- Email: [email protected]
Nursing the Surgical Patient
DECEMBER 2003, VOL 78, NO 6
Tapestry of Healing: Where Reiki and Medicine Intertwine Jed Mills 2001, 203 pp $15.95 paperback
The intent of this book is to give the reader an overview of author Jeri Mills’ successful efforts to blend the healing arts of mind, body, and spirit with Western medicine. The book is divided into two sections. In the first half, the author describes her personal journey from childhood to today. In the second half, she presents several energy therapies, including Reiki, which means universal life force in Japanese, and the ethics and responsibilities that attend the practice of such therapies. The author begins the book by giving readers insight into the events that led her to be a physician, then describes how she uses Reiki to help her patients, both animal and human. As the daughter of circus performers, she lived with her aunt during the school year and with her parents the rest of the year. When she stayed with her parents, she spent much of her time with the circus animals.Her experiences laid the foundation for her to earn her doctor of veterinary medicine degree. After practicing for three years, she
1028
AORN JOURNAL
Reviews
moved on to medical school to become an obstetridan/gynecologist. Her practice eventually took her to Tucson, where she was exposed to Reiki and energy- channeling. . ... At first, Mills was hesitant to use Reiki on patients, fearing they would not understand. As she practiced energy therapy over time, her fears diminished, and she noticed that patients with whom she used Reiki techniques were calmer and required less postoperative medication to control pain. Her work eventually came to the attention of the University of Arizona College of Nursing, Tucson, where she began teaching nursing students how to use these techniques in their patient care practice. Students responded enthusiastically to the lectures and asked that a class on energy medicine, including Reiki, be made part of the curriculum. Mills continued to study the healing arts and became a Reiki master teacher. The second half of the book describes energy therapies from several cultures. Mills gives a brief history of Eastern medicine and healing, Reiki, and shamanic rituals and describes how she has taken elements from different cultures to form her practice. She explains the responsibilities and ethics related to using alternative therapy and relates some of her experiences, good and bad. Mills stresses her belief that with
the proper motivation and training, anyone can Ieam energy therapy techruques. Included at the end of the book is a list of recommended resources for readers who want to gain further knowledge of the subject. The author is an excellent writer and conveys her thoughts in an easy-to-read, well-conceived format. Anyone, whether care professional or consumer, can enjoy this book. The author achieves her goals of providing the reader with an overview of Reiki and showing how it can be used in everyday patient care and personal care. This book is available from White Sage Press, PO Box 928, Alto, NM, 88312, https:
//wunu.healthyshopping.com /books/Topic~.asp?ItemCode=496 &Lis tType=publisher. NANCY J. SHAITO RN, MSN, CNOR NURSEMANAGER DENVER VA MEOICAL CENTER DENVER
Nursing the Surgical Patient Rosemary Pudner, ed 2000, 544 pp $51.85 paperback
Rosemary Pudner does an excellent job of covering the topic of perioperative nursing. Using dynamic contributions from clinical nurses and lecturers from the United Kingdom, she presents universal
DECEMBER 2003, VOL 78, NO 6
general principles. The contributors use both practical and thee retical aspects of basic formulas for nursing care in all surgical specialities. The book is organized in three main sections. The first section provides an overview of specific aspects of perioperative nursing, such as the role of perioperative nurses, preoperative assessment, patients’ body image, and wound healing. The second section examines the history and development of same day surgery and addresses the technological advances used in minimally invasive surgery. Topics such as the advantages of same day surgery, reduced incidence of
Reviews
future of minimally invasive surgery are presented clearly in a nonbiased manner. The final section is an excellent resource that describes the procedures performed in various surgical specialties, such as neurosurgery, otorhinolaryngology surgery, and thoracic surgery. Brief introductions to these surgical specialties, as well as anatomy and physiology overviews of the involved body systems, are concisely presented. To further readers’ understanding of the procedures discussed, Pudner suggests diagnostic tools and assessment pathways that can help nurses plan patient care. Reader-friendlynavigational
