- Email: [email protected]
Nursing the physically Ill adult
h’urrc Educdwn Today (1988) @I Longman Group UK Ltd
8, 182-184 1988
BOOK REVIEWS
WORK
Computers and their Application in Nursing B Koch &J Rankin (Eds) Lippincott 1987 112pp Illus ISBN:
o-06-318257-2
g5.95
This is the first British text related to the uses of computers in nursing and health care. The editors have assembled a number of authoritative practicallybased authors, the majority from Scotland. The book explores a variety of clinical education computer application areas. Each chapter appears almost as a discussion, a useful technique though a basic knowledge of computers would be helpful for the reader; explanation of words/phrases used frequently appear later in the text (a short glossary is included), or occasionally not at all. The chapter order is interesting and it is possible to read each chapter independently; nursing management applications are considered initially, working through clinical - mainly medically biased - uses and education. The penultimate chapter deals with the role of the programmer, emphasising writing material for computer assisted learning (CAL). The final one ‘Computers and Nursing: A Scenario’, gives much food for thought and might have been better placed at the beginning. I read the book in a different order to that identified by the editors and yet did not lose the general flow of the book. For the price, this book is useful for examining British (albeit with a Scottish emphasis) uses of computers applied to nursing and health care.
PAULAM PROCTER MSc RGN Cert Ed(FE)
RNT
The students perceptions are classified under live categories: ‘learning the rules’, ‘getting the work done’, ‘learning and working’, $st passing through’ and ‘nursing in the dark’. The book also deals with how students view the claims of nursing to professional status. The study highlights the students survival strategies to cross back and forth the barriers between education and service without disturbing the division. There is an obvious competition for curriculum control between educationalists and managers. In some ways this study reminded me of some aspects of Menzies work in the 1960’s where she described students defense mechanisms against the anxiety provoked by the work environment. This is an important study and as such should not be ignored by nurses and anyone interested in health policy. It has the added advantage that it is immensely entertaining. It provides an insight into the sociology of nursing, never indulging in navel-gazing. This insight is vital if nursing is to be proactive rather than find once again, that its future has been determined from outside. Menzies I E P 1960 A case study in the functioning ofsocial systems against anxiety. Human Relations, 13 pp. 95-121
AMALIAPGALLEGO SRN RNT MA (Education)
Nursing the Physically Ill Adult J R P Boore et al (Eds) Churchill Livingstone 1987 936pp Illus ISBN:
0-443-02148-l
This impressive text is aimed at students who ‘already possess some understanding
Learning and Working K Melia Tavistock 1987 206pp
ISBN:
o-422-60130-6
210.95
This is an excellent example of how research can be presented in a readable and simple manner without losing any of its intellectual rigour. The research strategy is placed as an appendix and hence does not clutter the text. Melia uses students account of nursing to examine the process of socialisation into the occupation. Nurses are a divided occupational group and the account focus on the segmentation between service and education. 182
f19.95 of nursing of its prac-
tice and who have some knowledge of biomedical and social psychological processes.’ It is a multi-author text in three unequal sections covering disease causation and effect, diagnosis and therapy and disturbances of systems’ functions. Each section has between 7 and 10 chapters. This is a research based text grounded in nursing theory, rather than on a medical model, and focused on the care of the physically ill adult. The authors state that ‘there has been an attempt to explore issues of nursing concern and to draw out the implications for nursing practice.’ Indeed, it is a unique British nursing text which not only provides an integrated approach to care but a considerable depth of knowledge which is sufficient for a broad basis of understanding. For
those requiring more specialised texts, the wealth of references make that task easier too. This would be a very worthwhile addition to any students bookshelves and should be of considerable interest to trained staff wishing to update/improve their knowledge base. ANNEVBETTS BSc(Hons) SRN RNT
District Nursing M Baly. B Robottom, J M Clark Heinemann 1987 422pp lllus ISBN: O-433-01
163-7
215.95
