Challenges in emergency nursing

Concepts

Louie

TTT

1976 Explanatory

Americans. In: Brink A Book of Readings.

thinking

to Chinese

in Chinese

and Its Press, Ithaca,

AS 1985 Cultural factors in casework with Americans. Social Casework. Journal of Contemporary Social Work 66: 333-340

1 Spector RI? 1991 Cultural 3rd edition. Appleton

Diversity in Health 81 Lange, Norwalk,

patients’

perceptions

Spector

PJ (Ed) Tramcultural Nursing: Prentice-Hall, New Jersey

Redfield R 1953 The Primitive World Transformation. Cornell University Ryan

related

RX Ed 1985 Health

American

NY

Chinese-

and Illness. CT

of health,

community

illness

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2 I5

and illness in the AsianIn: Cultural

Diversity

in

Health and Illness. Appleton-Century-Crofts, Norwalk, CT pp 127-140 Wiseman N, Ellis A 1985 Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine. Paradigm, Brooklin, MA Yang LS 1967 The concept of Pao as a basis for social relations in China. In: Fairbank JK (Ed) Chinese Thought and Institutions. Press, Chicago, IL

University

of Chicago

Book Reviews Aromatherapy professionals

for health

Challenges J Selfridge,

S Price, L Price Churchill 049750,

Livingstone, 298~~, L16.50

199.5..

ISBN

0

443

Interest in aromatherapy is growing, particularly in the health care profession, and this book has found a gap in the market. Essentially an erudite book with a scientific bias, it explains the subject clearly and in-depth. The authors have already published research findings, but recognise the need for more controlled trials. The chapter about touch and massage is basic. Massage sequences and techniques are described, but the authors recommend an introductory course and this is not a book for beginners. Each chapter contains a pretext and finishes with a brief summary. There are many interesting case studies throughout the book. The special areas the authors have enlarged upon are intensive and coronary care, pregnancy and childbirth, learning difficulties, care of the elderly and dying, and stress. In all these areas there is time to spend with clients; in A & E such time is not available. So the only value of aromatherapy within the A & E department at present would be to de-stress the staff. I. Kyzniar RGN, RM, Dip Avomatherapy ITEC, Sister, A G E Department, Northampton General Hospital, Northampton, UK

in emergency

nursing

M M Hall, R E Rea

W B Saunders G Co, 1995. ISBN x, 33opp, A20.00

0 7216 3673

Challenges in Emergency Nursing is an American publication. It claims to be of use as a ‘self study review’ for those studying for the American exams (in particular Certification for Emergency Nursing), for those wishing to review their own knowledge and for evaluating the skills of others working in the ‘emergency room’. The book takes the form of questions and answers and is divided into clinical topics; there is also a simulated (CEM) test. It is interesting to dip into, with odd snippets like ‘the most common regions of the United States for Lymes disease’ (a disease caused by a bite from a native tick bug), but generally speaking the book does not cross the Atlantic well. There is very strong emphasis on correct medical diagnosis and technicalities rather than achieving and working around a nursing diagnosis. I am unfamiliar with the content of the American exams but as the book covers many physiological emergencies and many legal aspects of emergency nursing it would probably be of use as a study aid in the UK. A major criticism is that the questioning is erratic and demands an experienced background in emergency nursing. I feel it could undermine the confidence of the less experienced learner. However, the answers given are accurate, and supporting rationale interesting, easy to read and topical. Challenges in Emergency Nursing sounds exciting, in actual fact it is not. It is about how to get through the American exams. Once you have done that, now that’s exciting . . . L. Roissetter RGN, ENB 199, StafNurse, A G E Department, St Peters Hospital Trust, Chertsey, UK