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Contemporary women's health: A nursing advocacy approach
Childbearing: A Book of Choices. By Dr. Ruth Watson Lubic and Gene R. Hawes. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1987. 326 pages. $18.95, hardcover. Reviewed by: Gail Sinquefield, CNM, Private Practice, Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Lubic, CNM,EdD, General Director of New York’s Maternity Center Association (MCA) and leading proponent of out-ofhospital birthing centers, has teamed with Gene Hawes, a writer of self-help works, to produce “a complete, comprehensive guide for the modern mother and her family to all aspects of pregnancy, prenatal care, labor, birth, and the early stages of parenting.” The book provides basic information in a section-by-section format about physiology of pregnancy, growth and development of the fetus, nutrition, preparation for childbirth and infant care, and management of normal and problem births. These sections utilize material from various MCA publications, eg, photos from the Bitih Atlas and exercise instructions from the booklet, Preparation for Childbearing. Also included are useful guides for various stages of labor, checklists of essential baby equipment and supplies, addresses to assist in finding local maternity services, and a listing of additional publications related to childbearing. One of the unique aspects of this guide is its attempt to educate members of the childbearing family to the advantages of active participation in making decisions about their health care during pregnancy Journal of Nurse-Midwifery
??Vol.
and birth. Major alternatives are presented with both pros and cons so that readers can choose options with which they feel most comfortable. Alternative settings for childbirth-home, birth center, and hospital-are discussed in detail with in-depth analysis of the possible advantages and disadvantages of each. A lengthy section, “How to Find and Choose a Maternity Care-Giver,” includes an excellent checklist that can be used as a guide when interviewing prospective professionals. Although a variety of practitioners who can provide maternity services are listed and referred to throughout the text, the authors fail to outline in detail the similarities and differences between various types of practitioners and the care they are likely to provide for the childbearing woman and her family. Especially since it is known that there is a general lack of understanding about what nurse-midwifery has to offer, more specific information about care by CNMs would be a welcome addition to the book’s general content. In summary, this is a book that has much to offer childbearing families. It can serve as a general guidebook for pregnancy and childbirth and is written in a style that should raise the consciousness of its readers to the benefits that can come from understanding and choosing thoughtfully from the range of options open to them.
Contemporary Women’s Health: A Nursing Advocacy Approach. By Janet
32, No. 4, July/August 1987
Copyright 8 1987 by the Am&can College of Nurse-Midwives
Griffith-Kenney, PhD, RN. Menlo Park: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1986. 642 pages. $7.50, softcover. Reviewed by: Judith E. Quill, CNM, MS, Instructor, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, Graduate Nurse-Midwifery Program, Denver, CO. Contemporary Women’s Health is a nursing textbook that focuses on a nurse-advocacy approach to health concerns of women, going beyond the traditional reproductive issues to encompass a broader perspective of women’s biopsychosocial needs. Affirming the basic premise that nurses are uniquely qualified to serve as client advocates, the author defines advocacy as “informing clients of their alternatives and supporting them in their choices.” This book is written for practicing nurses and nursing students in women’s health care courses. All 31 chapters are relevant to the contemporary woman. The strength of this book lies in its discussion of the psychosocial impact of selected health issues on women’s lives, including psychological concerns, substance addiction, rape, abuse, and battering. Unit four, “Lifestyle Concerns,” contains excellent discussions of adolescence, lesbianism, motherhood, and widowhood, to name a few. In particular, Chapter 17, “Combining Employment with Motherhood,” focuses on the many difficult logistics facing mothers who work outside the home, including negotiating maternity leave and finding adequate child care. Chapter 24, “Con263 0091-2182/87/$03.50
traception,” provides a thorough and informative discussion of the issues surrounding contraceptive choices. It stresses individual choice and the attendant responsibilities of the woman, her partner(s), and the nurse-advocate. Additional chapters cover infertility, genetic counseling, breast problems, occupational health hazards, health assessment, and reproductive surgery. Although psychosocial aspects of women’s health are presented well, the more practical (and perhaps more important) issue of the expanding role of nurses in women’s health care is woefully neglected. The discussion of nurse-advocacy during pregnancy is well-intended but, curiously, CNMs are excluded from the discussion. The section on birth alternatives again does not mention the role of the CNM as a potential provider of alternative childbirth services. A wonderful opportunity to relate more thoroughly the ever-expanding roles of CNMs and FNPs, for example, has been lost. Accuracy is called into question in Chapter 28, “Pregnancy: Special Concerns.” The assertion that maternal gonorrhea is an absolute indication for cesarean section is, at best, an oversimplification of complex medical decisionmaking and, at worst, false. The analysis of specific interventions in the birth experience (eg, amniotomy, IV therapy, episiotomy) touches on major issues but is generally superficial. In spite of these weaknesses, Contemporary Women’s Health is recommended for nursing students, particularly undergraduates, who may be new to women’s health care. In addition, nursemidwifery students may find the bulk of this book to be of assistance in their wellwoman gynecology module. It also might be valuable for the practicing nurse seeking a holistic approach to her/his female clients. This book will not impart volumes of traditional medical knowledge (nor is that its purpose); the women’s health care provider will need to consult standard medical sources for more complete information. A Political Action Health Professionals.
