Toohey's medicine for nurses. 14th edition

Toohey's medicine for nurses. 14th edition

142 NURSE EDUCATION TODAY Social Skills Training and Psychiatric Nursing 0 Hargie & P McCartan Groom Helm 1986 258pp Illus &IO.95 The back cover o...

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142

NURSE

EDUCATION

TODAY

Social Skills Training and Psychiatric Nursing 0 Hargie & P McCartan Groom Helm 1986 258pp Illus &IO.95 The back cover of this book states that it is ‘aimed at both trained and student psychiatric nurses and should fill a significant gap in the literature’, it fulfills this aim admirably. The book addresses the use of Social Skills Training (SST) in psychiatric nursing care, and the first four chapters set the scene for this approach. Social skills are explained and the process of social skills acauisition examined. The role of the nsvchiatric nurse is reviewed, and interpersonal interaction outlined. All this indicates the significance of SST in psychiatric care. The following live chapters ~ well over half the book - describe the process of designing an SST programme, and focus on core social skills and the skills of coping and responding. Topics such as contracts and ethical issues are discussed. The Denultimate chanter describes and exnlains exercises which may be used in SST programmes. The style of the book makes it easily read and a wealth of appropriate references are included in the text. Each chanter concludes with a summarv of the main issues, and excellent everyday examples are employed to illustrate points. I would recommend this text to the target audience (including teachers) but on a note of caution, would draw readers attention to the short, but significant, final chapter. Thorough preparation and wholehearted commitment are the keystone for all who would become involved in SST. 1

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would help students themselves cope with their own stressful situations. Similarly, to devote only seven pages to the subject of ‘communication’ seems to conflict with the statement on the book’s cover. which states that ‘communication skills are at the centre of current developments in nursing education and practice .‘. To be fair, however, references are provided at the end of each chapter, which would help the student build upon the basic principles which the book provides. Overall, this book is comprehensive, well presented and easy to read. It represents good value for money and can be recommended.

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LYXN

BEd(Hons)

COI’GLT’I-

SRN DN(Lond) CertEd

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BLAIR COLLISTER MSc SR.N RMN R.NT

Psychology for Nurses Annie Altschul & Helen Sinclair Bailliere Tindall 1986 355pp F3.50 The authors claim that the book is designed as an introduction to the study of psychology for all nurses. I would fully support their assertion, as student nurses during the early stages of any course leading to registration would find this particular text of value. Chapter 2 deals adequately with the concept of ‘needs’ and helpfully relates models of nursing to identification of patients’ needs. The paragraphs on stress and anxiety, however, merit much more detail; the approach is too superficial and would have been enhanced by a section on ‘coping with stress’ which

Toohey’s Medicine A Bloom & S Bloom Churchill Livingstone 1986 335pp Illus

for Nurses.

14th Edition

Q0.95

Toohey’s Medicine for Nurses has been in print for over 30 years and this is the 14th revised and updated edition. Its aims are to help nurses understand the nature of their patients’ illnesses and medical treatment and claims to contain all the information a trainee nurse requires for examinations about medical conditions. The book is written by two doctors with no acknowledged specialist nursing input and consequently the text dealing with patient management is based very much on a medical model of care. The information it contains is, however, clear and concise and the book could prove useful for reference and revision purposes with regard to aetiology, clinical features and major forms of medical treatment. It does contain some useful diagrams which should enhance understanding of the various conditions discussed, but a number of the photographs depicting treatment and care appear posed and unrealistic. I would not recommend this book for purchase by student nurses or suggest their reliance on it as a main textbook on medical nursing, given the excellent standard of alternative nursing textbooks now available which are firmly based on a nursing model of care. CAROLINE CARLISLE MSc BA RGN SCM .NDN Cert R.NT