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Quality assurance
BOOK REVIEWS
Quality Assurance. Diana Sale. MacMillan
465
(1990). Price E6.99. ISBN 0333-464052.
Diana Sale’s book provides readers with a sound basis for understanding the concept of “quality assurance”. The book is divided into eight, referenced chapters which overtlow with useful diagrams, examples from quality assurance tools and exercises to facilitate learning and the design of quality assurance programmes. In the first chapter Diana Sale provides an historical background to quality assurance in health care, definitions of quality assurance and a rationale for the assessment of care. The following six chapters are devoted to the description of various techniques used to assess the quality of nursing care. These include standard setting, quality circles, audit, pre-determined tools such as Monitor and Qualpacs and computerized nursing systems. Each of these chapters is informative, practical and presents the pros and cons of each approach succinctly. The final chapter links quality assurance and resource management and reminds the reader of the place which “quality” plays in the U.K.‘s National Health Service. I would recommend this book, as an essential reader, to practitioners at all levels. LE MAY, Ph.D., BSc., R.G.N., University of Surrey, Guildford, U.K.
ANDREE
Lecturer in Nursing, Dept qf Nursing and Midwifery,
The Challenge of Ageing. A Multidisciplinary Approach to Extended Care (2nd Edn). Marion Shaw (Ed). Churchill Livingstone, Melbourne (1991). Price ElO.95. ISBN 0 443 04357 4.
This edited volume, although directed towards an Australian readership, addresses issues relevant to all those caring for elderly people. The book covers, comprehensively, a wide range of issues important in the acute, rehabilitative and continuing care settings. It presents a balanced view of institutional and community care and, as the title suggests, places an emphasis on multidisciplinary team working. Within the 19 chapters there is a richness of choice, ranging from Jennifer Gibbon’s chapter on Sensory Changes to Doreen Bauer’s chapter which focuses on Residential Continuing Care. Most of the chapters include a reference list which is supplemented by a bibliography at the end of the book. This book presents a sensitive and practical guide to the challenges of ageing. The emphasis on multidisciplinary co-operation is refreshing. I would recommend this to all those who care for old people, in institutional or community settings. LE MAY, Ph.D, B.Sc., R.G.N., University of Surrey, Guildford, U.K.
ANDREE
Pain. A HundbookJor
Lecturer in Nursing, Dept of Nursing and Midwifery,
Nurses (2nd Edn). Beatrice Sofaer. Chapman
and Hall (1992). Price f10.95
This is a long awaited 2nd Edn, not least because all the pages are falling out of my old copy. It remains true to the 1st Edn, with the addition of some new references, diagrams and text in particular sections. It is, like the 1st Edn, a very useful, readable introductory text. Although most readers would progress to require more detailed information, if the areas Dr Sofaer highlights were part of everyday practice, the pain management of people with pain would undoubtedly improve. The uniqueness of the individual is stressed, and a useful example of a pain assessment chart is included. The feelings
Quality Assurance. Diana Sale. MacMillan
465
(1990). Price E6.99. ISBN 0333-464052.
Diana Sale’s book provides readers with a sound basis for understanding the concept of “quality assurance”. The book is divided into eight, referenced chapters which overtlow with useful diagrams, examples from quality assurance tools and exercises to facilitate learning and the design of quality assurance programmes. In the first chapter Diana Sale provides an historical background to quality assurance in health care, definitions of quality assurance and a rationale for the assessment of care. The following six chapters are devoted to the description of various techniques used to assess the quality of nursing care. These include standard setting, quality circles, audit, pre-determined tools such as Monitor and Qualpacs and computerized nursing systems. Each of these chapters is informative, practical and presents the pros and cons of each approach succinctly. The final chapter links quality assurance and resource management and reminds the reader of the place which “quality” plays in the U.K.‘s National Health Service. I would recommend this book, as an essential reader, to practitioners at all levels. LE MAY, Ph.D., BSc., R.G.N., University of Surrey, Guildford, U.K.
ANDREE
Lecturer in Nursing, Dept qf Nursing and Midwifery,
The Challenge of Ageing. A Multidisciplinary Approach to Extended Care (2nd Edn). Marion Shaw (Ed). Churchill Livingstone, Melbourne (1991). Price ElO.95. ISBN 0 443 04357 4.
This edited volume, although directed towards an Australian readership, addresses issues relevant to all those caring for elderly people. The book covers, comprehensively, a wide range of issues important in the acute, rehabilitative and continuing care settings. It presents a balanced view of institutional and community care and, as the title suggests, places an emphasis on multidisciplinary team working. Within the 19 chapters there is a richness of choice, ranging from Jennifer Gibbon’s chapter on Sensory Changes to Doreen Bauer’s chapter which focuses on Residential Continuing Care. Most of the chapters include a reference list which is supplemented by a bibliography at the end of the book. This book presents a sensitive and practical guide to the challenges of ageing. The emphasis on multidisciplinary co-operation is refreshing. I would recommend this to all those who care for old people, in institutional or community settings. LE MAY, Ph.D, B.Sc., R.G.N., University of Surrey, Guildford, U.K.
ANDREE
Pain. A HundbookJor
Lecturer in Nursing, Dept of Nursing and Midwifery,
Nurses (2nd Edn). Beatrice Sofaer. Chapman
and Hall (1992). Price f10.95
This is a long awaited 2nd Edn, not least because all the pages are falling out of my old copy. It remains true to the 1st Edn, with the addition of some new references, diagrams and text in particular sections. It is, like the 1st Edn, a very useful, readable introductory text. Although most readers would progress to require more detailed information, if the areas Dr Sofaer highlights were part of everyday practice, the pain management of people with pain would undoubtedly improve. The uniqueness of the individual is stressed, and a useful example of a pain assessment chart is included. The feelings