IO4 Accident and Emergency Nursing

secondary survey; this incorporates a fail-safe approach to physical assess- ment.

The book is written for the American market, if it had a reference section noting the difference in termi- nology between American and English it would be easier to use and under- stand.

The packaging for this issue is bound by a metal ring, the pages are fairly thin, I feel that this book would unfortunately not stand the strains of being a reference book in constant use.

Judith Morgan RGN, OAJC, CMS, Sisteu, Whittington Hospital, London, UK

Counselling in medical settings

P East

Open University Press, 1995. ISBN 0 335 19241 6, 153pp, AlO.

For someone who knows little about this subject the text provides a very broad background for its title subject. However it is, in the main, very closely focused on the primary care setting with the occasional mention of hospi- tals. It refers to various pieces of gov- ernment legislation supporting the increase of counselling and moves on to clarify what counselling is, or is not, with the use of case studies to exem- plify different theoretical backgrounds. I found the next chapter interesting as it identifies ethical issues and codes of practice to be adhered to by all practis- ing counsellors. The government’s interest is clarified in chapter 4 which details a Ll5 million Department of Health research and development cen- tre which will, over the next 10 years, support initiatives, with counselhng being targeted as a particular focus.

The text refers to the Health of the Nation Mental Health targets and reviews professional relationships and roles in primary health care and con- cludes with a critique, the main issue seeming to be the lack of a statutory body to direct training, qualification and registration. Being from the northern part of the country an inter- esting point cited from a 1993 BAC study is that of much better access to counselling in the South east of England - is this another example of the North-South divide?

As a background to counselling in the medical setting, I found the book quite interesting. However, the book’s main focus is primary care and has, I feel, little specific relevance to the A & E setting.

Christinejackson RGN, Bsc (Hotas), Nurse Teacher, Grim& UK

Pediatric emergency skills

J P French

Mosby, 199.5. ISBN 0 8351 3358 6, 269pp, L25.00

Emergency procedures in the critically ill child can cause additional stress in that not only must a wide range of equipment be available to correspond with the variety of sizes of children, but also the doctor/nurse must be skilled enough to be able to choose and use the equipment proficiently.

Pediatric Emergency Skills provides a comprehensive but basic practical refer- ence book addressing a wide range of practical skills used in maintaining an airway, ventilation and fluid administra- tion. The author presumes the reader has limited knowledge in the care of the child who is critically ill, and there- fore the book may be useful for medical students and nurses who are unfamiliar with the care of children. The book has a distinct American slant.

The style of presentation is clear and easy to follow with supporting dia- grams to reinforce the procedures. The author does highlight some good prac- tical tips and supports practice with relevant research which may be helpful to nursing staff undertaking courses. However, the book appears too basic to be of value to A & E nurses.

Robert Cole RGN, RX& ENB199, Clinical Manager, Paediatric A G E,

Lewirham Hospital, UK

‘Emergi care’ cards

E McDonald

Springhouse, Lundon, 1995. ISBN 0 8743 4102 7, d15.00

I found the ‘Emergi Care’ cards very useful. The information given is con- cise, easily accessible and available at the fingertips.

The Cards provide clear and con- cise guidance on emergency situations which both junior doctors and nurses may meet in the Accident and Emergency department.

The index system allows quick access to the specific emergency infor- mation that is required and as more than 250 clinical emergencies are spot- lighted it is unlikely that the informa- tion required has been omitted.

The section on patients’ complaints (section 3) was something I found particularly useful, using the I? Q. R. S. T method incorporating a logical sequence of questions to ask in order to aid diagnosis.

The General Information section on Legal Considerations might be of questionable value as the laws differ in each country and as the ‘Emergi Care’ cards were printed in the US it would, I presume, mean that the information given was according to their laws.

The diagrams accompanying some of the features whether they were procedures, conditions or anatomy were expertly illustrated and well documented.

The ‘Emergi Care’ cards would, in my opinion, be beneficial not only to the Accident and Emergency depart- ment but also could be recommended to practice nurses, offshore medics, paramedics and advanced first aiders.

Elizabeth McDonald RGN; Staff Nurse, A G E, Aberdeen Royal Injrmary, Aberdeen, UK

Eye emergencies: diagnosis and management

L A Webb

Butterworth Heinemann, 1995. ISBN 0 7506 2015 3, 2OOpp, gl5.99

The emergency eye problem can often be as distressing for the staff as the con- dition is for the patient. What Webb has achieved in his book, is to present a practical pragmatic guide for initial management. The text works on the assumption that the reader has little or no knowledge of the subject, and to this end leads the nurse or doctor through suggested relevant questions and provides a logical approach to the assessment and management.

