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Psychology for nurses and the caring professionals
100 Midwifery positive and negative aspects of supervision. A small number have presented more jaundiced, biased views, which have the value of demonstrating the range of approaches with which supervisors are faced in fulfilling their role. I am sure that these presentations stimulated lively discussion within the working groups on just what, who, how, and when should supervision occur. The conclusions and recommendations from these discussions, however, are summarised on just two pages and leave one with more questions than answers. This is not surprising, as the conference contributors reveal clearly the paucity of valid and reliable information on the role of the supervisor. The book does provide a framework for individual supervisors to reflect upon their role as seen currently, and througb this, to critically evaluate how they personally fulfil it. As such it makes interesting and useful reading for all midwives.
Adrienne Bolton BA, MEd, RM, MTD
A Short History of Clinical Midwifery Philip Rhodes Booksfor Midwives Press, 1995, 1st edn. ISBN 1898507-22-8, 200pages. Price ;£i7.95 This easy-to-read book makes it ideal to dip into to gain insight into the progression of obstetrics, from Hippocrates' time, to present day trends. The book charts how men became more and more involved in what was once an exclusive female domain. It describes the events leading up to the invention of obstetric forceps, the first use of anaesthetics in childbirth and charts the prevention of puerperal fever. The history behind these changes makes fascinating reading, if only to realise how many of these changes were made by men. Some were for the good of midwifery, but equally some were to its detriment. Some of the references to the more up-to-date changes seemed to lack substance and I was surprised not to find reference to either Towler & Bramall (1986) or Donninson (1988), two important historical texts. Overall, however, I feel this book is useful and could find a place in a midwifery library.
Lucinda Powls R GN, RM, ADM, MA
REFERENCES Donnison J 1988 Midwives and medical men, a history of the struggle for the control of childbirth, 2nd edn. Historicol Publications, London TowlerJ, BramallJ 1986 Midwives, history and society. Croom Helm, London
contributed to a series of national conferences (1994-1995) on the issue of consumer views of the maternity services within the UK. The papers are arranged under the areas o~. the key to success in consultation, research methods used in consultation, consulting hard to reach groups, and research in practice. Many of the contributors are acknowledged experts within their field. Kate Jackson's paper places consumer satisfaction within the context of changing childbirth, Jo Garcia covers quantitative methods used, Ann Cartwright discusses the use of postal questionnaires and Carole Baxter reviews ethnocentric research. All the papers are short and the majority include useful reference lists. The conferences themselves were to an invited audience of those most immediately involved in consulting consumers. This book disseminates the information to a wider audience and will be of interest to the increasing numbers of midwives who are involved in developing strategies for the involvement of consumers in the provision of quality maternity services.
MargaretLynch BA, MSc, RM, MTD
Communicating Midwifery Caroline Flint Bookfor Midwives, Haigh & Hockland, 1995, 1st edn. ISBN 1-898507-19-8, 000 pages. Price £12.95 This is the latest offering from the irrepressible Caroline Flint. The book consists of a collection of papers on a variety of midwifery issues in which the author has been involved. The contents are a fascinating insight into the mind of someone for whom tree midwifery care is, and always has been, a burning issue. It is salutory for all of us, to find, in hindsight, that current issues which are changing the face of midwifery care, are the very same issues about which Caroline was writing over ten years ago! Some midwives may find it reassuring to find that Caroline has had to overcome resistance from managers and colleagues on her way to helping midwives to improve their services to women, and may feel a revival of hope and inspiration from the realisation that changes can be brought about if you are determined and strong enough to make them happen. This book should be used to exemplify the forces which can be brought to bear by midwives who wish to promote their art, and retain the full autonomy and professionalism of the midwife.
Erica M Hamer BEd, RM, ADM, MTD
i
Listen with Mother: Consulting Users of Maternity Services R Dodds, M Goodman
Psychology for Nurses and the Caring Professionals S Payne, J Walker
BritishJournal of Midwfery, 1995, 1st edn ISBN 1-898507-48-1,000 pages. Price ;£9.95
Open University, I996, 1st edn. ISBN 0-335194109, 228pages. Price;£00.00
This short paperback text contains the conference proceedings from more than twenty authors who
This psychology text for nurses and the caring professionals is by two authors, both nurses, who
Book Reviews I 01 practise as clinical health psychologists. Each chapter follows a uniform style, utilising an attractive range of features to hold the reader's attention. Each chapter is introduced by way of a series of key headings noting the issues to be addressed. Thereafter, subheadings identify those being considered. A summary of the main points is given at the chapter's end. The writing style is very readable. The factual content is interspersed with the key questions, where the reader reflects on issues raised previously and undertakes a short written exercise. Further strategies to facilitate an active dialogue between author and reader include the use of several case studies and research special topics, to illustrate points raised within the text. Several illustrative figures are clearly presented and referenced and at each chapter's end up to six books are noted as suggested further reading. A generic reference list is given at the end of the book. While little direct reference is made within the text to midwifery practice, this book serves as an excellent introduction to a range of health care issues including many areas of interest to midwives.
