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Emergency Newborn Care: The First Moments of Life
74 chapter, makes this a formidable resource. At £85.00 it is beyond the means of most individual practitioners, but it would be worth lobbying your local librarian to get this onto the shelves. Then everyone can benefit.
Book reviews Bob McMaster, RGN, MSc, RNT (Nurse Consultant) Accident and Emergency Department, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, General Infirmary Leeds LS1 3EX, UK
doi:10.1016/j.aaen.2004.07.005
A. Parrott, A. Morinan, M. Moss, A. Scholey, Understanding Drugs and Behaviour, Wiley, 2004, ISBN 0 470 85059 0 – hbk – £55.00, ISBN 0 471 98640 2 – pbk – £19.99 This book is an interesting, detailed and well written text. However, the title highlights the fact that this is quite a specialised subject and as such will probably attract a limited emergency nursing audience. Nonetheless, colleagues particularly interested and involved in mental health care, substance abuse, and those with an interest in health promotion will find this a very informative and useful resource. The preface is clear and explains exactly what the book is about. The book itself is logically and sequentially designed with a common chapter format of overview, content and a useful reference and reading list. Each chapter closes with a set of realistic questions, designed to get the reader to review learning and understanding of the subject material. The first three chapters lay a firm foundation, exploring the subjects of: psychoactive drug usage, past and present; relevant neurological anatomy and physiology, from basic to complex; and, the principles of drug action.
The middle section of the book examines nonmedical and medical uses of drugs respectively. An abundance of information that really helps the reader to understand both conditions and treatments is provided. The recurrent approach evident in the book is that only limited knowledge and understanding is assumed. Content is sequentially built from first principles and progresses to a thorough and detailed exploration of each topic. The final section takes a broad and thoughtful look at a variety of practical and social issues and makes some very pertinent points about the treatment and management of patient problems. A glossary and list of internet sources compliments the full reference list supplied. In summary, this was an enjoyable and informative read, and although not recommended for the top ten list of books to read, practitioners taking the time to do so will find their knowledge base improved and their practice enhanced. Alastair Gray (Senior Lecturer) New Cross Hospital Education Centre Wolverhampton WV10 0OP, UK
doi:10.1016/j.aaen.2004.10.001
R.N. Scott L DeBoer, Emergency Newborn Care: The First Moments of Life, Peds-R-Us Medical Education, ISBN 1 4120 3089 7, Price $19.95 A basic book about emergency delivery and subsequent care of the newborn infant. Its aim is to inform pre-hospital and A & E workers, of all grades, what to do and what to look out for in the newborn and what basic procedures to follow before the experts are in a position to take over. It appears to be written with established American procedures in mind and does not reflect the British system and practices. Could this cause confusion and doubt? The style of writing is rather condescending, a good example being found in the
Prologue, where it is implied that only childbirth experts really like to care for the newly born. I found the book easy to read, there are also some interesting facts especially about the growth of the foetus. The book is written in a clear manner with a number of good illustrations and pictures. There are good quotes but maybe too much on the philosophy that childbirth has on all those involved, in particular the mother. I wonder whether this is necessary at the build-up and moment of conception during which time those assisting the delivery need to be focused on the practicalities of the situation and not the context. It is a good book for basic revision, but then there are many others that also achieve this. The Ameri-
Book reviews canisms will probably confuse some and put others off. Although the author states who the book is aimed at, it did not really read that way and I am therefore unsure of its impact as a learning tool.
