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NOVEMBER 1989, VOL. 50, NO 5 AORN JOURNAL from W B Saunders Co, W Washington Sq, Philadelphia, PA 19105. SHIRLEY MOORE, RN, MSN FACULTY BARNES HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING ST LOUIS Anyone Can Intubate By Christine E. Whitten 1989, 150pp $14.95 paperback The author of Anyone Can Intubate is a well- qualified and experienced anesthesiologist from Kaiser Permanente in San Diego. Her style is straightforward. The sentences are short and to the point. Her language is simple and directed to various professionals and paraprofessionals, including nursing students, medical students, paramedics, anesthesia residents, and certified registered nurse anesthetists. During the 10 or more years that the American Heart Association has sponsored advanced cardiac life support training, I do not recall seeing such a systematic and concise account of intubation. The 150-page paperback represents detailed instruction that is sorely needed in the appren- ticeship of life support. It is a quick reference for students. The text follows an organized logical sequence, beginning with an anatomical review, and moving into preintubation evaluation and equipment functions. Areas of particular interest concern errors to avoid and expert techniques on intubating the obese, the edentulous, patients who are bleeding, and patients with overbites. During courses, mannequins are used to simulate the person in distress who needs intubation and ventilation. The discussion regarding the difference between the mannequin and a human oropharynx often is not mentioned in texts. Here, Dr Whitten explains the differences, including the weights of the head and neck, the color of the mucous membranesduring intubation, tongue placement, and the psychology of the health care giver at the time of intubation. This discussion is extremely valuable. There are 125 diagrams throughout the text that are arranged to provide a step-by-step process for the learner. The book also includes drawings of all pieces of equipment and explanations of their use. There are four major charts that are simple and easy to read. They include comparisons of infant and adult airways; sizes of pediatric tubes, and evidence of airway obstruction and compli- cations during the intubation process, while the patient is intubated, and after intubation. The charts emphasize essential safety points that nurses should be aware of when intubating a patient. Clinically, the content is correct in all areas. The sections on preintubation evaluation and predicting the difficult airway by using the patient’s medical history and physical size are particularly well written. One section on emergency intubation helps the health care giver who has to intubate a patient without the luxury of a history and physical. Overall, the text is well worth its price. Each chapter is accompanied by a bibliography that may assist the novice in becoming the expert he or she needs to be in performing intubation. The book is available from Medical Arts Press, 1 1532 Alkaid Dr, San Diego, CA 92126. MARIAN SHAUGHNESSY, RN, MSN, CNOR NURSE CONSULTANT SHAKER HEIGHTS, OHIO EDUCATION Creating the Future of Health Care Education By Franck L. Ulschak 1988, 176pp $35 paperback Based on the premise that we are in an era bracketed between the past and the future, the author explores the effect of prospective pricing systems on health care industry educators. This composite of survey analysis, interaction exercises for the reader, and conceptual models for adapting to change indicates that health care education has made significant improvement in the past five years. In education-a never-ending process both individually and professional1 y-everything we do today lays a foundation for the future. 1127

Creating the Future of Health Care Education

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NOVEMBER 1989, VOL. 50, NO 5 AORN JOURNAL

from W B Saunders Co, W Washington Sq, Philadelphia, PA 19105.

SHIRLEY MOORE, RN, MSN FACULTY

BARNES HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING ST LOUIS

Anyone Can Intubate By Christine E. Whitten 1989, 150pp $14.95 paperback

The author of Anyone Can Intubate is a well- qualified and experienced anesthesiologist from Kaiser Permanente in San Diego. Her style is straightforward. The sentences are short and to the point. Her language is simple and directed to various professionals and paraprofessionals, including nursing students, medical students, paramedics, anesthesia residents, and certified registered nurse anesthetists.

During the 10 or more years that the American Heart Association has sponsored advanced cardiac life support training, I do not recall seeing such a systematic and concise account of intubation. The 150-page paperback represents detailed instruction that is sorely needed in the appren- ticeship of life support. It is a quick reference for students.

The text follows an organized logical sequence, beginning with an anatomical review, and moving into preintubation evaluation and equipment functions. Areas of particular interest concern errors to avoid and expert techniques on intubating the obese, the edentulous, patients who are bleeding, and patients with overbites.

During courses, mannequins are used to simulate the person in distress who needs intubation and ventilation. The discussion regarding the difference between the mannequin and a human oropharynx often is not mentioned in texts. Here, Dr Whitten explains the differences, including the weights of the head and neck, the color of the mucous membranes during intubation, tongue placement, and the psychology of the health care giver at the time of intubation. This discussion is extremely valuable.