‘[‘his is the second issue of what for many has been the text book of district nursing. It is a well presented, compact book which aims to set out the principles of nursing in the community. As an introductory text it wsorks well covering an impressive range of issues, ranging for example from the epidemiology of disease and the financing and structure of the NHS to using the nursing process and the needs of specific client groups in the community. The chapters are clearly referenced with useful sections on recommended further reading. Inevitably, with such a book the amount of detail that can be presented on a given subject is limited. Thus, important areas such as the role of district nurse in, and strategies for, health education, the experiences and needs of informal carers and the particular issues and problems of care planning in the community are dealt with superficially if at all. Relevant research findings were referenced throughout the book though there could have been more discussion of their applicability in the text, for example in the discussion of the nature of district nursing. The authors themselves acknowledge it is not possible to encompass everything a district nurse might want to know within a medium sized book. Perhaps the days are numbered when one can hope to produce a book that reflects the diversity of knowledge required to practice in any given specialty. The strengths of this book are the overview it provides of the interests of district nursing and as an introductory text which is competitively priced and thoughtfully presented. CLAIREGOODMAN BSc MSc RGN NDN Cert
Essentials of Accident and Emergency Care .J Lourie, A Bradlow, M Sutters Churchill Livingstone 1987 126pp Illus ISBN: O-443-03903-8
f6.95
This reasonably priced book is intended for use by the learner nurse during her allocation to the Accident and Emergency Department. It would, in fact, be extremely useful for any nurse requiring a summary of the management of the acutely ill/injured individual
on his arrival in hospital. The book gives an interesting introduction which is relevant and concise. It then progresses to consider each of the important categories of illness encountered in the Accident and Emergency Department - acute cardiac, respiratory and abdominal problems and those associated with altered consciousness. Other emergencies include self poisoning, the ill child, injured patient, diabetic and psychiatric emergencies and those which are less common, such as drowning and serious communicable diseases. Each section is clear and succinct -- the reader’s attention is quickly drawn to important facts. There are few diagrams but this does not detract from the content. The book has useful appendites. index and bibliography. The latter is necessary in order to extend reading on certain topics for example sudden death and bereavement. The book contains. as the title implies ‘essentials’ of each of the dtorenientioned topics and I would recommend its mclusion in a nursing library. El)\\lU,\ .\I (iEKKY RGN OA’D RCR’T DiPN(Lo?/i KA’T (A-t Ed
Nursing in Educational Settings M S Strehlow Harper and Row 1987 2OOpp lllux ISBN: 0-OtiY18389-7
56.95
School nursing is rarely the subject of. a text which makes this book a welcome addition to nursing literature. The text is logicaly organised to include a consideration of all aspects of school nursing. While some recent literature is referred to, the author does not seek to illustrate that sound nursing practice is research-based. Indeed the omission of reference to relevant school health research i$ regrettable. However, the author has a highly readable writing style in which her healthy cynicism becomes apparent. Illustrative diagrams could have been used effectively in the text but instead somewhat confusing diagrams were placed at the end of each chapter as a means of summarising the material covered. .4 summary of key points would have been more useful. The inclusion of a short chapter on school health provision in other countries was interesting and will remind nurses that much can be learnt from the experience of health care in other countries. The listing of recent articles 011 school nursing in a11 appendix was helpful. In conclusion, although this book hds some shortcomings I welcome its contribition to the texts on school nursing. It will be invaluable to school nurses and ail those concerned with school health.
8, 182-184 1988
BOOK REVIEWS
WORK
Computers and their Application in Nursing B Koch &J Rankin (Eds) Lippincott 1987 112pp Illus ISBN:
o-06-318257-2
g5.95
This is the first British text related to the uses of computers in nursing and health care. The editors have assembled a number of authoritative practicallybased authors, the majority from Scotland. The book explores a variety of clinical education computer application areas. Each chapter appears almost as a discussion, a useful technique though a basic knowledge of computers would be helpful for the reader; explanation of words/phrases used frequently appear later in the text (a short glossary is included), or occasionally not at all. The chapter order is interesting and it is possible to read each chapter independently; nursing management applications are considered initially, working through clinical - mainly medically biased - uses and education. The penultimate chapter deals with the role of the programmer, emphasising writing material for computer assisted learning (CAL). The final one ‘Computers and Nursing: A Scenario’, gives much food for thought and might have been better placed at the beginning. I read the book in a different order to that identified by the editors and yet did not lose the general flow of the book. For the price, this book is useful for examining British (albeit with a Scottish emphasis) uses of computers applied to nursing and health care.