75 Jane Southwell (Junior Sister) Department of A&E Birmingham Children’s Hospital, UK
doi:10.1016/j.aaen.2004.10.002
M. Smith, The Heart of the Night: Out of Hours Crisis Intervention in Health and Social Care, Russell House Publishing, 2004, ISBN 1-90385530-6, pbk £17.45 You may think that a book on the work of the social services’ emergency duty teams is not relevant to those working in accident and emergency (A&E), but you would only be partly right. With the increasing need for those in the health service to have an awareness of the roles and responsibilities of other professions, this book may go some way to providing an insight into the work of the out of hours teams in social care – the ones you contact when you need advice or do not know what else to do with those ‘difficult’ cases. Although primarily aimed at students and workers in social care there are some interesting chapters giving practice based examples in child protection and mental health that would be relevant to those in A&E, and the information regarding vulnerable adults highlights some important issues
in this often forgotten group. I would suggest that it is necessary to have at least a working knowledge of some of the legislation surrounding these areas as there is little elaboration with the text. The chapters on service planning will be of interest to those involved in partnership working, and there is a useful discussion on customer satisfaction that is increasingly pertinent to today’s health and social care services. Whilst some of the problems addressed may be familiar to those working in A&E, this is not the focus and other texts may be more suitable for those wishing to explore these areas. This book is readable however, and does give an insight into the scope of work and difficulties encountered by Emergency Duty Teams which can only aid A&E staff in their liaison with those in this role. Heather Jarman (Consultant Nurse in Emergency Care) St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust London, UK
doi:10.1016/j.aaen.2004.10.003
Carol Cox, Physical Assessment for Nurses, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, ISBN 1405105909, pbk – £19.99 I was extremely impressed by this book. It takes you through every stage of an holistic assessment of a patient, from how to approach them in the first place through to a systematic history take, taking into account both physical and mental health assessment. Throughout this book the reader is encouraged to adopt a functional enquiry attitude to physical assessment, ask, look, listen, feel. Each chapter is supported by clear illustrations, photographs or tools and examples of clinical case-notes to assist the reader in developing physical assessment skills. Unusually this book covers both adult and child presentations which is a point to consider
when funding for learning resources may be an issue. Throughout the text is easy reading, clear and informative and designed in such a way as to guide you through actually undertaking an assessment using this book; it acts as a comprehensive guide for producing examination notes and diagnostic principles. I particularly like how the tools have been published to be used as part of your actual examination, the book becoming an active resource in itself. The chapter on presenting cases and communication gives clear examples and guidance on how to prepare a case review and how to confidently present findings in a systematic way. To summarise, this is one of the most concise, informative clinical books I have seen in a long time. It will appeal to those clinicians moving into the field of undertaking and recording physical
Book reviews Bob McMaster, RGN, MSc, RNT (Nurse Consultant) Accident and Emergency Department, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, General Infirmary Leeds LS1 3EX, UK
doi:10.1016/j.aaen.2004.07.005
A. Parrott, A. Morinan, M. Moss, A. Scholey, Understanding Drugs and Behaviour, Wiley, 2004, ISBN 0 470 85059 0 – hbk – £55.00, ISBN 0 471 98640 2 – pbk – £19.99 This book is an interesting, detailed and well written text. However, the title highlights the fact that this is quite a specialised subject and as such will probably attract a limited emergency nursing audience. Nonetheless, colleagues particularly interested and involved in mental health care, substance abuse, and those with an interest in health promotion will find this a very informative and useful resource. The preface is clear and explains exactly what the book is about. The book itself is logically and sequentially designed with a common chapter format of overview, content and a useful reference and reading list. Each chapter closes with a set of realistic questions, designed to get the reader to review learning and understanding of the subject material. The first three chapters lay a firm foundation, exploring the subjects of: psychoactive drug usage, past and present; relevant neurological anatomy and physiology, from basic to complex; and, the principles of drug action.
