- Email: [email protected]
The Art of Caring
NOVEMBER 2000, VOL 72, NO 5 REVIEWS
THE ART OF CARING By Barbara M. Dossey, Lynn Keegan, Cathie Guzzetta 1996 $39.95
R
elaxation, a practiced therapy, includes the three modalities of self-mind, body, and spirit. This four-cassette set guides the listener on a journey through relaxation, imagery, music therapy, and touch involving the three modalities of self. The narrators act as teachers and guides for the listener. They explain each of the four therapies, and then guide the listener through different practice sessions. Each tape is well organized and beautifully narrated in language that should be easy for most listeners to understand. Throughout each tape, the listener is encouraged to slow down, breathe deeply, and notice the effects of each technique. Breathing becomes deeper, slower, and effortless. Heart rate slows. Eyelids become heavy as the listener allows himself or herself to journey with the narrator through various images, sounds, and feelings. The listener focuses on the narrators’ voices and follows simple instructions until a state of total relaxation is achieved. The narrators remind the listener to personalize each technique and
session. Although the cassettes are generic, the imagery and feelings of the listener are private. Listeners are taught to care for their selves before caring for others or dealing with life’s stresses. Using a personal, quiet, comfortable place to practice the techniques is recommended. The narrators encourage positive thoughts and images, as well as protection of self from negative actions and reactions. This audiotape set helps the listener discover where he or she physically, mentally, and spiritually needs care. Researchers explain how to recognize discomfort and focus energy to that particular area. Grasping this concept is the easy part, but using the techniques offered requires quiet time and practice. The only problem with the tapes is the inability to see a demonstration of touch therapy, as it is difficult to envision and at times requires the assistance of another person. The directions were understandable, but not easy to implement. With the narrators’ calming voices and deliberate speech, the cassettes will provide an enjoyable experience for the listener. It is practically impossible to remain tense while listening. The narrators have a tremendous command of language, making it easy to envision their descriptions. Anyone who has the opportunity to enjoy this series will benefit from the techniques and sessions offered. After the
917 AORN JOURNAL
listener masters the practice sessions and is comfortable, he or she can share these techniques with others. Health care providers will be able to share the techniques with coworkers and patients. To heal, one must heal all parts of the self-mind, body, and spirit. These techniques can be employed in any quiet setting, even at the bedside. The narrators suggest that permission be obtained before using touch therapy on others. These therapies have been used with acute myocardial infarction patients, chemotherapy patients, and cardiac catheterization patients to lessen apprehension and reduce discomfort. Patients can be taught all of the techniques or only those that appeal to them. Caring for the whole patient-mind, body, and spirit-helps the patient learn how to cope with pain or discomfort. Alternative therapies have been shown to be effective in pain management by decreasing the amount of medication needed and increasing the patient’s capacity to deal with discomfort in nontraditional ways. This audiotape collection is available from Sounds True, Inc, 735 Walnut St, Boulder, CO 80302; (303) 449-6229. C Y N T H I A CONNELLY RN, C N O R MANAGER OF SURGICAL SERVICES MOUNTAINSIDE MEDICAL CENTER JASPER, GA
THE ART OF CARING By Barbara M. Dossey, Lynn Keegan, Cathie Guzzetta 1996 $39.95
R
elaxation, a practiced therapy, includes the three modalities of self-mind, body, and spirit. This four-cassette set guides the listener on a journey through relaxation, imagery, music therapy, and touch involving the three modalities of self. The narrators act as teachers and guides for the listener. They explain each of the four therapies, and then guide the listener through different practice sessions. Each tape is well organized and beautifully narrated in language that should be easy for most listeners to understand. Throughout each tape, the listener is encouraged to slow down, breathe deeply, and notice the effects of each technique. Breathing becomes deeper, slower, and effortless. Heart rate slows. Eyelids become heavy as the listener allows himself or herself to journey with the narrator through various images, sounds, and feelings. The listener focuses on the narrators’ voices and follows simple instructions until a state of total relaxation is achieved. The narrators remind the listener to personalize each technique and
session. Although the cassettes are generic, the imagery and feelings of the listener are private. Listeners are taught to care for their selves before caring for others or dealing with life’s stresses. Using a personal, quiet, comfortable place to practice the techniques is recommended. The narrators encourage positive thoughts and images, as well as protection of self from negative actions and reactions. This audiotape set helps the listener discover where he or she physically, mentally, and spiritually needs care. Researchers explain how to recognize discomfort and focus energy to that particular area. Grasping this concept is the easy part, but using the techniques offered requires quiet time and practice. The only problem with the tapes is the inability to see a demonstration of touch therapy, as it is difficult to envision and at times requires the assistance of another person. The directions were understandable, but not easy to implement. With the narrators’ calming voices and deliberate speech, the cassettes will provide an enjoyable experience for the listener. It is practically impossible to remain tense while listening. The narrators have a tremendous command of language, making it easy to envision their descriptions. Anyone who has the opportunity to enjoy this series will benefit from the techniques and sessions offered. After the
917 AORN JOURNAL
listener masters the practice sessions and is comfortable, he or she can share these techniques with others. Health care providers will be able to share the techniques with coworkers and patients. To heal, one must heal all parts of the self-mind, body, and spirit. These techniques can be employed in any quiet setting, even at the bedside. The narrators suggest that permission be obtained before using touch therapy on others. These therapies have been used with acute myocardial infarction patients, chemotherapy patients, and cardiac catheterization patients to lessen apprehension and reduce discomfort. Patients can be taught all of the techniques or only those that appeal to them. Caring for the whole patient-mind, body, and spirit-helps the patient learn how to cope with pain or discomfort. Alternative therapies have been shown to be effective in pain management by decreasing the amount of medication needed and increasing the patient’s capacity to deal with discomfort in nontraditional ways. This audiotape collection is available from Sounds True, Inc, 735 Walnut St, Boulder, CO 80302; (303) 449-6229. C Y N T H I A CONNELLY RN, C N O R MANAGER OF SURGICAL SERVICES MOUNTAINSIDE MEDICAL CENTER JASPER, GA