PAULAM PROCTER MSc RGN Cert Ed(FE)
RNT
The students perceptions are classified under live categories: ‘learning the rules’, ‘getting the work done’, ‘learning and working’, $st passing through’ and ‘nursing in the dark’. The book also deals with how students view the claims of nursing to professional status. The study highlights the students survival strategies to cross back and forth the barriers between education and service without disturbing the division. There is an obvious competition for curriculum control between educationalists and managers. In some ways this study reminded me of some aspects of Menzies work in the 1960’s where she described students defense mechanisms against the anxiety provoked by the work environment. This is an important study and as such should not be ignored by nurses and anyone interested in health policy. It has the added advantage that it is immensely entertaining. It provides an insight into the sociology of nursing, never indulging in navel-gazing. This insight is vital if nursing is to be proactive rather than find once again, that its future has been determined from outside. Menzies I E P 1960 A case study in the functioning ofsocial systems against anxiety. Human Relations, 13 pp. 95-121
AMALIAPGALLEGO SRN RNT MA (Education)
Nursing the Physically Ill Adult J R P Boore et al (Eds) Churchill Livingstone 1987 936pp Illus ISBN:
0-443-02148-l
This impressive text is aimed at students who ‘already possess some understanding
Learning and Working K Melia Tavistock 1987 206pp
ISBN:
o-422-60130-6
210.95
This is an excellent example of how research can be presented in a readable and simple manner without losing any of its intellectual rigour. The research strategy is placed as an appendix and hence does not clutter the text. Melia uses students account of nursing to examine the process of socialisation into the occupation. Nurses are a divided occupational group and the account focus on the segmentation between service and education. 182
f19.95 of nursing of its prac-
tice and who have some knowledge of biomedical and social psychological processes.’ It is a multi-author text in three unequal sections covering disease causation and effect, diagnosis and therapy and disturbances of systems’ functions. Each section has between 7 and 10 chapters. This is a research based text grounded in nursing theory, rather than on a medical model, and focused on the care of the physically ill adult. The authors state that ‘there has been an attempt to explore issues of nursing concern and to draw out the implications for nursing practice.’ Indeed, it is a unique British nursing text which not only provides an integrated approach to care but a considerable depth of knowledge which is sufficient for a broad basis of understanding. For
those requiring more specialised texts, the wealth of references make that task easier too. This would be a very worthwhile addition to any students bookshelves and should be of considerable interest to trained staff wishing to update/improve their knowledge base. ANNEVBETTS BSc(Hons) SRN RNT
District Nursing M Baly. B Robottom, J M Clark Heinemann 1987 422pp lllus ISBN: O-433-01
163-7
215.95
‘[‘his is the second issue of what for many has been the text book of district nursing. It is a well presented, compact book which aims to set out the principles of nursing in the community. As an introductory text it wsorks well covering an impressive range of issues, ranging for example from the epidemiology of disease and the financing and structure of the NHS to using the nursing process and the needs of specific client groups in the community. The chapters are clearly referenced with useful sections on recommended further reading. Inevitably, with such a book the amount of detail that can be presented on a given subject is limited. Thus, important areas such as the role of district nurse in, and strategies for, health education, the experiences and needs of informal carers and the particular issues and problems of care planning in the community are dealt with superficially if at all. Relevant research findings were referenced throughout the book though there could have been more discussion of their applicability in the text, for example in the discussion of the nature of district nursing. The authors themselves acknowledge it is not possible to encompass everything a district nurse might want to know within a medium sized book. Perhaps the days are numbered when one can hope to produce a book that reflects the diversity of knowledge required to practice in any given specialty. The strengths of this book are the overview it provides of the interests of district nursing and as an introductory text which is competitively priced and thoughtfully presented. CLAIREGOODMAN BSc MSc RGN NDN Cert
Essentials of Accident and Emergency Care .J Lourie, A Bradlow, M Sutters Churchill Livingstone 1987 126pp Illus ISBN: O-443-03903-8
f6.95
This reasonably priced book is intended for use by the learner nurse during her allocation to the Accident and Emergency Department. It would, in fact, be extremely useful for any nurse requiring a summary of the management of the acutely ill/injured individual
on his arrival in hospital. The book gives an interesting introduction which is relevant and concise. It then progresses to consider each of the important categories of illness encountered in the Accident and Emergency Department - acute cardiac, respiratory and abdominal problems and those associated with altered consciousness. Other emergencies include self poisoning, the ill child, injured patient, diabetic and psychiatric emergencies and those which are less common, such as drowning and serious communicable diseases. Each section is clear and succinct -- the reader’s attention is quickly drawn to important facts. There are few diagrams but this does not detract from the content. The book has useful appendites. index and bibliography. The latter is necessary in order to extend reading on certain topics for example sudden death and bereavement. The book contains. as the title implies ‘essentials’ of each of the dtorenientioned topics and I would recommend its mclusion in a nursing library. El)\\lU,\ .\I (iEKKY RGN OA’D RCR’T DiPN(Lo?/i KA’T (A-t Ed
Nursing in Educational Settings M S Strehlow Harper and Row 1987 2OOpp lllux ISBN: 0-OtiY18389-7
56.95
School nursing is rarely the subject of. a text which makes this book a welcome addition to nursing literature. The text is logicaly organised to include a consideration of all aspects of school nursing. While some recent literature is referred to, the author does not seek to illustrate that sound nursing practice is research-based. Indeed the omission of reference to relevant school health research i$ regrettable. However, the author has a highly readable writing style in which her healthy cynicism becomes apparent. Illustrative diagrams could have been used effectively in the text but instead somewhat confusing diagrams were placed at the end of each chapter as a means of summarising the material covered. .4 summary of key points would have been more useful. The inclusion of a short chapter on school health provision in other countries was interesting and will remind nurses that much can be learnt from the experience of health care in other countries. The listing of recent articles 011 school nursing in a11 appendix was helpful. In conclusion, although this book hds some shortcomings I welcome its contribition to the texts on school nursing. It will be invaluable to school nurses and ail those concerned with school health.