We are extremely pleased and proud that our ambitious idea to write the first ever published book for endocrine nurses has finally come to fruition. We wanted this to be a useful resource for endocrine nurses across the globe working at different settings and levels of practice, from novice to expert and from bedside nursing to advanced practice nursing running independent nurse-led services. We recognised that this would be a challenging project to undertake, especially as the endocrinology nursing role varies significantly from country to country. We were, however, overwhelmed by the interest we received from colleagues who wanted to contribute to this book, echoing the great need for such a resource and especially from physicians and other healthcare professionals who recognise the endocrine nurse as a vital member of the multidisciplinary team.
The European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) formed our initial working hub and supported this textbook from its inception. We created a strong collaborative European and international network; 118 eminent authors from 15 countries contributed to this book. Most of our authors are nurses, but physicians, surgeons, psychologists, dieticians and geneticists have also contributed, emphasising the multidisciplinary focus of this book.
Built on the growing body of knowledge, expertise and the expanding nature of advanced practice in endocrinology nursing, this book provides a comprehensive resource to support nurses to develop their competence at different levels of their career. The authors in each chapter have done a tremendous job presenting a comprehensive review of anatomy, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of different endocrine conditions supported by the latest evidence and clinical guidelines. Patient stories, case studies and good clinical practice examples are included to illustrate the impact of endocrine conditions on patients and their families, to stimulate the readers’ critical thinking and reflection and to make information in this book applicable to their clinical practice. Many patient advocacy groups have contributed with case studies and educational resources, supporting the emphasis this book places on user involvement and shared decision-making in patient care.
Comprising of 13 parts and a total of 69 chapters, this book is a comprehensive resource for paediatric and adult nurses working in endocrinology but should also be useful for specialty trainees, general practitioners, students and expert patients. It also covers endocrine-related topics within other specialties such as fertility, osteoporosis, oncology, urology, gynaecology, obesity and metabolic disorders. Each part covers conditions within a specific endocrine gland (pituitary, adrenal, thyroid, parathyroid and bone disorders and male and female reproduction) and other relevant endocrine conditions such as late effects of cancer treatment, neuroendocrine tumours, endocrine emergencies, obesity and metabolic disorders. There are two paediatric-specific parts (11 chapters); paediatric aspects have also been incorporated in many other chapters, where relevant. The final part focuses on advanced practice nursing (APN) presenting an overview of role development, definition and components of APN, including research, with many useful resources to support career progression within endocrinology nursing. The work by our part editors has been vital as they invited authors and coordinated and edited the chapters in each part; we could not have completed this book without their amazing contribution. We hope and trust this book will assist and advise all our colleagues to ensure the best possible patient care.
Sofia Llahana
London, UK
Cecilia Follin
Lund, Sweden
Christine Yedinak
Portland, OR, USA
Ashley Grossman
Oxford, UK
