BOOK REVIEWS

SHALL I BE A NURSE? by Clair Rayner, S.R.N., A . Wheaton and Company, Ltd., Exe- ter, Great Britain, 95 pages.

Young people poised at the crossroads of ca- reer choice would consider this small volume interesting reading. It is one of a series of books deecribing various types of work to be considered in choosing further education or a profession in Great Britain.

The book is written in conversation and “thought” form, following several young women through their training, private lives, their acceptance of responsibilities and de- cisions at "crossroads" upon graduation. One student, for example, didn’t have to give any thought to what she wanted to do. “Quite honestly, Matron,” she said when she too went to discuss her future in the Matron’s of- fice, “I don’t care if I never work in a hos- pital ward again. I just want to be a theatre sister.” So, she was appointed to be a staff nurse in the operating theatre. “Her job was full of interest and was very hard work, not merely because of the amount of physical ef- fort that she had to put into it, but because there was a considerable strain about it. Bar- bara first worked in the theatre as a runner, in time was promoted to become a table nurse, then to a junior sister with special

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responsibility for certain groups of opera- tions.”

Although interesting reading as a compari- son of nursing practice in the two countries, this type of information has limited interest in the U. S.

M. CRAWFORD, R.N. Los Angeles, Calif.

DEVELOPING THE ART OF UNDER- STANDING by Margaret Anne Johrwon, R.N., 230 pages, Springer Publishing Com- pany, Inc., New York, N . Y., 1967. $3.50. This interesting book is indeed much more than its subtitle, “A Guide for Nursing Stu- dents,” suggests. Miss Johnson has taken a subject that most of us would oonsider dull, dry reading and produced a concise, fast- reading, and informative source.

The book is divided into fourteen chapters with subject matter ranging from “How Peo- ple React to Pain,” to “Understanding The Elderly Person,” to “Drug Addiction, Al- ooholism and Veneral Disease.” Miss John- son has included patient case reports to elaborate and emphasize her ideas.

“It is hoped that this book will stimulate discussions which will enable the student to resolve her feelings about the implications of variow illnesses, deformities, afflictions and

AORN Journal

death, and thus strengthen her ability to help her patients face these trying situations . . . . to give the student an understanding of the problems of alcoholism, veneral disease, and drug addiction, so that she may be able to overcome any personal prejudices she may have and learn to accept patients suffering from these conditions, even though she does not agree with their ways of living.”

It is my opinion that inservice instructors and nursing students alike would find this book very useful. Stimulating discussion is

“Masters Education-Route to Opportunities in Modern Nursing,” #15-1259, ANA-NLN Committee on Nursing Careers, ANA, 10 Columbus Circle, New York, N. Y. 10019. Price 25 cents. For nurses who would like to continue their education with a graduate degree, this pam- phlet includes general information about choosing a school. It offers a list of colleges and universities offering masters programs accredited by NLN, and specific information about curriculums.

but a small beginning of this book’s many resources.

“Information About Assistants to Nurses,” #NS-3 ANA.

For nurse’s assistants-aides, orderlies and attendants, and the OR technicians, this

E. A. GAFFREY, R. N. North Merricky N’ ’*

BOOKLETS

pamphlet provides information about train- ing programs, entrance requirements and em- ployment opportunities. OR nurses may find it instructive in supervising auxiliary nurs-

ee ing personnel. Understanding Conception and Contraception, Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation, Depart- ment of Educational Services, Raritan, New

I A M N I HOOK Jersey, 98869. Free This book covers such areas as the reproduc- tive system, the menstrual cycle, conception and pregnancy, and explains methods for the control of conception. Written for every wom- an to understand, it also has color illustra- tions by Robert J. Demarest of Columbia Uni- versity College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Drugs vs. Cancer,” Public Health Service, write Superintendent of Documents, GPO, Washington, D. C. 20201, No. 1562. 15c. This 17-page report on the current status of cancer chemotherapy research describes the major classes of cancer drugs and discusses their mechanisms of action. It includes a chart listing drugs often employed against various forms of cancer not amenable to sur- gery or radiotherapy.

Also discussed are problems associated with drug therapy, such as toxic effects and dura- tion of drug effect, and methods to overcome these effects.

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ste r i I e, disposable

amniotic membrane perforator

Each AmniHook is individually sterile-packed for immediate use in the labor room. The rounded, blunt end with a protected point re- duces the chances of injury to mother and fetus. Time and costs of resterilization are saved, since the AmniHook is discarded after use.

HOLLISTER INC., 211 E. CHICAGO AVE., CHICAGO 60611

September 1968 109