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The growth chart: A tool for use in infant and child health care
NURSE
ity to reflect on both the research design and the presented results. Much of the report reiterates long-standing concerns about the adequacy of preparation for the role of staff nurse and the key part played in this by the ward sister. However, the report does indicate a way forward that is both positive and encouraging - a way forward that the authors claim might raise standards of care, enhance the personal and professional development of individuals and reduce staff wastage. Many of the detailed findings are presented in tabular form which on the whole works well. It is a pity that such an important and generally impressive document has a number of spelling and grammatical errors within it. There is a dearth of commas where these might have been useful in directing the reader and the glossary is incomplete. It is unfortunate also that the terms of reference are hidden within the glossary rather than being readily identifiable. However, such criticisms do not detract seriously from the importance and relevance of this major study for all qualified nurses.
EDUCATION
TODAY
55
on one page (p. 33) where reference is made to ‘grass-roots health visitors’! For those nurses already familiar with and interested in the nursing process I feel this report offers nothing new. For those nurses not so committed I think the lack of clarity and rigour within the report does nothing to commend it. HELEN A CHALMERS
BA SRN R.hfT DipJvurs Mosby’s Comprehensive Review 12E D F Saxton C V Mosby 1987 955pp ISBN: O-80164703-7
of Nursing
El8.50
This book has a clear coherent presentation and sequencing. When diagrams are used they enhance the text, though they could have been used more widely and to greater advantage. Some subject areas are quite complex and may be difftcult for students to tackle single handed without a good background in chemistry and physics; examples of this are the HELEN A CHALMERS section on renal physiology and the section on circulatory physiology. BA SR.N RNT DipNun It is doubtful whether this book would have any real value to nurses in this country, because the examination system varies from hospital to hospital Report of the Nursing Process Evaluation as each develops their own assessment system and Working Group. NFXU Report No. 5 moves towards continuous assessment. As an aide J Hayward memoire it would be useful in the library but it Kings College, London would not encourage critical thinking in students or 1986 42pp E4.95 development of writing skills which are an important component in nursing. Having approached this report with considerable The book is an expensive book for what it offers enthusiasm, I was extremely disappointed at what I and might best be used as a check on knowledge found within it. The value of much of the informabase. tion presented is impossible to determine because it is often unclear which views come from the working CHERYL MYLES group itself, which from the literature and which SRN SCM RNT DipEd from anecdotal evidence. Phrases such as ‘It is our impression that. . .’ and ‘We heard that.. .’ are too The Growth Chart: A Tool For Use in Xnfant frequently left without reference to the method of data collection. and Child Health Care World Health Organisation Although organised into seven chapters and num1986 33pp Illus ISBN: 924154208 bered paragraphs (l-200), there are many instances Sw.fr. 12.00 when the report lacks clarity and reads like a series of unconnected items. The point being made is This manual is of limited practical value in the therefore difficult to ascertain with any confidence. United Kingdom where Tanner-Whitehouse (1970) The report comments on the ‘widespread misungrowth and development records are used. However, derstanding’ about models of nursing and yet in the the principles of monitoring growth are well exsame sentence claims that the Working Group heard plained as are the use of growth charts. This manual little about the use of nursing models. Perhaps of should be essential reading for nurses considering even more concern is the muddled use of the terms employment in the Third World. nursing model and nursing process within the report itself. This is especially evident in the section concerning health visiting (paras. 158-165). The text contains a number of errors; there are at least seven
ALISON E WHILE
BSs MSc PhD SRN HVCert
ity to reflect on both the research design and the presented results. Much of the report reiterates long-standing concerns about the adequacy of preparation for the role of staff nurse and the key part played in this by the ward sister. However, the report does indicate a way forward that is both positive and encouraging - a way forward that the authors claim might raise standards of care, enhance the personal and professional development of individuals and reduce staff wastage. Many of the detailed findings are presented in tabular form which on the whole works well. It is a pity that such an important and generally impressive document has a number of spelling and grammatical errors within it. There is a dearth of commas where these might have been useful in directing the reader and the glossary is incomplete. It is unfortunate also that the terms of reference are hidden within the glossary rather than being readily identifiable. However, such criticisms do not detract seriously from the importance and relevance of this major study for all qualified nurses.
EDUCATION
TODAY
55
on one page (p. 33) where reference is made to ‘grass-roots health visitors’! For those nurses already familiar with and interested in the nursing process I feel this report offers nothing new. For those nurses not so committed I think the lack of clarity and rigour within the report does nothing to commend it. HELEN A CHALMERS
BA SRN R.hfT DipJvurs Mosby’s Comprehensive Review 12E D F Saxton C V Mosby 1987 955pp ISBN: O-80164703-7
of Nursing
El8.50
This book has a clear coherent presentation and sequencing. When diagrams are used they enhance the text, though they could have been used more widely and to greater advantage. Some subject areas are quite complex and may be difftcult for students to tackle single handed without a good background in chemistry and physics; examples of this are the HELEN A CHALMERS section on renal physiology and the section on circulatory physiology. BA SR.N RNT DipNun It is doubtful whether this book would have any real value to nurses in this country, because the examination system varies from hospital to hospital Report of the Nursing Process Evaluation as each develops their own assessment system and Working Group. NFXU Report No. 5 moves towards continuous assessment. As an aide J Hayward memoire it would be useful in the library but it Kings College, London would not encourage critical thinking in students or 1986 42pp E4.95 development of writing skills which are an important component in nursing. Having approached this report with considerable The book is an expensive book for what it offers enthusiasm, I was extremely disappointed at what I and might best be used as a check on knowledge found within it. The value of much of the informabase. tion presented is impossible to determine because it is often unclear which views come from the working CHERYL MYLES group itself, which from the literature and which SRN SCM RNT DipEd from anecdotal evidence. Phrases such as ‘It is our impression that. . .’ and ‘We heard that.. .’ are too The Growth Chart: A Tool For Use in Xnfant frequently left without reference to the method of data collection. and Child Health Care World Health Organisation Although organised into seven chapters and num1986 33pp Illus ISBN: 924154208 bered paragraphs (l-200), there are many instances Sw.fr. 12.00 when the report lacks clarity and reads like a series of unconnected items. The point being made is This manual is of limited practical value in the therefore difficult to ascertain with any confidence. United Kingdom where Tanner-Whitehouse (1970) The report comments on the ‘widespread misungrowth and development records are used. However, derstanding’ about models of nursing and yet in the the principles of monitoring growth are well exsame sentence claims that the Working Group heard plained as are the use of growth charts. This manual little about the use of nursing models. Perhaps of should be essential reading for nurses considering even more concern is the muddled use of the terms employment in the Third World. nursing model and nursing process within the report itself. This is especially evident in the section concerning health visiting (paras. 158-165). The text contains a number of errors; there are at least seven
ALISON E WHILE
BSs MSc PhD SRN HVCert