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Pocket Guide to Nursing Diagnoses
DECEMBER 1990, VOL. 52, NO 6
AORN JOURNAL
Book Reviews
SPECIALIZATION Health Promotion of the Elderly in the Community By Estelle E Heckheimer 1989, 418 pp $29.95 paperback This book is written for those who did not listen closely as their grandmothers told them about the changes associated with aging. It deals with the aging process and how it is expressed physically and psychosocially in the growing segment of the population more than 60 years old. The primary and secondary changes caused by aging, common health problems (eg, nutrition, cataracts), and chronic health problems (eg, pain, osteoporosis, incontinence) of the elderly are described in an easy-to-read format. A lot of information is packed into a smalI volume. The bullet statements could easily be adapted to nursing diagnosis (eg, “Malnutrition secondary to susceptibility to quackery or fad diets,” or “Increased potential to thermal injury secondary to decreased sensitivity to thermal stimulus.”) After describing the physiological changes caused by the aging process, the author lists implications for nursing care, strategies for patient compliance, and considerations for treatment. Many charts and diagrams supplement the text (eg, diagrams of range of motion exercises, chart of the relationship between common drugs and food). Information on community resources is listed at the end of each section. National organization addresses are given, as well as hints for contacting local groups. The index is useful in identifying specific topics.
There are few drawbacks to this book. It is aimed more toward health care of the elderly in the community, rather than in the operating room. The bibliography at the end of each section is useful, but 1986 is the most recent listing. The author admits that she deals mainly with white middle- and lower-class patients and has little insight into other cultures and life-styles. This book fills a niche in my library. Besides dealing with nursing aspects of gerontology, it includes the physiology of aging, strategies of home or self-care, and community resources. This book would be a useful resource for student nurses, community/public health nurses, OR nurses seeking to individualize care, and everyone who will reach the age of 60 and wants to know what to expect. The book is available from W B Saunders Co, The Curtis Center, Independence Sq West, Philadelphia, PA 19106. SUSANN. MARTIN,RN, BSN, CNOR CHIEF, ORKENTRALMATERIAL SUPPLY NURSING SERVICES
EVANSUS ARMYCOMMUNITY HOSPITAL FT CARSON,COLO
NURSING PRACTICE Pocket Guide to Nursing Diagnoses, third ed. By Mi Ja Kim, Gertrude K, McFarland, Audrey M. MeLane 1989,333 pp $15.95 paperback This encyclopedia-style book provides broad coverage of the current North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) approved list of nursing diagnoses. This new edition also
DECEMBER 1990. VOL. 52, NO 6
includes a useful acronym (ie, ABC4 PRN REST For Health) which enables the nurse to remember the 15 categories of nursing diagnoses that are included. The diagnoses are listed in alphabetical order and have been written in a concise manner. The authors also include the functional classification of diagnoses as delineated by Marjory Gordon, RN, PhD, FAAN, and the NANDA method of grouping nursing diagnoses. In addition to the list of nursing diagnoses, defining characteristics, and related factors, the book includes a prototype nursing care plan for each diagnosis. This book is useful for beginning nursing students as well as experienced practicing nurses. It reminds the reader that nursing diagnoses are still being developed and refined, and therefore, it is not all inclusive. That, however, only illustrates the constant growth and change within the nursing profession. The book is available from The C V Mosby Co, 11830 Westline Industrial Dr, St Louis, MO 63146. JANET COZAD,RN, BSN, CNOR ASSISTANT PROFESSOR CALIFORNIA STATEUNIVERSITY LONGBEACH Nursing Theories: The Base for Professional Nursing Practice, third ed. Edited by Julia B. George 1990, 401 pp $26.95paperback This book provides an extensive overview of 18 nursing theories. It also defines nursing theory, gives an overview of the nursing process, and discusses how the nursing process and the nursing theories interrelate. The book is designed to help nurses apply nursing concepts and theories to actual practice. The text was written by nursing scholars who serve as secondary sources for the nurse theorists and their work. These scholars provide an interpretation of the nursing theory, present the meaning of the theoretical concepts, provide an example of how the theory can be applied in actual
AORN JOURNAL
nursing practice, discuss whether the theory meets the seven characteristics of a theory, and explain how the theory relates to the nursing process. I believe the use of the secondary sources is a major limitation. It leaves too much to interpretation of the theory, and that can lead to misinterpretation or misrepresentation of a theorist’s work. The format of this book appears to be well organized. It begins with an explanation of nursing theory and how the nursing process complements nursing theory. Chapters three through 20 present the nursing theorists and their work. Each chapter begins with a short biography of the nurse theorist. This is one of the most interesting parts of the book. It helps the reader understand the reason for theory development by each theorist and why their beliefs about nursing and theory exist. The format varies somewhat between chapters, and this is a limitation of the chapter presentation. For example, some chapters discuss the seven characteristics of a theory, provide a discussion of the limitations of a particular theory, and end with a summary. Other chapters combine it all without delineation so it is very difficult to follow. This book provides illustrations of the theoretical concepts and how they interrelate. This helps the reader visualize the connection, although some illustrations are extremely complicated and could overwhelm the reader. There are several positive aspects of this book. The glossary at the end is quite helpful. The physical appearance is appealing. The chapters are as concise as possible, and the print is an appropriate size for visual comfort. This book is valuable for graduate-level nursing students and nurses who want a theoretical base to validate their professional practice. The text may be considered “dry” by those not involved with nursing theory. The extensive references are appropriate and as recent as possible. This edition presents three more theorists than the second edition. It also gives a brief overview of the new and upcoming theories and their particular stage of development. The style and use of language are appropriate for this type of book. Some of the language becomes cumbersome, but this is resolved by looking at the glossary. The writing is clear and 1275
AORN JOURNAL
Book Reviews
SPECIALIZATION Health Promotion of the Elderly in the Community By Estelle E Heckheimer 1989, 418 pp $29.95 paperback This book is written for those who did not listen closely as their grandmothers told them about the changes associated with aging. It deals with the aging process and how it is expressed physically and psychosocially in the growing segment of the population more than 60 years old. The primary and secondary changes caused by aging, common health problems (eg, nutrition, cataracts), and chronic health problems (eg, pain, osteoporosis, incontinence) of the elderly are described in an easy-to-read format. A lot of information is packed into a smalI volume. The bullet statements could easily be adapted to nursing diagnosis (eg, “Malnutrition secondary to susceptibility to quackery or fad diets,” or “Increased potential to thermal injury secondary to decreased sensitivity to thermal stimulus.”) After describing the physiological changes caused by the aging process, the author lists implications for nursing care, strategies for patient compliance, and considerations for treatment. Many charts and diagrams supplement the text (eg, diagrams of range of motion exercises, chart of the relationship between common drugs and food). Information on community resources is listed at the end of each section. National organization addresses are given, as well as hints for contacting local groups. The index is useful in identifying specific topics.