As the foreword indicates, this book is not a text which enters into detailed

Book reviews I OS

discussion of problems but simply offers sound guidance to non ophthal- mologists on the management of com- mon eye problems. It has more than achieved its purpose.

The book has 11 main chapters and although many topics are deliberately repeated, which when read from cover to cover becomes slightly irritating, but for reference purposes makes the use of the book easy for checking a possible diagnosis based on the chief complaint.

The first chapter takes the reader through the basic examination and I was very pleased to discover that a logical journey through the eye was presented. The use of a pitfalls section helps the reader identify key points in the assessment/management. This approach on pitfalls is presented in every chapter.

The chapters identifying specific eye problems provide relevant ques- tions, the examination required, man- agement and pitfalls. This approach allows an accurate diagnosis to be made.

Some common treatments, i.e. corneal abrasion, provides the reader with the age old management but acknowledges that other ways of treat- ing the condition have now found favour in a number of units.

An excellent book which could have been improved with the addition of more coloured photographs of the conditions identified in the text.

Gary Jones RGN, OND, DipN, FETC, TNCC(T), A GE Nurse Consultant,

Lecturer G Expert Witness

Action research for health and social care: a guide to practice

E Hart, M Bond

Open University Press, 1995. ISBN 0 335 19262 9, 244pp, Al2.99

Nursing and social work share a com- mon concern to narrow the divide between theory and practice so as to improve the services they provide. This book explains how action research can help to do just that. The authors, both deeply experienced in using this approach, do not suggest that the approach is easy or always suc- cessful. Rather they emphasise that good alliances between policy makers,

practitioners, researchers and service users is essential for good and useful research.

The introduction is excellent, explaining the origins of action research and presenting a typology of the different approaches. The five examples of projects (in which the authors participated) describe the process of doing action research.

There is also a section about tools for the trade. The tools presented have a ring of credibility, having stood up to the test of use in projects by the authors or other action researchers. Throughout, the text is clearly written and very carefully referenced.

This book will be of particular interest to three nursing/social work readerships:

l Those who provide health and social care for older clients.

l All those, including A & E nurses, who have an interest in staff development and the management of change.

l Staff who are undertaking post qualifying courses and their study facilitators.

The book may also be of interest to those who doubt the possibility of social work and nursing collaboration, as it demonstrates just how much common ground there is between the two professions.

Sue Kilvoe BA, RMN, RGN) Research Associate, University of Bristol,

School of Policy Studies, Bristol, UK

Colour atlas and text of emergencies (2nd edition)

K Mills, R Morton, G Page

Mosby-Wolfe, 1995. ISBN 0 7234 1810 1, 44lpfi Al34.50

The purpose of this large atlas is to help students and clinical staff to recognise and deal with the many common problems encountered in the A & E department. Clearly the authors feel that a picture is worth a thousand words and have compiled a collection of clinical illustrations unique to the speciality of A & E. Mills, Morton and Page did not aim to be comprehensive, but to deal with areas that lend them- selves particularly well to illustration.

I was unable to put this book down until I had looked at each and every one of the illustrations. I was able to study photographs of many conditions and procedures I had seen and wished I had photographed and still more I have never seen, but only heard about, e.g. burns to the upper trachea and trench foot.

Although medical emergencies do not lend themselves as well to this type of presentation, the authors have made every effort to present a balanced text.

The text is concise and systematic, with a clinical focus, working from first aid and resuscitation methods through to early management. Photo- graph sequences showing procedures, numerous clinical photographs and X- rays illustrate a wide range of condi- tions. The atlas has been completely updated, incorporating the latest guidelines from the Advanced Trauma Life Support Course, the UK and European Resuscitation Councils. In total there are more than 1450 photo- graphs, X-rays and line drawings.

The clinical authors are in practice in Scotland and have worked on this book with the Director of the Department of Medical Illustration at the University of Wales College of Medicine. The UK focus provides an even greater incentive to invest in a

copy. I was a little disappointed that there

were no references for further reading, but know that these can be found else- where. Although the book is unusually large and heavy, I consider its contents to be invaluable to any A & E team.

Lisa Hadjield-Law, Accident Services Manager,

Oxford Radclge Hospital, Oxford, UK

Spiritual aspects of health care

D Stoter

Mosby, 1995. ISBN 0 7234 1955 8, 2 68pp, AS. 95

Overall my opinion is that Stoter provides an eloquent, fascinating, eclectic and practical insight into the spiritual dimension of health care. A bold but very human philosophy shines throughout the book which manages simultaneously to challenge the carer to adopt a difficult approach, whilst encouraging the same by directing