Handbook
for
By Marilyn Bagwell and Sallee Clements. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1985. XV + 308 pages. $17.95, softcover. Reviewed
MSN,
264
by: E. Jean Martin, CNM, MS,
Associate
Professor,
Nurse-Mid-
wifery Education Program, College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. The term handbook generally conjures up a streamlined, no-nonsense guide on how to accomplish certain objectives or work through a particular process. A Political Action Handbook for Health Professionals is faithful to this description. It is a ready reference for the neophyte but also a good resource for the initiated. The authors, both from Arizona State University in Tempe and experienced in teaching and practicing the political action process they describe, state that this text is intended for all health care professionals. It appears that the weight of reference to health care groups is partial to nursing. The book is divided into three major areas. Unit 1 presents an overview of the forces present in the political arena that shape the current legislative system of our country. Unit 2 explores “politics in action, ” including descriptions of negotiating, communicating with legislators, lobbying, and party activity. Unit 3 provides suggestions for increasing political clout. Networks, coalitions, political action committees, and effective media use are addressed. The text reads easily due to subtitling of relevant topics associated with the content. Tables are arranged well and labeled clearly. Each chapter ends with a summay and suggestions for additional reading for those who need to explore a topic in greater depth. While the inclusion of case studies and examples supporting political or legislative strategies might have made the reading more interesting, the trim, efficient development of essential content makes this a truly practical reference. One is guided in writing a press release, corresponding with and interviewing legislators or candidates, and networking with members of the media. The book is well indexed and has appendices that list by address and phone number national and state political resources for all 50 states as well as national and state political and professional organizations. Given the professional imperative to monitor and influence policy development and legislation in behalf of organizational goals and viability, nursemidwives will find this a useful guide. Infertility, Contraception and Reproductive Endocrinology, 2nd Edition. By
Daniel R. Mishell Jr., MD and ‘Val Davajan, MD, Oradell, NJ: Medical Economics Books, 1986. 688 pages. $54.95, hardcover. Reviewed
by: Janice I. French, CNM, MS, Professional Research Assistant and Clinical Nurse-Midwife, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO.
Infertiaty, Contraception and Reproductive Endocrinology consists of chapters written predominantly by professors of Obstetrics and Gynecology from the University of Southern California School of Medicine, many of them recognized authorities in research as well as leaders in education and patient care. This book is designed to provide basic information and practical clinical guidelines for diagnosis and medical management of reproductive problems. Individuals who desire in-depth discussion of the topics presented may need to seek primary sources. The textbook is organized into four sections. The first section reviews normal reproductive endocrinology and serves as a foundation for subsequent discussions of gynecologic endocrine disorders. Complex processes such as steroid hormone biosynthesis, and menstrual, pregnancy, and lactation endocrinology, among other topics, are described clearly and concisely. The second section presents disorders of abnormal reproductive endocrinology, including errors in sexual differentiation, primary and secondary amenorrhea, hyperprolactinemia, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Noteworthy in this section is the chapter on Premenstrual Syndrome, which provides an excellent summay of the symptom categories, proposed pathophysiologic mechanisms, and a critique of the literature. Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of this troublesome disorder are discussed also. The third section, which reviews infertility, has been expanded in this second edition. Information is presented on the major structural, functional, and physiological causes of infertility. These include cervical, uterine, and tubal factors, endometriosis, male factors, immunology, and infection. Infertility associated with congenital anomalies, menstrual abnormalities, nutrition, total body weight, exer-
Journal of Nurse-Midwifery
?? Vol.
