q O R N JOURNAL MARCH 1989, VOL. 49, NO 3

involved. Many exercises include role playing to facilitate involvement.

At only $13.85, this book is a worthwhile investment for in-service instructors and operating room managers developing a program to strengthen management skills. The exercises also could provide useful group activities for workshop speakers.

The book is available from Addison-Wesley Publishing Co/Nursing Division, 2725 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025.

FRANCES A. KOCH, RN, MSN, CNOR

HENRY FORD HOSPITAL DETROIT

ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR/OR SERVICES

The Middle Manager and the Nursing Organization By Jo Kirsch 1988, 222 p p $29.95 clothbound

The author has incorporated an abundance of useful information into this text. The management of human and fiscal resources in the nursing organization is presented in an organized manner. The emphasis is on the elements of planning, organizing, directing, and controlling resources and the recognition that managers spend 80% of their time interacting with people.

The first six chapters of the book are dedicated to human resources. Systems and processes are presented in each chapter, and the chapters on decision making and leadership are thought provoking. The concept of the book-that management is working with people and leadership is stirring emotions-is effective. The author uses models to present decision-making concepts and includes insight into avoiding the pitfalls of this process.

The second part of the book deals with managing fiscal resources. It includes patient classification systems, budgeting, materiels management, and prospective payment systems. The chapters on budgeting address capital and operational costs and salaries. The concepts are supported with illustrations and references.

Experienced managers could gain new knowl-

edge to help them deal with today’s limited resources, but this book is highly recommended for individuals who are just beginning to function in management roles or those who are considering it.

The book is available from Appleton & Lange, 25 Van Zant St, East Norwalk, CT 06855.

CHARLOTTE OWEN, RN, BSN, CNOR NURSE MANAGER/OR

HUMANA HOSPITAL NORTHSIDE ST PETERSBURG, FLA

COMPUTERS

Nursing Informatics: Where Caring and Technology Meet Edited by Marion J. Ball, Kathryn J . Hannah, Ulla G. Jelger, Hans Peterson 1 9 8 8 , 4 1 8 ~ ~ $29.95 clothbound

This book is written for health care professionals who have beginning knowledge and experience with computers and are ready to expand their knowledge. It was designed as a tool to integrate nursing informatics into educational curricula.

The CARE logo for the book stands for the functional aspects of nursing-clinical, adminis- tration, research, and education. These four are depicted as the spokes of the wheel between two concentric circles that represent the patient (the inner circle) and nursing informatics.

Each chapter of the book is a product of communication between professionals in nursing, medicine, computer science, and health informa- tion. Each chapter ends with questions and references to help nurses broaden their knowledge in different areas of computer application, whether they are in clinical, administrative, research, or education aspects of nursing. The book also lists software for nursing education.

The first section of the book discusses implementing change within the information revolution and the evolution of the health care industry. Unit 2 presents the integration of computers and nursing.

Unit 3 brings out some of the value of the book; it begins to forecast the nurse of the twenty-