Nurses and physicians of tomorrow

Nurses and physicians of tomorrow

plored from the biological mothers' and lovers' points of view. Interspersed with these scenes is a lawyer who talks about the many legal issues that ...

137KB Sizes 0 Downloads 70 Views

plored from the biological mothers' and lovers' points of view. Interspersed with these scenes is a lawyer who talks about the many legal issues that c o n f r o n t the lesbian who chooses to have children. These scenes help the viewer to more clearly understand the special legal situations a lesbian couple may face. Some of these issues center on the rights and responsibilities of the biological father if he is known and on the rights and responsibilities of the co-mother. Legal contracts are recommended and though their legality in a court of law might not be upheld, at least there is the potential of protection for those involved. Guardianship in case of the death of the biological mother also is discussed. Viewers should be reminded that laws differ from state to s t a t e - - a point that is not made clear in the film. In summary, this film is a very important overview of the issues that face lesbians who choose to become mothers. It is a credit to the sensitivity of the filmm a k e r s that the p a r t i c i p a n t s were so comfortable expressing their feelings and telling their stories. The editing is smooth and the photography well done. Adding to the overall enjoyment of this movie is a song written and performed by Holly Near. The film is recommended not only to lesbians who are or m a y b e c o m e mothers but also to any professional who will be involved with lesbians who have and raise children. This film will certainly expand our ideas about alternative lifestyles and alert us all to the special needs of the growing number of lesbians who are choosing to have children.

Nurses and Physicians of Tomorrow. Edited by J. J. Guilbert, with the collaboration of S. Abrahamson, M. Duvillard, and J. Vysohlid. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 1984. 188 pages. Price: free. For ordering information, contact World Health Organization, Distribution and Sales, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland.

Reviewed by: Jaynelle E Stichler, RN, MSN, Managing Director Perinatal/Gynecological Services, Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego, CA. This publication is a part of a world-wide survey of the professional roles of the nurse and physician, which was directed by the World Health Organization (WHO) at the 1978 International Con-

ference on Primary Health Care held in Alma-Ata, USSR. The 1 5 2 - m e m b e r states that met that year voted acceptance of the resolution that was originally passed by the May 1977 World Health Assembly, which declared that "the main social target of governments and WHO in the coming decades should be the attainment by all the citizens of the world by the year 2000 of a level of health that will permit them to lead a socially and economically productive life." According to the authors, because there is no universal blueprint for a health system that will p r o v i d e such health care for the world's people, the role of nursing and medical professions will differ in each national health system. Physicians provide the first level of contact in the health care system in some countries, but in others, nurses and other health care personnel are the primary health care professionals. What is really important is that nurses and physicians are appropriately trained to assume their roles in their respective countries. Professional profiles describing their roles, functions, activities, and tasks are w o r k e d out differently in each country. From each of these professional profiles, relevant educational objectives are d e r i v e d to p r o v i d e direction to teachers and learners during their years of nursing and medical education. Nurses and Physicians of Tomorrow is a survey of the learning objectives of several schools of nursing and medicine with an intent to establish their relevancy to the professions' respective role in that country. The following schools are presented as case studies: 1) Brandon General Hospital School of Nursing in Manitoba, Canada; 2) University of the Philippines System College of Nursing in Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines; 3) Padjadjaran University, School of Medicine in Bandung, Java, Indonesia; 4) University of Newcastle, College of Medicine, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia; and 5) Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Center of Health Sciences, Beersheva, Israel. The survey has several weaknesses that affect the quality of the findings and the r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s . Only a few schools responded to the questionnaire (50% of the schools of nursing and 36% of the schools of medicine). Therefore, the findings cannot be considered conclusive for all schools of nursing or medicine. In addition, s o m e of the terminology used in the survey was unclear,

Journal of Nurse-Midwifery • Vol. 31, No. 1, January/February 1986

thereby leading to misinterpretation of several of the terms.

Nurses and Physicians of Tomorrow may be of interest to those involved in the education of nurses and physicians. It may have limited appeal to others in the health care field.

Menopause, Naturally: Preparing for the Second Half of Life. By Sadja Greenwood, MD. Illustrations by Marcia Qackenbush. San Francisco: Volanco Press, 1984. 201 pages. $10.00, softcover.

Reviewed by: Barbara Wisdom, CNM, Staff Midwife, MIC/FP, Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY. As the title implies, Menopause, Naturally is a delightful and refreshing book about the natural process of menopause. The author, a general practice physician with a major interest in gynecology and women's health care, views this book as an o u t g r o w t h of her work with midlife women and her interest in the promotion of health. Both the author and the illustrator seem to capture the essence and feelings of women during these menopausal years. The humor of the illustrations adds a special lightness to what often are perceived as negative and outmoded concepts of menopause. Beginning with a chapter on some of the fallacies, facts, and new possibilities for menopause, the author stresses the importance of replacing negative stereotypes of the menopausal woman with realistic and positive outlooks. How to promote good health and avoid illness in the s e c o n d half of life is the g e n e r a l thread throughout the chapters. Discussion of interesting a n d c o n t r o v e r s i a l questions about the menopause are included: Hot flashes, irregular bleeding, sexuality, estrogen use, nutrition, exercise, and osteoporosis. Valuable information on current issues regarding estrogen replacement therapy and calcium intake will enable women to make informed decisions about their health. Perhaps the highlight of this compact " m e n o p a u s e atlas" is the section on P o s t m e n o p a u s a l zest (PMZ): H o w to find it and keep it. Once again emphasis on prevention through a balanced diet and regular exercise as well as finding good health care are integral factors in maintaining PMZ. Greenwood wisely advises that staying connected to the world, relaxation, exercise, nutrition, and a pos-

57