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A thumbnail sketch of theatre nursing
435
BOOK REVIEWS
A Thumbnail Sketch of Theatre Nursing. By Jennifer Ann Morris. First Edition. Pp 75 with 104 illustrations. (London: MacMillan Press Ltd, 1983). Price $210.00 My first impression of this compact little book was that it would be a useful guide for any student nurse entering the operating theatre for the first time. The cartoon type illustrations are delightful and manage very successfully to add humour to a situation which can be extremely daunting at the first close encounter. The perception of the caricatures and situations gives the book instant appeal and, fortunately, does not detract from the text. The simple outline of the role of each member of the theatre team highlights throughout the nurse’s responsibility for her patients and I like the manner of presentation which relates all nursing duties to patient comfort and safety, a point which needs to be stressed to students. It is often the lack of patient contact which students find so disappointing in the operating theatre, so a patient-centred approach reminds them of their role as the patient’s agent. The chapters on the preparation of equipment and instruments, however, are only adequate as an introduction and I found them somewhat lacking in detail, even for student nurses. Today’s students are both intelligent and enquiring and I think the lack of adequate technical detail on such subjects as diathermy and sterilisation procedures, renders the book unsuitable as a work of reference. Bearing in mind that this is only a thumbnail sketch, I would find it useful as an introduction only; very soon after their arrival in the operating theatre, students will require more detailed and technical information. In addition, 1 cannot foresee very many poverty stricken student nurses buying the hardcover edition at f10 for a period in their training which lasts for a maximum of eight to ten weeks. In summary, it is an attractive book and one which 1 am sure many student nurses and qualified nurses will enjoy reading, as I did. I am sure it will bring a little light relief to those in awe of the situation and hope that it may make the serious business of acquiring in-depth knowledge more fun. SUSAN A. SELFE
Comprehensive Approaches to Edited by Norman R. Bernstein, Robson, MD. Pp xxiv + 293 with Edition. Paperback. (New York: Publishing Company Inc., 1983).
the Burned Person. MD and Martin C. no illustrations. First Medical Examination Price $23.50.
The title of the book is the first indication that the subject in hand is the approach to a “person” rather than “just a patient”. Indeed the preface starts with a quotation by Sir William Osler: “. . . Care more for the individual than for the special features of the disease.” The Editors of the book, Norman Bernstein and Martin Robson are respectively Professors of Psychiatry and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, both working at the University of Chicago Burn Centre. Their aim is not to consider the physiological aspects but rather the psychological needs and rehabilitation of a burn victim. The book is well indexed and each chapter has its own bibliography. Generally the book is easy to read with many
subheadings. However, the construction of the paperback volume leaves something to be desired as several pages fell out after only one reading! The 18 chapters in the book have been contributed not only by medical and nursing specialists but also by members of several other disciplines. These include sections by the accepted members of the burn team, e.g., nutritionists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, etc., but also chapters detailing the legal rights of the burn victim and one on pastoral care. The latter written by a Chaplain who becomes involved with the burned patient and his relatives from the time of admission-accompanying the patient, if needed to the treatment room, offering constant comfort and support. It is difficult to assess at whom this book is aimed. It is not a clinical reference book, although occasionally there is detailed reference to the treatment and management of the burned patient. I found most interesting the chapters on pain management and those giving detailed paediatric care. Although the book was easy to read, I found the sequence of chapters cluttered. For example, that on “The Dying Patient” is placed between chapters on “The Development of a Burn Surgeon” and “The Nutritionist as a Member of the Burn Team”! It is clearly not the objective of the book to be a clinical compendium, but rather an attempt to present the problems and principles of burn care with a focus on the personal sense of involvement and challenge felt by each specialist in the burn care team. Some sections I felt were too basic and assumed little experience and so some who could gain much from reading the book might well be deterred. This would be unfortunate as we can too often forget that the patient is an individual and we only see his condition. I would encourage all staff involved with burned patients to read this book. It is a healthy reminder to everyone in the burns team that however experienced we are and whatever sophisticated technology we use, we must remember our reason for being there-the patient. IRENE AVIS
Der Handchirurgische Notfall. (The Emergency Patient in Hand Surgery), edited by D. Buck-Gramcko and H. Nigst, written by D. Buck-Gramcko, R. Hoffmann and R. Neumann. First Edition. Pp 212 with 221 illustrations. (Hippokrates Verlag Stuttgart, 1983). Price 136.15 SFrs. The sub-title “The Emergency Patient in Hand Surgery” is a provisional translation provided by your reviewer, because the official English version of this most interesting book is still in the process of preparation. According to the authors, the book is addressed primarily to general, trauma, orthopaedic and plastic surgeons with the objective of improving the critically important primary care of all patients with an acute hand injury. Although the authors do not exclude discussion of the patently obvious severe hand injury, it is one of their main concerns throughout the book to point out that an apparently small injury to the hand may have serious consequences and that treatment must conform to the basic principles of management for all acute hand injuries to prevent the situation deteriorating through complications.