32, No. 4, July/August
1987
??Vol.
and birth. Major alternatives are presented with both pros and cons so that readers can choose options with which they feel most comfortable. Alternative settings for childbirth-home, birth center, and hospital-are discussed in detail with in-depth analysis of the possible advantages and disadvantages of each. A lengthy section, “How to Find and Choose a Maternity Care-Giver,” includes an excellent checklist that can be used as a guide when interviewing prospective professionals. Although a variety of practitioners who can provide maternity services are listed and referred to throughout the text, the authors fail to outline in detail the similarities and differences between various types of practitioners and the care they are likely to provide for the childbearing woman and her family. Especially since it is known that there is a general lack of understanding about what nurse-midwifery has to offer, more specific information about care by CNMs would be a welcome addition to the book’s general content. In summary, this is a book that has much to offer childbearing families. It can serve as a general guidebook for pregnancy and childbirth and is written in a style that should raise the consciousness of its readers to the benefits that can come from understanding and choosing thoughtfully from the range of options open to them.
Contemporary Women’s Health: A Nursing Advocacy Approach. By Janet
32, No. 4, July/August 1987
Copyright 8 1987 by the Am&can College of Nurse-Midwives
Griffith-Kenney, PhD, RN. Menlo Park: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1986. 642 pages. $7.50, softcover. Reviewed by: Judith E. Quill, CNM, MS, Instructor, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, Graduate Nurse-Midwifery Program, Denver, CO. Contemporary Women’s Health is a nursing textbook that focuses on a nurse-advocacy approach to health concerns of women, going beyond the traditional reproductive issues to encompass a broader perspective of women’s biopsychosocial needs. Affirming the basic premise that nurses are uniquely qualified to serve as client advocates, the author defines advocacy as “informing clients of their alternatives and supporting them in their choices.” This book is written for practicing nurses and nursing students in women’s health care courses. All 31 chapters are relevant to the contemporary woman. The strength of this book lies in its discussion of the psychosocial impact of selected health issues on women’s lives, including psychological concerns, substance addiction, rape, abuse, and battering. Unit four, “Lifestyle Concerns,” contains excellent discussions of adolescence, lesbianism, motherhood, and widowhood, to name a few. In particular, Chapter 17, “Combining Employment with Motherhood,” focuses on the many difficult logistics facing mothers who work outside the home, including negotiating maternity leave and finding adequate child care. Chapter 24, “Con263 0091-2182/87/$03.50
traception,” provides a thorough and informative discussion of the issues surrounding contraceptive choices. It stresses individual choice and the attendant responsibilities of the woman, her partner(s), and the nurse-advocate. Additional chapters cover infertility, genetic counseling, breast problems, occupational health hazards, health assessment, and reproductive surgery. Although psychosocial aspects of women’s health are presented well, the more practical (and perhaps more important) issue of the expanding role of nurses in women’s health care is woefully neglected. The discussion of nurse-advocacy during pregnancy is well-intended but, curiously, CNMs are excluded from the discussion. The section on birth alternatives again does not mention the role of the CNM as a potential provider of alternative childbirth services. A wonderful opportunity to relate more thoroughly the ever-expanding roles of CNMs and FNPs, for example, has been lost. Accuracy is called into question in Chapter 28, “Pregnancy: Special Concerns.” The assertion that maternal gonorrhea is an absolute indication for cesarean section is, at best, an oversimplification of complex medical decisionmaking and, at worst, false. The analysis of specific interventions in the birth experience (eg, amniotomy, IV therapy, episiotomy) touches on major issues but is generally superficial. In spite of these weaknesses, Contemporary Women’s Health is recommended for nursing students, particularly undergraduates, who may be new to women’s health care. In addition, nursemidwifery students may find the bulk of this book to be of assistance in their wellwoman gynecology module. It also might be valuable for the practicing nurse seeking a holistic approach to her/his female clients. This book will not impart volumes of traditional medical knowledge (nor is that its purpose); the women’s health care provider will need to consult standard medical sources for more complete information. A Political Action Health Professionals.