The middle section of the book examines nonmedical and medical uses of drugs respectively. An abundance of information that really helps the reader to understand both conditions and treatments is provided. The recurrent approach evident in the book is that only limited knowledge and understanding is assumed. Content is sequentially built from first principles and progresses to a thorough and detailed exploration of each topic. The final section takes a broad and thoughtful look at a variety of practical and social issues and makes some very pertinent points about the treatment and management of patient problems. A glossary and list of internet sources compliments the full reference list supplied. In summary, this was an enjoyable and informative read, and although not recommended for the top ten list of books to read, practitioners taking the time to do so will find their knowledge base improved and their practice enhanced. Alastair Gray (Senior Lecturer) New Cross Hospital Education Centre Wolverhampton WV10 0OP, UK
doi:10.1016/j.aaen.2004.10.001
R.N. Scott L DeBoer, Emergency Newborn Care: The First Moments of Life, Peds-R-Us Medical Education, ISBN 1 4120 3089 7, Price $19.95 A basic book about emergency delivery and subsequent care of the newborn infant. Its aim is to inform pre-hospital and A & E workers, of all grades, what to do and what to look out for in the newborn and what basic procedures to follow before the experts are in a position to take over. It appears to be written with established American procedures in mind and does not reflect the British system and practices. Could this cause confusion and doubt? The style of writing is rather condescending, a good example being found in the
Prologue, where it is implied that only childbirth experts really like to care for the newly born. I found the book easy to read, there are also some interesting facts especially about the growth of the foetus. The book is written in a clear manner with a number of good illustrations and pictures. There are good quotes but maybe too much on the philosophy that childbirth has on all those involved, in particular the mother. I wonder whether this is necessary at the build-up and moment of conception during which time those assisting the delivery need to be focused on the practicalities of the situation and not the context. It is a good book for basic revision, but then there are many others that also achieve this. The Ameri-
Book reviews canisms will probably confuse some and put others off. Although the author states who the book is aimed at, it did not really read that way and I am therefore unsure of its impact as a learning tool.
75 Jane Southwell (Junior Sister) Department of A&E Birmingham Children’s Hospital, UK
doi:10.1016/j.aaen.2004.10.002
M. Smith, The Heart of the Night: Out of Hours Crisis Intervention in Health and Social Care, Russell House Publishing, 2004, ISBN 1-90385530-6, pbk £17.45 You may think that a book on the work of the social services’ emergency duty teams is not relevant to those working in accident and emergency (A&E), but you would only be partly right. With the increasing need for those in the health service to have an awareness of the roles and responsibilities of other professions, this book may go some way to providing an insight into the work of the out of hours teams in social care – the ones you contact when you need advice or do not know what else to do with those ‘difficult’ cases. Although primarily aimed at students and workers in social care there are some interesting chapters giving practice based examples in child protection and mental health that would be relevant to those in A&E, and the information regarding vulnerable adults highlights some important issues
in this often forgotten group. I would suggest that it is necessary to have at least a working knowledge of some of the legislation surrounding these areas as there is little elaboration with the text. The chapters on service planning will be of interest to those involved in partnership working, and there is a useful discussion on customer satisfaction that is increasingly pertinent to today’s health and social care services. Whilst some of the problems addressed may be familiar to those working in A&E, this is not the focus and other texts may be more suitable for those wishing to explore these areas. This book is readable however, and does give an insight into the scope of work and difficulties encountered by Emergency Duty Teams which can only aid A&E staff in their liaison with those in this role. Heather Jarman (Consultant Nurse in Emergency Care) St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust London, UK
doi:10.1016/j.aaen.2004.10.003
Carol Cox, Physical Assessment for Nurses, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, ISBN 1405105909, pbk – £19.99 I was extremely impressed by this book. It takes you through every stage of an holistic assessment of a patient, from how to approach them in the first place through to a systematic history take, taking into account both physical and mental health assessment. Throughout this book the reader is encouraged to adopt a functional enquiry attitude to physical assessment, ask, look, listen, feel. Each chapter is supported by clear illustrations, photographs or tools and examples of clinical case-notes to assist the reader in developing physical assessment skills. Unusually this book covers both adult and child presentations which is a point to consider
when funding for learning resources may be an issue. Throughout the text is easy reading, clear and informative and designed in such a way as to guide you through actually undertaking an assessment using this book; it acts as a comprehensive guide for producing examination notes and diagnostic principles. I particularly like how the tools have been published to be used as part of your actual examination, the book becoming an active resource in itself. The chapter on presenting cases and communication gives clear examples and guidance on how to prepare a case review and how to confidently present findings in a systematic way. To summarise, this is one of the most concise, informative clinical books I have seen in a long time. It will appeal to those clinicians moving into the field of undertaking and recording physical