BOOK REVIEWS
A Thumbnail Sketch of Theatre Nursing. By Jennifer Ann Morris. First Edition. Pp 75 with 104 illustrations. (London: MacMillan Press Ltd, 1983). Price $210.00 My first impression of this compact little book was that it would be a useful guide for any student nurse entering the operating theatre for the first time. The cartoon type illustrations are delightful and manage very successfully to add humour to a situation which can be extremely daunting at the first close encounter. The perception of the caricatures and situations gives the book instant appeal and, fortunately, does not detract from the text. The simple outline of the role of each member of the theatre team highlights throughout the nurse’s responsibility for her patients and I like the manner of presentation which relates all nursing duties to patient comfort and safety, a point which needs to be stressed to students. It is often the lack of patient contact which students find so disappointing in the operating theatre, so a patient-centred approach reminds them of their role as the patient’s agent. The chapters on the preparation of equipment and instruments, however, are only adequate as an introduction and I found them somewhat lacking in detail, even for student nurses. Today’s students are both intelligent and enquiring and I think the lack of adequate technical detail on such subjects as diathermy and sterilisation procedures, renders the book unsuitable as a work of reference. Bearing in mind that this is only a thumbnail sketch, I would find it useful as an introduction only; very soon after their arrival in the operating theatre, students will require more detailed and technical information. In addition, 1 cannot foresee very many poverty stricken student nurses buying the hardcover edition at f10 for a period in their training which lasts for a maximum of eight to ten weeks. In summary, it is an attractive book and one which 1 am sure many student nurses and qualified nurses will enjoy reading, as I did. I am sure it will bring a little light relief to those in awe of the situation and hope that it may make the serious business of acquiring in-depth knowledge more fun. SUSAN A. SELFE
Comprehensive Approaches to Edited by Norman R. Bernstein, Robson, MD. Pp xxiv + 293 with Edition. Paperback. (New York: Publishing Company Inc., 1983).
the Burned Person. MD and Martin C. no illustrations. First Medical Examination Price $23.50.
The title of the book is the first indication that the subject in hand is the approach to a “person” rather than “just a patient”. Indeed the preface starts with a quotation by Sir William Osler: “. . . Care more for the individual than for the special features of the disease.” The Editors of the book, Norman Bernstein and Martin Robson are respectively Professors of Psychiatry and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, both working at the University of Chicago Burn Centre. Their aim is not to consider the physiological aspects but rather the psychological needs and rehabilitation of a burn victim. The book is well indexed and each chapter has its own bibliography. Generally the book is easy to read with many
subheadings. However, the construction of the paperback volume leaves something to be desired as several pages fell out after only one reading! The 18 chapters in the book have been contributed not only by medical and nursing specialists but also by members of several other disciplines. These include sections by the accepted members of the burn team, e.g., nutritionists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, etc., but also chapters detailing the legal rights of the burn victim and one on pastoral care. The latter written by a Chaplain who becomes involved with the burned patient and his relatives from the time of admission-accompanying the patient, if needed to the treatment room, offering constant comfort and support. It is difficult to assess at whom this book is aimed. It is not a clinical reference book, although occasionally there is detailed reference to the treatment and management of the burned patient. I found most interesting the chapters on pain management and those giving detailed paediatric care. Although the book was easy to read, I found the sequence of chapters cluttered. For example, that on “The Dying Patient” is placed between chapters on “The Development of a Burn Surgeon” and “The Nutritionist as a Member of the Burn Team”! It is clearly not the objective of the book to be a clinical compendium, but rather an attempt to present the problems and principles of burn care with a focus on the personal sense of involvement and challenge felt by each specialist in the burn care team. Some sections I felt were too basic and assumed little experience and so some who could gain much from reading the book might well be deterred. This would be unfortunate as we can too often forget that the patient is an individual and we only see his condition. I would encourage all staff involved with burned patients to read this book. It is a healthy reminder to everyone in the burns team that however experienced we are and whatever sophisticated technology we use, we must remember our reason for being there-the patient. IRENE AVIS
Der Handchirurgische Notfall. (The Emergency Patient in Hand Surgery), edited by D. Buck-Gramcko and H. Nigst, written by D. Buck-Gramcko, R. Hoffmann and R. Neumann. First Edition. Pp 212 with 221 illustrations. (Hippokrates Verlag Stuttgart, 1983). Price 136.15 SFrs. The sub-title “The Emergency Patient in Hand Surgery” is a provisional translation provided by your reviewer, because the official English version of this most interesting book is still in the process of preparation. According to the authors, the book is addressed primarily to general, trauma, orthopaedic and plastic surgeons with the objective of improving the critically important primary care of all patients with an acute hand injury. Although the authors do not exclude discussion of the patently obvious severe hand injury, it is one of their main concerns throughout the book to point out that an apparently small injury to the hand may have serious consequences and that treatment must conform to the basic principles of management for all acute hand injuries to prevent the situation deteriorating through complications.