the beginning of each chapter and glossaries and references for suggested further reading at the end of each chapter. The book is a well-written resource guide for all levels of perioperative nursing. The problem solving approach to care that the author uses is patient focused and outcome oriented. I highly recommend this book as an addition to perioperative nurses’ personal libraries. This book is available from Bailliere liidall, Foots Cray, High Street, Sidcup, Kent DA145HP, UK, http://m.har courf-infernational.com. KAREN 5. CRISMAN RN, BS, CNOR NEUROSURGERY CLINICAL COORDINATOR WINCHESTERMEDICALCENTER WINCHESTER, VA
Council Advises Ways to Avoid Slips and Falls in Home uring a one-year period, 5.6 million injuries and thousands of fatalities resulted from slips and i n people‘s homes, according t o a Sept 4, 2003, news release from the Home Safety Council. Slips and falls are the leading cause of unintentiona l home injuries. I n addition, adults older than age 65 are a t the highest risk for home-related falls and fall-related injuries or deaths. The Home Safety Council is urging Americans t o invest some time i n evaluating the safety of their homes and taking steps t o fix hazards that may lead t o falls. These steps include making sure all stairs have a secure banister or handrail: keeping porches, hallways, and stairwells well lit; clearing stairs, landings, and floors of clutter, toys, and electrical cords:
D falls
1030
AORN JOURNAL
0
0 0
0 0
0
0
using nonslip mats or adhesive safety decals i n bathtubs and showers: installing grab bars i n bathtubs and showers; installing window guards t o protect young children from falling out of windows: keeping floors clean of grease, water, or other liquids: using nonskid throw rugs t o reduce chances of slipping: using a sturdy step stool with handrails when climbing i s necessary: and taking correct medication doses t o prevent dizziness or weakness.
Home Safety Council Study: Slips and Falls are Leading Cause of Home Injury (news release, Wikesboro, NC: Home Safety Council Sept 4, 2003) http://www.prnews wire.com (accessed 5 Sept 2003).
Tapestry of Healing: Where Reiki and Medicine Intertwine Jed Mills 2001, 203 pp $15.95 paperback
The intent of this book is to give the reader an overview of author Jeri Mills’ successful efforts to blend the healing arts of mind, body, and spirit with Western medicine. The book is divided into two sections. In the first half, the author describes her personal journey from childhood to today. In the second half, she presents several energy therapies, including Reiki, which means universal life force in Japanese, and the ethics and responsibilities that attend the practice of such therapies. The author begins the book by giving readers insight into the events that led her to be a physician, then describes how she uses Reiki to help her patients, both animal and human. As the daughter of circus performers, she lived with her aunt during the school year and with her parents the rest of the year. When she stayed with her parents, she spent much of her time with the circus animals.Her experiences laid the foundation for her to earn her doctor of veterinary medicine degree. After practicing for three years, she
1028
AORN JOURNAL
Reviews
moved on to medical school to become an obstetridan/gynecologist. Her practice eventually took her to Tucson, where she was exposed to Reiki and energy- channeling. . ... At first, Mills was hesitant to use Reiki on patients, fearing they would not understand. As she practiced energy therapy over time, her fears diminished, and she noticed that patients with whom she used Reiki techniques were calmer and required less postoperative medication to control pain. Her work eventually came to the attention of the University of Arizona College of Nursing, Tucson, where she began teaching nursing students how to use these techniques in their patient care practice. Students responded enthusiastically to the lectures and asked that a class on energy medicine, including Reiki, be made part of the curriculum. Mills continued to study the healing arts and became a Reiki master teacher. The second half of the book describes energy therapies from several cultures. Mills gives a brief history of Eastern medicine and healing, Reiki, and shamanic rituals and describes how she has taken elements from different cultures to form her practice. She explains the responsibilities and ethics related to using alternative therapy and relates some of her experiences, good and bad. Mills stresses her belief that with
