Library Europe's largest nursing-specific collection

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Subject Guides

These guides provide key resources, books and journals related to nursing specialties. We produce them in collaboration with RCN Forums.

Reading lists are also available on a range of topics including revalidation, study skills, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ health and IELTS, OET and OSCE exams.

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Title Synonyms
Advanced Nursing Practice Nurse practitioner, Advanced clinical practitioner, Advanced nurse practitioner
Bladder and Bowel Incontinence, Catheter, Urinary, Urology, Bladder, Faecal
Cancer Care Cancer, Carcinoma, Tumor, Malignancy, Oncology
Care Homes Nursing homes, Residential care, Older people
Care of Older People Elderly services, Ageing
Children and Young People: Endocrinology and Diabetes Paediatric, Adolescent, CYP, Endocrinology, Diabetes
Children and Young People: Medicines Management Paediatric, Adolescent, CYP, Medicine, Drug administration
Children and Young People: Mental Health Promotion Paediatric, Adolescent, CYP, Psychiatry, Suicide, Self-harm, Emotional wellbeing
Children and Young People: Palliative Care Paediatric, Adolescent, CYP, palliative care
Children and Young People: Sepsis Paediatric, Adolescent, CYP, Sepsis, Septic shock, Meningitis
Children and Young People: Transition to Adult Services Paediatric, Adolescent, CYP, Transitional care, Complex health needs
Critical Appraisal Evaluation, Critique, Appraise, Research, Dissertation
Critical Care and Flight Nursing. Intensive care, Aviation medicine
Defence Nursing Services Military nursing
Dementia Dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Care of older people
Diabetes Diabetes mellitus, Glycaemic control, Gestational diabetes, Type 1, Type 2
Digital Nursing Informatics, Telehealth, Electronic patient records, Mobile technology, eHealth
District and Community Nursing District nursing, Community nursing
Domestic Abuse Domestic abuse, domestic violence
Emergency Care A&E, Urgent care, Paramedic practice
End of Life Care Palliative care, Death, Dying, Terminal care
ENT and Maxillofacial Nursing Ear nose and throat, Otolaryngology, Otorhinolaryngology, Rhinolaryngology, Maxillofacial nursing
Fertility Nursing Reproductive health, Infertility, Miscarriage
Gastroenterology Digestive system; Gastrointestinal; Crohn’s disease; Inflammatory bowel disease; Stoma care; Colorectal cancer
General Practice Nursing GPN, General practice
HCAs, APs and TNAs Health care assistants, Healthcare assistants, Healthcare support workers, Assistant practitioners, Trainee nursing associates, Nursing associates, HCSWs
History of Nursing Nursing history, Medical history, Military nursing history, Defence Nursing history
Infection Prevention and Control Microbiology, Infection control, antimicrobial resistance
Leadership Clinical leadership, Nursing leadership, Political leadership, Nursing management
Learning Disability Nursing Intellectual disability, Safeguarding, Health inequalities
Medicines Management Medicines, prescribing, medicines management, Administration of medicines
Mental Health Nursing Psychiatric nursing, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Midwifery Maternity care, Antenatal, Postnatal, Pregnancy, Childbirth, Neonatal care, Newborn
Neurosciences Neuroscience, Nervous system, Brain, Stroke
Nursing in Justice and Forensic Health Prison nursing, Criminal justice services nursing, Forensic nursing, Prisoner health, Offender health nursing, Mental health nursing,
Occupational Health Occupational health nursing, Employee wellbeing, Fitness for work, Fit for work, Health and safety at work
Ophthalmic Nursing Services Eye disorders, Eyes, Ophthalmology
Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing Orthopaedic, Orthopedic, Musculoskeletal, Trauma
Pain Pain; chronic pain; acute pain; neurological pain; pain and palliative care; pain management
Perioperative Care Theatre nursing, Surgical nursing, Surgery, Preoperative, Intraoperative, Postoperative, Recovery room
Practice Based Learning Practice supervision, Practice supervisor, Practice assessment, Practice assessor, Placements, Clinical placement, Mentoring, Mentorship
Public Health Health education, Health promotion, Preventing ill health, Health protection, Health inequalities
RCN Reps Trade union representatives, Learning reps, Safety reps, Stewards
Rheumatology Rheumatoid arthritis, Gout, Joints
Safeguarding Vulnerable adults, Children, CYP, Older people, Learning disabilities, Harm, Abuse, Protection
Sepsis Sepsis, Septic shock, care home, care homes, older people, nursing home, blood poisoning,
Sexual Health sexual health; reproductive health; contraception; HIV
Staffing for Safe and Effective Care Staffing levels, Nurse staffing, Safe staffing
Sustainable Nursing Practice Sustainability, sustainable development
Travel Health Travel medicine, Travel vaccination
Using and Doing Research Research, resources
Wellbeing, Self Care and Resilience Emotional resilience, Stress
Women's Health Women, Female, Gynaecological, Menopause, Pregnancy, Pregnant, FGM, Genital,