Monitoring the Critically Ill Patient

Media Reviews

Edited by Graham Williamson

Promotion of Mental Health Volume 7,2000by Michael C. Murray andColin A. Reed.Ashgate Publishing, Hampshire, 2001,288 pages, £47Æ50, ISBN 0 754 61722 X.

This book is a collection of conferenceproceedings: as specified in the title, theseventh such, all of which took place inthe last decade of the 20th century.Twenty-two contributors are based inthe UK, nine in the rest of Europeand three in Australia. There is littleevidence of editing, as the 27 papers arein no discernible order or grouping. Thisis a pity as it decreases the possibility ofattracting a wider readership to an areaof major importance. The papers coverconceptual issues, literature reviews,and reports of implementing one orother aspect of mental health promo-tion. The paper by the senior editorwould have served as a useful introduc-tion, with that by Killoran-Ross as apostscript. Several papers address thequestion of what mental health promo-tion is and is not. Mauthner et al., in auseful literature review, mention that‘Perhaps the most well-rehearsed debatehere is whether mental health promo-tion concerns the promotion of positivemental health, the prevention of mentalheath problems, or both of these’. As isto be expected in a fairly new areawhich has to fight its corner for fund-ing – despite successive governmentsloudly declaiming the high priority theyafford (overall) health promotion –definitions, frameworks and modelsvary enormously. However, as we enterthe 21st century, there is evidence ofsome degree of consensus, to which thecontributors to this book have made nosmall contribution.

I would see this collection as being auseful addition to undergraduate andpostgraduate reading lists, and alsomaking a useful contribution to con-tinuing professional development.

John SmithLeonard Cheshire Dorchester Homes,UK

Guided Reflection: Advancing Practiceby Christopher Johns.Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, 2002,256 pages, £24Æ95,ISBN 0 632 05975 3.

This book builds upon Johns’ previousworks, where he explored the concept ofreflective practice. Within this text Johnsutilizes his own PhD work to provide aninsight into the concept of guided reflec-tion. Johns describes the concept as aprocess of self-inquiry, using guidedreflective sessions which focus upon realpractice issues. It has the potential tobecome an important text for practi-tioners, as reflection is now widelyclaimed to be an essential part of learn-ing to be a nurse.

The book is presented in three sec-tions. The first examines Johns’ ownPhD work, defining guided reflectionand exploring his model of structuredreflection. This section does not presenta ‘how to do’ model, rather an explora-tion of the philosophical underpinningsof reflection. The second section con-tains a collection of narratives writtenby practitioners from seven varied prac-tice settings. The narratives present aview of the practitioners’ experiences ofusing guided theory to enable themto become more effective in practice.The narratives provide an excellent rep-resentation of the reflective journeysundertaken whilst developing theirown careers as effective practitioners.The third section explores the signifi-cance of the individual narratives fromJohns’ perspective. He examines thevalue of the narratives in the practi-tioner’s self-development, and also thedifferent guidance styles that emerged.Dawn Freshwater contributes the finalchapter, giving an insight into her ownthoughts regarding the narratives, andher views on guided reflection.

This is not an interactive book assuch, but Johns invites the reader ‘todialogue’ with the text. This was easyto do as the narratives lead the reader toengage in reflective periods inspired bythe practice and professional examplesare offered.

For those professionals already famil-iar with the concept of reflective practicethis text is a valuable tool that developsself-inquiry skills.

Lesley JoyceUniversity of Hull, UK

Chronic and Terminal Illnessedited by Sheila Payne and CarolineEllis-Hill.Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2001,170 pages, £24Æ95, ISBN 0 192 63167 5.

This is a valuable book for students ofpalliative care, and health and socialscience studies. Research and theoriesabout caring are presented, focusing onthe experiences of informal carers whoprovide personal, domestic and emo-tional care. It is not about ‘how to care’;nevertheless, chapters include valuableexploration of the implications for prac-tice, providing suggestions and recom-mendations for practice and education.

Rather than the pathological conceptof burden, the positive aspects of caringare noted. Using the carers’ assessmentof satisfaction index (CASI), Nolanreminds readers of the rewards forcarers who receive reciprocal supportfrom the cared for. Ellis-Hill’s investi-gation into ‘biographical disruption’identifies how responsibility for rehabili-tation falls on the family; consequently,life-style choices need to be consideredin stroke rehabilitation.

Two qualitative studies address palli-ative care. Rose expands on Hanratty’s‘three Cs’ (Hanratty 1989, p. 3): com-passion, competence and constant atten-tion to detail, and identifies eight factorsto guide nursing (communication, colla-boration, commitment, consistency, con-fidence, consideration, control, context).

322 � 2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Smith notes the ambiguity associatedwith the term carer, which is also usedfor lay carers. Chapter six explores acutecrises, resulting in death, in critical careareas. Family experience at times oforgan donation results in conflict andresolution, leading to dissonant loss. Twochapters investigate a global gender- andeducation-based perspective, addressingcontemporary issues relating to publicpolicy and palliative care. The editors’concluding chapter draws the themestogether and reminds readers that meth-odology influences subsequent findings.

An excellent book that would havebenefited from rigorous proofreading toavoid irritating errors and obscuredmeaning.

Moyra A. BaldwinChester College of Higher Education,UK

Reference

Hanratty J. (1989) Palliative Care of theTerminally Ill. Radcliffe Medical Press,

Oxford.

Monitoring the Critically Ill Patientby Phil Jevon and Beverley Ewens.Blackwell Science, Oxford, 2002,228 pages, £13Æ99, ISBN 0 632 05803 X.

Critical care nursing is no longer con-fined to the physical surroundings thatmake up critical care units. Critical carenursing now refers to the continuingnursing care being delivered to a grow-ing number of patients regardless of thelocation in which that care is delivered.The principle consequence of this philo-sophical shift and change in practice isthat ward nurses are now expected todevelop greater knowledge, understand-ing and technical skills when caring forand monitoring more dependent pa-tients. This is the declared principleunderpinning this book.

Each of the 12 chapters focuses onone aspect of monitoring critically illpatients, including a useful chapter onmonitoring during transfer. The mater-ial is presented in a style which is easy toread and comprehend, with effective use

of bullet points, tables and figures. Thismakes the book easily accessible tostudents and nurses at all levels.

There are currently a large number ofbooks available focusing on monitoringcritically ill patients, so it is important toconsider how this book differs from itscompetitors. Although the authors claimto be focusing on the needs of wardnurses, the content differs little fromthat in a number of alternative texts.This is not surprising because the prin-ciples and practice of monitoring do notchange when the patient leaves thecritical care unit.

Despite the slightly misleading focus,the compact nature of the book willmake it a useful reference for thoseresponsible for monitoring critically illor potentially critically ill patients,wherever nursing care is delivered.

Leslie GellingUniversity of Cambridge, UK

Media Reviews

� 2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Advanced Nursing, 43(3), 322–323 323