There are 125 diagrams throughout the text

that are arranged to provide a step-by-step process for the learner. The book also includes drawings of all pieces of equipment and explanations of their use.

There are four major charts that are simple and easy to read. They include comparisons of infant and adult airways; sizes of pediatric tubes, and evidence of airway obstruction and compli- cations during the intubation process, while the patient is intubated, and after intubation. The charts emphasize essential safety points that nurses should be aware of when intubating a patient.

Clinically, the content is correct in all areas. The sections on preintubation evaluation and predicting the difficult airway by using the patient’s medical history and physical size are particularly well written. One section on emergency intubation helps the health care giver who has to intubate a patient without the luxury of a history and physical.

Overall, the text is well worth its price. Each chapter is accompanied by a bibliography that may assist the novice in becoming the expert he or she needs to be in performing intubation. The book is available from Medical Arts Press, 1 1532 Alkaid Dr, San Diego, CA 92126.

MARIAN SHAUGHNESSY, RN, MSN, CNOR NURSE CONSULTANT

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OHIO

EDUCATION

Creating the Future of Health Care Education By Franck L. Ulschak 1988, 176pp $35 paperback

Based on the premise that we are in an era bracketed between the past and the future, the author explores the effect of prospective pricing systems on health care industry educators. This composite of survey analysis, interaction exercises for the reader, and conceptual models for adapting to change indicates that health care education has made significant improvement in the past five years. In education-a never-ending process both individually and professional1 y-everything we do today lays a foundation for the future.

1127

AORN JOURNAL NOVEMBER 1989, VOL. 50, NO 5

Each chapter of the book is related to the next, yet each is a separate entity. At first reading, the book seems designed for educational departments, management, and organizational development programs. Deeper study reveals that we are all educators with the ability to create the world in which we live. The audience thus encompasses general staff, middle and upper management, executive administration, and the community.

Some areas are rather idealistic in approach,

however, overall assessment produces creative approaches to health care changes in our organization. We must be aware of these changes and their effect on the education department.

The book is available from American Hospital Publishing, 21 1 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 606 1 1.

ANNE LAWLESS, RN, CNOR HEAD NURSE/NEUROSURGERY

JACKSONVILLE, FLA ST VINCENT'S MEDICAL CENTER

Rural Health Care Publications Available

Public Employers Fight Drug Abuse

Several publications are available to help people interested in rural health care.

The Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) has released a staff paper on rural health care. The paper, DeJlning "Rural" Areas: Impact on Health Care Policy and Research, describes the principal rural definitions applied by the federal government that affect health programs and poli- cies. It also describes the classifications used to distinguish different types of rural areas and dis- cusses how federal agencies have used these defi- nitions to compile vital and health statistics and to implement the programs. The paper may be ordered ($3.25 prepaid) from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402-9325, GPO stock number 052-003-01 156-5. After January 1990, please call the GPO at (202) 783-3238 to verify prices. The OTA also is working on a second staff paper, entitled Rural Emergency Medical Services.

In addition, the Rural Health Resources Directov is available. It lists the current federal, national, and state organizations and programs that focus on rural health issues. It was produced by the National Rural Health Association and the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Depart- ment of Health and Human Services. The direc- tory is available ($3 prepaid) from the National Rural Health Association, 301 E Armour Blvd, Suite 420, Kansas City, MO 64111, (816) 756- 3140.

The courts and Congress have expanded the authority of public employers to fight employee drug abuse, according to an article in the Aug 5, 1989, issue of Hospitals.

Because many hospital employees have responsibilities that directly affect patient care, drug testing of these employees may be needed to ensure the public's safety, according to one attorney. Two recent Supreme Court decisions, one involving train crews and one involving employees in the US Customs Service, add weight to that argument. In both cases, employee drug tests were found constitutional in certain situations. A hospital setting is a likely arena for a case testing the legality of such measures in the private sector, according to the article.

With the Federal Drug-Free Workplace Act, Congress has encouraged employers, especially those with government contracts, to ensure that their workers do not abuse drugs. The act requires all employers who apply for federal con- tracts of $25,000 or more or who receive federal grants of any amount to certify that they will maintain drug-free work environments. It does not say anything about drug testing or provide authority for testing. The law could apply to hos- pitals that receive direct federal assistance, but health care providers are not automatically covered under the law simply because they par- ticipate in Medicare or Medicaid programs.

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