Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing, 2nd ed. Scipien, Gladys M; Barnard, Martha Under- wood; Chard, Marilyn A; Howe, Jeanne; Phil- lips, Patricia. McGraw-Hill Book Co, 1221 Av- enue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, 1979.

This 1056-page reference text is an impres- sive book. In an easy to follow and optimistic manner, the authors cover the stages of nor- mal growth and development, as well as the normal childhood illnesses and maladies seen in most nursing books on pediatrics.

However, much of the appeal of this volume is the authors’treatment of current topics, such as the changing roles of the family in our soci- ety and the needs and rights of mentally and physically handicapped children. In addition, topics generally covered only in medical pe- diatric texts are approached from a nursing point of view. These include a good explana- tion of the medical process and a nursing ap- proach for child and parents.

Overall, this is a valuable addition to any pediatric library, not only as afoundational ref- erence book, but also as a good basis for pediatric nursing care and understanding.

Jennifer Goff, RN Forf Collins, Colo

Private Practice in Nursing: Development and Management. Koltz, Charles J, Jr. Aspen Systems Corp, Department TL, 2001 0 Century Blvd, Germantown, Md 20767, 1979, 246 pp.

This book deserves wide circulation among nurses-even those who never intend to enter the private practice of nursing. Nurses should understand why private nursing practice will be important to the health care system of the fu- ture, as well as what private practice is and how nurses can get involved.

The author, who is enthusiastic about pri- vate practice, shares how he set up his prac- tice and the things a nurse considering such a practice should know, investigate, and expect.

Part one covers the why of private practice. It discusses formal education as a pathway to private practice, the role of nursing schools, and the use of continuing education, self- study, and consultation.

Part two presents how to set up a practice. It deals with such topics as assessing commu-

nity needs, determining what services to provide, public and professional relationships, the professional corporation, promoting the practice, and a model of a private practice.

Part three presents the management as- pects of a private practice. It covers private practice as a business, including financial management, quality assurance, and legal aspects.

The last section discusses the future of pri- vate practice, legislative concerns, health in- surance coverage, and the challenge of pro- fessionalism.

Summaries are provided at the end of each chapter and an appendix gives a state-by- state summary of nursing practice acts. There is also a selected bibliography.

Sister Kane, RHSJ, RN Cornwall, Ontario

Handbook for Infectious Disease Manage- ment. Kolff, Cornelis A; Sanchez, Ramon. Ad- dison Wesley Publishing Co, Menlo Park, Calif 94025, 1979, 268 pp, $1 1.95 paperback.

The authors state their purpose is to present clinically useful information on infectious dis- eases in a manner that is both convenient for quick reference and graphic for instructional uses. The book is intended for those learning, practicing, or teaching the care of patients with infectious diseases. The handbook provides guidelines useful in making a diagnosis, for- mulating a treatment plan, and preventing the spread of infectious diseases.

Section one is concerned with the initial ap- proach. This includes antibiotic management of selected acute infections if pathogens are unknown, laboratory tests useful in diagnosing infections, and management modalities.

The next section covers the clinical manifes- tations, epidemiology, diagnostic procedures, and management of over fifty common dis- eases. This is avaluable section. The informa- tion is clearly presented and provides the busy practitioner with suggestions for patient treat- ment, type of isolation, and management of contacts.

The section on antimicrobial agents pro- vides information such as usage, dosage, adverse reactions, drug interactions, and how the drug is supplied, in addition to helpful notes for a list of antibiotics, antiparasitics, and anti-

920 AORN Journal, April 1980, Vol31, No 5

fungals. A separate chapter deals with the basic

principles of antimicrobial therapy. Subjects include the use of these drugs in pregnant or lactating women, prophylaxis, management of penicillin allergies, and use in patients with renal failure. The chapter also gives the aver- age wholesale costs of some oral antimicrobial agents.

Laboratory personnel will find chapter five of interest, as it concerns the collection of cul- tures, methods of preparation, media to be used, and preparation and shipment of speci- mens.

The section on immunization presents schedules for routine and active immuniza- tions, the use of immunizing agents, and

guidelines for immunization during pregnancy or in preparation for international travel.

Infectious disease control measures pre- sented include patient isolation techniques, selected measures to limit spread of infectious diseases, antiseptics and disinfectants, report- ing of infectious diseases, preventing infec- tions among employees, and investigations of outbreaks.

The last chapter covers the transmission of agents, factors influencing spread of disease, and selected definitions.

This is an excellent reference for any health care facility and is a must for the infection control committee.

Sister Kane, RHSJ, RN Corn wall, Ontario

Survey shows increase in inpatient education Hospitals are playing an important role in providing health education programs to their patients, employees, and the community. The number of hospitals with departments to coordinate inpatient education programs rose by nearly 65% between 1975 and 1978, according to an American Hospital Association (AHA) survey. More than 80% of 581 5 hospitals surveyed responded to the questionnaire.

“The dramatic increase in the number of hospitals that have designated departments to coordinate inpatient education is encouraging,” said Elizabeth Lee, senior staff specialist, AHA Center for Health Promotion. “It indicates hospitals’ growing recognition of the need to better organize and manage their patient education activities, and this type of management will lead to more effective patient care.”

A summary of the survey, conducted in cooperation with the Bureau of Health Education, Center for Disease Control, US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, appears in the Jan 16 issue of Hospitals. Nursing departments, followed by education departments, were most often identified as areas coordinating patient education programs.

preoperative, and ostomy programs were Diabetes, heart attack, prenatal,

hospitals’ most frequently offered adult patient education activities in 1978. Compared to a 1975 survey, diabetes remained the most common adult patient education program. Heart attack programs moved from sixth to second place, an increase of more than 25%. Pediatric programs most commonly cited were for diabetes, preoperative orientation, nutrition, and postoperative education.

Nearly one-fourth (1,484) of hospitals reported using videocassettes or closed circuit television (CCTV) in patient education programs, an increase of 160% from 1975. There were 504 hospitals that specifically reported using CCTV, while another 942 reported plans for future use.

education, the results showed hospitals were not limiting their health education programs to inpatients. Nearly 71 YO of the reporting hospitals indicated they have programs for hospital employees, 55% for nonpatients, and nearly 15% for businesses, according to the survey.

Copies of the survey, “Hospital Inpatient Education: Survey Findings and Analyses, 1978,” are available free from AHA’S Center for Health Promotion, 840 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, 111 6061 1.

Although the survey focused on inpatient

922 AORN Journal, April 1980, Vol31, No 5