investigation and management. Underlying this approach will be the specific nursing aspects of caring for patients with gastrointestinal conditions, covering psychosocial factors and issues such as the measurement of health related quality of life.

Foreword vii 1 Introduction 1 Section 1 Structure, Function and Disorders of the Gastrointestinal Tract 11 2 An Overview of the Gastrointestinal Tract 13 3 The Oesophagus 24 4 The Stomach 38 5 The Small Intestine 58 6 The Large Intestine 75 7 The Liver 106 8 The Biliary System 115 9 The Pancreas 124 Section 2 Essential Aspects of Gastroenterology 135 10 Diagnostic Procedures and Tests in Gastroenterology 137 11 Gastrointestinal Emergencies 151 12 Pharmacology in Gastroenterology 158 Section 3 Living with Gastrointestinal Disorders 165 13 The Role of Psychosocial Factors in Gastroenterology 167 14 Quality of Life in Gastroenterology 179 Glossary 189 Useful Addresses 193 Appendix 196 Index 205