Teaching and Learning Nursing Ethics V Gallagher & K M Boyd Scutari 1991 85pp illus ISBN: l-871364-38-8 g8.99 PB

This small, concise, book is packed with information on why ethics is taught in nursing programmes, the aims and objectives of teaching in the different pro- gtammes, the place that ethics occupies in the cutri- cula, the teaching methods used in the courses, the assessments used, or not as the case maybe, and who teaches the subject. The book is the result of a research study with a working group drawn from distinguished nurses in a number of different fields. The study involved sending a postal questionnaire to all colleges of nursing and midwifery in the United Kingdom, as well as institutes of higher education where nursing courses are taught. The study asked about ethics teaching in basic general courses, post-basic and continuing education, midwifery and continuing mid- wifery education, community education and under- graduate education.

The book not only gives one of the most com- prehensive accounts of teaching and learning in ethics in nursing, but it also makes recommendations based on the information received. There is also a good bibliography of useful texts as a start to teaching the subject. It is therefore essential reading for those who teach, or have been asked to teach the subject, for curriculum developers and for those involved in curriculum development in nursing.

MARY FRASEK

MSc BSc DipN Ed RGN ONC RNT

Resources for Nursing Research Cynthia G L Clamp et al Library Association Publishing 1991 366pp ISBN: l-85604-028-3 g37.50 (530 to members) PB

This is an important and exciting book toall those who carry out full time research, teach research, are undertaking research for higher qualifications or are planning to do so. When the book arrived I immedi- ately used it in my own current research and can therefore vouch for its quality. Resources for Nursing Research is a well written and structured book that takes the reader systematically through the sometimes con- fusing stages of the research process. Included in the

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book are chapters on research tools, design, measure- ment, collection, and analysis and presentation. In addition to this there is a great deal of broad valuable information on the development of nursing research, personal and governmental responsibilities and a whole wealth of very practical advice for the researcher.

Where this book really scores over similar titles is the rich source of relevant reports and article abstracts it has within its pages. This large volume of information is naturally reflected in the price but 1 am sure that the cost of the book would soon be recouped by the savings in time for the researcher.

CHKISWPHEK C. BASSEU RGN ITU cert. NcSM Adv.Poly.Dip.

Writing Incisively: Do-it-yourself prose surgery William Strong McGraw Hill 1991 257pp illus ISBN: 0-07-062270-l 55.95 PB

This very American book is a useful aid to writing. It breaks down the process of writing into small and manageable chunks. This is both a help and a hindrance. Sometimes, the chunks are so small that I found myself wondering if anyone can write easily. For example, there are sections on ‘types of paragraphs’ and the reader is asked to analyse his or her para- graphs according to this typography. Sometimes, the analysis is too close and might just put people off the writing process.

On the other hand, there are lots of very useful sections in this book. It covers reading and studying, planning essays and projects, editing and proof reading. It also offers a full description of the ‘outlin- ing’ process that is, I believe, taught in all American schools. I have always found this process an useful one for structuring written material and it was good to have such a detailed description of variations of it.

The style of the book is a little ‘chummy’ (‘let’s think about paragraphing .‘) but the volume contains a great number of practical exercises that the reader can work through to improve his or her writing. All nurses have to write and this book would be of considerable value to them. For those doing courses, it should be essential reading. It is also excellent value for money.

PHIIN BURNARD

PhD MSc RGN RMN DipN Cerl Ed RNT