Tony Statham BEd(Hons), RMS, RMN, R N T
The Psychology of Nursing Care Neil Niven, Jill Robinson BPS Books~Macmillan Press Ltd, 1994. ISBN 0333-58355-8, 388pages. Price :£14.99 The Psychology of Nursing Care is one of the three books in a series of psychology applied to nursing. The book has twelve chapters and each one deals with psychological theory and its application to nursing practice in various settings throughout the life cycle. A research-based approach is emphasised and used throughout. Each chapter concludes with a summary of content and poses questions for further consideration. References are also listed at the end of each chapter, along with suggestions for further reading. The text is well illustrated and easily read and includes practical exercises, which would make this book useful to the student as a workbook, and encourage greater understanding. The range of psychological concepts included in this book make it an ideal text for all students of nursing, midwifery and health, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, and would also be valuable to the practitioner. MargaretAnn EstherMcClelIand RN, RM, DNC, DMAS
Adrienne Bolton BA, MEd, RM, MTD
A Short History of Clinical Midwifery Philip Rhodes Booksfor Midwives Press, 1995, 1st edn. ISBN 1898507-22-8, 200pages. Price ;£i7.95 This easy-to-read book makes it ideal to dip into to gain insight into the progression of obstetrics, from Hippocrates' time, to present day trends. The book charts how men became more and more involved in what was once an exclusive female domain. It describes the events leading up to the invention of obstetric forceps, the first use of anaesthetics in childbirth and charts the prevention of puerperal fever. The history behind these changes makes fascinating reading, if only to realise how many of these changes were made by men. Some were for the good of midwifery, but equally some were to its detriment. Some of the references to the more up-to-date changes seemed to lack substance and I was surprised not to find reference to either Towler & Bramall (1986) or Donninson (1988), two important historical texts. Overall, however, I feel this book is useful and could find a place in a midwifery library.
Lucinda Powls R GN, RM, ADM, MA
REFERENCES Donnison J 1988 Midwives and medical men, a history of the struggle for the control of childbirth, 2nd edn. Historicol Publications, London TowlerJ, BramallJ 1986 Midwives, history and society. Croom Helm, London
contributed to a series of national conferences (1994-1995) on the issue of consumer views of the maternity services within the UK. The papers are arranged under the areas o~. the key to success in consultation, research methods used in consultation, consulting hard to reach groups, and research in practice. Many of the contributors are acknowledged experts within their field. Kate Jackson's paper places consumer satisfaction within the context of changing childbirth, Jo Garcia covers quantitative methods used, Ann Cartwright discusses the use of postal questionnaires and Carole Baxter reviews ethnocentric research. All the papers are short and the majority include useful reference lists. The conferences themselves were to an invited audience of those most immediately involved in consulting consumers. This book disseminates the information to a wider audience and will be of interest to the increasing numbers of midwives who are involved in developing strategies for the involvement of consumers in the provision of quality maternity services.
MargaretLynch BA, MSc, RM, MTD
Communicating Midwifery Caroline Flint Bookfor Midwives, Haigh & Hockland, 1995, 1st edn. ISBN 1-898507-19-8, 000 pages. Price £12.95 This is the latest offering from the irrepressible Caroline Flint. The book consists of a collection of papers on a variety of midwifery issues in which the author has been involved. The contents are a fascinating insight into the mind of someone for whom tree midwifery care is, and always has been, a burning issue. It is salutory for all of us, to find, in hindsight, that current issues which are changing the face of midwifery care, are the very same issues about which Caroline was writing over ten years ago! Some midwives may find it reassuring to find that Caroline has had to overcome resistance from managers and colleagues on her way to helping midwives to improve their services to women, and may feel a revival of hope and inspiration from the realisation that changes can be brought about if you are determined and strong enough to make them happen. This book should be used to exemplify the forces which can be brought to bear by midwives who wish to promote their art, and retain the full autonomy and professionalism of the midwife.
Erica M Hamer BEd, RM, ADM, MTD
i
Listen with Mother: Consulting Users of Maternity Services R Dodds, M Goodman
Psychology for Nurses and the Caring Professionals S Payne, J Walker
BritishJournal of Midwfery, 1995, 1st edn ISBN 1-898507-48-1,000 pages. Price ;£9.95
Open University, I996, 1st edn. ISBN 0-335194109, 228pages. Price;£00.00
This short paperback text contains the conference proceedings from more than twenty authors who
This psychology text for nurses and the caring professionals is by two authors, both nurses, who
Book Reviews I 01 practise as clinical health psychologists. Each chapter follows a uniform style, utilising an attractive range of features to hold the reader's attention. Each chapter is introduced by way of a series of key headings noting the issues to be addressed. Thereafter, subheadings identify those being considered. A summary of the main points is given at the chapter's end. The writing style is very readable. The factual content is interspersed with the key questions, where the reader reflects on issues raised previously and undertakes a short written exercise. Further strategies to facilitate an active dialogue between author and reader include the use of several case studies and research special topics, to illustrate points raised within the text. Several illustrative figures are clearly presented and referenced and at each chapter's end up to six books are noted as suggested further reading. A generic reference list is given at the end of the book. While little direct reference is made within the text to midwifery practice, this book serves as an excellent introduction to a range of health care issues including many areas of interest to midwives.
Tony Statham BEd(Hons), RMS, RMN, R N T
The Psychology of Nursing Care Neil Niven, Jill Robinson BPS Books~Macmillan Press Ltd, 1994. ISBN 0333-58355-8, 388pages. Price :£14.99 The Psychology of Nursing Care is one of the three books in a series of psychology applied to nursing. The book has twelve chapters and each one deals with psychological theory and its application to nursing practice in various settings throughout the life cycle. A research-based approach is emphasised and used throughout. Each chapter concludes with a summary of content and poses questions for further consideration. References are also listed at the end of each chapter, along with suggestions for further reading. The text is well illustrated and easily read and includes practical exercises, which would make this book useful to the student as a workbook, and encourage greater understanding. The range of psychological concepts included in this book make it an ideal text for all students of nursing, midwifery and health, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, and would also be valuable to the practitioner. MargaretAnn EstherMcClelIand RN, RM, DNC, DMAS