There are few drawbacks to this book. It is aimed more toward health care of the elderly in the community, rather than in the operating room. The bibliography at the end of each section is useful, but 1986 is the most recent listing. The author admits that she deals mainly with white middle- and lower-class patients and has little insight into other cultures and life-styles. This book fills a niche in my library. Besides dealing with nursing aspects of gerontology, it includes the physiology of aging, strategies of home or self-care, and community resources. This book would be a useful resource for student nurses, community/public health nurses, OR nurses seeking to individualize care, and everyone who will reach the age of 60 and wants to know what to expect. The book is available from W B Saunders Co, The Curtis Center, Independence Sq West, Philadelphia, PA 19106. SUSANN. MARTIN,RN, BSN, CNOR CHIEF, ORKENTRALMATERIAL SUPPLY NURSING SERVICES
EVANSUS ARMYCOMMUNITY HOSPITAL FT CARSON,COLO
NURSING PRACTICE Pocket Guide to Nursing Diagnoses, third ed. By Mi Ja Kim, Gertrude K, McFarland, Audrey M. MeLane 1989,333 pp $15.95 paperback This encyclopedia-style book provides broad coverage of the current North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) approved list of nursing diagnoses. This new edition also
DECEMBER 1990. VOL. 52, NO 6
includes a useful acronym (ie, ABC4 PRN REST For Health) which enables the nurse to remember the 15 categories of nursing diagnoses that are included. The diagnoses are listed in alphabetical order and have been written in a concise manner. The authors also include the functional classification of diagnoses as delineated by Marjory Gordon, RN, PhD, FAAN, and the NANDA method of grouping nursing diagnoses. In addition to the list of nursing diagnoses, defining characteristics, and related factors, the book includes a prototype nursing care plan for each diagnosis. This book is useful for beginning nursing students as well as experienced practicing nurses. It reminds the reader that nursing diagnoses are still being developed and refined, and therefore, it is not all inclusive. That, however, only illustrates the constant growth and change within the nursing profession. The book is available from The C V Mosby Co, 11830 Westline Industrial Dr, St Louis, MO 63146. JANET COZAD,RN, BSN, CNOR ASSISTANT PROFESSOR CALIFORNIA STATEUNIVERSITY LONGBEACH Nursing Theories: The Base for Professional Nursing Practice, third ed. Edited by Julia B. George 1990, 401 pp $26.95paperback This book provides an extensive overview of 18 nursing theories. It also defines nursing theory, gives an overview of the nursing process, and discusses how the nursing process and the nursing theories interrelate. The book is designed to help nurses apply nursing concepts and theories to actual practice. The text was written by nursing scholars who serve as secondary sources for the nurse theorists and their work. These scholars provide an interpretation of the nursing theory, present the meaning of the theoretical concepts, provide an example of how the theory can be applied in actual
AORN JOURNAL
nursing practice, discuss whether the theory meets the seven characteristics of a theory, and explain how the theory relates to the nursing process. I believe the use of the secondary sources is a major limitation. It leaves too much to interpretation of the theory, and that can lead to misinterpretation or misrepresentation of a theorist’s work. The format of this book appears to be well organized. It begins with an explanation of nursing theory and how the nursing process complements nursing theory. Chapters three through 20 present the nursing theorists and their work. Each chapter begins with a short biography of the nurse theorist. This is one of the most interesting parts of the book. It helps the reader understand the reason for theory development by each theorist and why their beliefs about nursing and theory exist. The format varies somewhat between chapters, and this is a limitation of the chapter presentation. For example, some chapters discuss the seven characteristics of a theory, provide a discussion of the limitations of a particular theory, and end with a summary. Other chapters combine it all without delineation so it is very difficult to follow. This book provides illustrations of the theoretical concepts and how they interrelate. This helps the reader visualize the connection, although some illustrations are extremely complicated and could overwhelm the reader. There are several positive aspects of this book. The glossary at the end is quite helpful. The physical appearance is appealing. The chapters are as concise as possible, and the print is an appropriate size for visual comfort. This book is valuable for graduate-level nursing students and nurses who want a theoretical base to validate their professional practice. The text may be considered “dry” by those not involved with nursing theory. The extensive references are appropriate and as recent as possible. This edition presents three more theorists than the second edition. It also gives a brief overview of the new and upcoming theories and their particular stage of development. The style and use of language are appropriate for this type of book. Some of the language becomes cumbersome, but this is resolved by looking at the glossary. The writing is clear and 1275