the proper motivation and training, anyone can Ieam energy therapy techruques. Included at the end of the book is a list of recommended resources for readers who want to gain further knowledge of the subject. The author is an excellent writer and conveys her thoughts in an easy-to-read, well-conceived format. Anyone, whether care professional or consumer, can enjoy this book. The author achieves her goals of providing the reader with an overview of Reiki and showing how it can be used in everyday patient care and personal care. This book is available from White Sage Press, PO Box 928, Alto, NM, 88312, https:
//wunu.healthyshopping.com /books/Topic~.asp?ItemCode=496 &Lis tType=publisher. NANCY J. SHAITO RN, MSN, CNOR NURSEMANAGER DENVER VA MEOICAL CENTER DENVER
Nursing the Surgical Patient Rosemary Pudner, ed 2000, 544 pp $51.85 paperback
Rosemary Pudner does an excellent job of covering the topic of perioperative nursing. Using dynamic contributions from clinical nurses and lecturers from the United Kingdom, she presents universal
DECEMBER 2003, VOL 78, NO 6
general principles. The contributors use both practical and thee retical aspects of basic formulas for nursing care in all surgical specialities. The book is organized in three main sections. The first section provides an overview of specific aspects of perioperative nursing, such as the role of perioperative nurses, preoperative assessment, patients’ body image, and wound healing. The second section examines the history and development of same day surgery and addresses the technological advances used in minimally invasive surgery. Topics such as the advantages of same day surgery, reduced incidence of
Reviews
future of minimally invasive surgery are presented clearly in a nonbiased manner. The final section is an excellent resource that describes the procedures performed in various surgical specialties, such as neurosurgery, otorhinolaryngology surgery, and thoracic surgery. Brief introductions to these surgical specialties, as well as anatomy and physiology overviews of the involved body systems, are concisely presented. To further readers’ understanding of the procedures discussed, Pudner suggests diagnostic tools and assessment pathways that can help nurses plan patient care. Reader-friendlynavigational
the beginning of each chapter and glossaries and references for suggested further reading at the end of each chapter. The book is a well-written resource guide for all levels of perioperative nursing. The problem solving approach to care that the author uses is patient focused and outcome oriented. I highly recommend this book as an addition to perioperative nurses’ personal libraries. This book is available from Bailliere liidall, Foots Cray, High Street, Sidcup, Kent DA145HP, UK, http://m.har courf-infernational.com. KAREN 5. CRISMAN RN, BS, CNOR NEUROSURGERY CLINICAL COORDINATOR WINCHESTERMEDICALCENTER WINCHESTER, VA
Council Advises Ways to Avoid Slips and Falls in Home uring a one-year period, 5.6 million injuries and thousands of fatalities resulted from slips and i n people‘s homes, according t o a Sept 4, 2003, news release from the Home Safety Council. Slips and falls are the leading cause of unintentiona l home injuries. I n addition, adults older than age 65 are a t the highest risk for home-related falls and fall-related injuries or deaths. The Home Safety Council is urging Americans t o invest some time i n evaluating the safety of their homes and taking steps t o fix hazards that may lead t o falls. These steps include making sure all stairs have a secure banister or handrail: keeping porches, hallways, and stairwells well lit; clearing stairs, landings, and floors of clutter, toys, and electrical cords:
D falls
1030
AORN JOURNAL
0
0 0
0 0
0
0
using nonslip mats or adhesive safety decals i n bathtubs and showers: installing grab bars i n bathtubs and showers; installing window guards t o protect young children from falling out of windows: keeping floors clean of grease, water, or other liquids: using nonskid throw rugs t o reduce chances of slipping: using a sturdy step stool with handrails when climbing i s necessary: and taking correct medication doses t o prevent dizziness or weakness.
Home Safety Council Study: Slips and Falls are Leading Cause of Home Injury (news release, Wikesboro, NC: Home Safety Council Sept 4, 2003) http://www.prnews wire.com (accessed 5 Sept 2003).