Handbook
for
By Marilyn Bagwell and Sallee Clements. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1985. XV + 308 pages. $17.95, softcover. Reviewed
MSN,
264
by: E. Jean Martin, CNM, MS,
Associate
Professor,
Nurse-Mid-
wifery Education Program, College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. The term handbook generally conjures up a streamlined, no-nonsense guide on how to accomplish certain objectives or work through a particular process. A Political Action Handbook for Health Professionals is faithful to this description. It is a ready reference for the neophyte but also a good resource for the initiated. The authors, both from Arizona State University in Tempe and experienced in teaching and practicing the political action process they describe, state that this text is intended for all health care professionals. It appears that the weight of reference to health care groups is partial to nursing. The book is divided into three major areas. Unit 1 presents an overview of the forces present in the political arena that shape the current legislative system of our country. Unit 2 explores “politics in action, ” including descriptions of negotiating, communicating with legislators, lobbying, and party activity. Unit 3 provides suggestions for increasing political clout. Networks, coalitions, political action committees, and effective media use are addressed. The text reads easily due to subtitling of relevant topics associated with the content. Tables are arranged well and labeled clearly. Each chapter ends with a summay and suggestions for additional reading for those who need to explore a topic in greater depth. While the inclusion of case studies and examples supporting political or legislative strategies might have made the reading more interesting, the trim, efficient development of essential content makes this a truly practical reference. One is guided in writing a press release, corresponding with and interviewing legislators or candidates, and networking with members of the media. The book is well indexed and has appendices that list by address and phone number national and state political resources for all 50 states as well as national and state political and professional organizations. Given the professional imperative to monitor and influence policy development and legislation in behalf of organizational goals and viability, nursemidwives will find this a useful guide. Infertility, Contraception and Reproductive Endocrinology, 2nd Edition. By
Daniel R. Mishell Jr., MD and ‘Val Davajan, MD, Oradell, NJ: Medical Economics Books, 1986. 688 pages. $54.95, hardcover. Reviewed
by: Janice I. French, CNM, MS, Professional Research Assistant and Clinical Nurse-Midwife, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO.
Infertiaty, Contraception and Reproductive Endocrinology consists of chapters written predominantly by professors of Obstetrics and Gynecology from the University of Southern California School of Medicine, many of them recognized authorities in research as well as leaders in education and patient care. This book is designed to provide basic information and practical clinical guidelines for diagnosis and medical management of reproductive problems. Individuals who desire in-depth discussion of the topics presented may need to seek primary sources. The textbook is organized into four sections. The first section reviews normal reproductive endocrinology and serves as a foundation for subsequent discussions of gynecologic endocrine disorders. Complex processes such as steroid hormone biosynthesis, and menstrual, pregnancy, and lactation endocrinology, among other topics, are described clearly and concisely. The second section presents disorders of abnormal reproductive endocrinology, including errors in sexual differentiation, primary and secondary amenorrhea, hyperprolactinemia, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Noteworthy in this section is the chapter on Premenstrual Syndrome, which provides an excellent summay of the symptom categories, proposed pathophysiologic mechanisms, and a critique of the literature. Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of this troublesome disorder are discussed also. The third section, which reviews infertility, has been expanded in this second edition. Information is presented on the major structural, functional, and physiological causes of infertility. These include cervical, uterine, and tubal factors, endometriosis, male factors, immunology, and infection. Infertility associated with congenital anomalies, menstrual abnormalities, nutrition, total body weight, exer-
Journal of Nurse-Midwifery
?? Vol.
32, No. 4, July/August
1987