248 lNTENSlVEANDCRITICALCARENUKSIN<~

control their patients’ environment and in so doing can humanise an area high in technology, and reduce factors which contribute to physical and psychological instability.

References

Allen D 1986 Nursing the unconscious patient. The Professional Nurse 2 (1): 15-16

Ashworth P 1979 Sensory deprivation: the acutely ill. Nursing Times 75 (7): 290-293 February 15th

Barrie-Shevlin P 1987 Maintaining sensory balance for critically ill patient. Nursing 16: 597-60 I

Baxter S 1974 Psychological problems of intensive care. British Journal of Hospital Medicine June 11 (6): 875-885

Bently S, Murphy F, Dudley H 1977 Perceived noise in a surgical ward and an intensive care area: an objective analysis. British Medical Journal 2: 1503

Boddy J 198 1 Brain systems and psychological concepts. Wiley, Chichester

Budd S, Brown N 1974 Effect of reorientation technique on post-cardiotomy delirium. Nursing Research 23 (4): 341-348 as cited in Ashworth P 1979 Sensory deprivation: the acutely ill. Nursing Times 75 (7): 290-293 February 15th

Clarke D 1988 Research indicates household kit helps coma patients. News from BLITHE: 1-3

Hay D, Oken D 1972 Psychosomatic medicine. British Journal of Hospital Medicine June: 875-885

Hebb D 0 1961 Sensory deprivation. Cambridge Harvard University Press

Hudak C M, Gallo B M, Lohr T 1986 Critical care nursing; a holistic approach. J B Lippincott, Philadelphia

Johnson D A 1988 Coma stimulation. News from BLITHE: p7

LeWinn E B, Dimanceson M D 1984 Comakit, British Life Insurance Trust for Health Education, London

McIntosh A 1989 Sleep deprivation in critically ill patients. Nursing 3 (35): 44-45

Nightingale F 1860 Notes on nursing: what it is and what it is not. 1952 Edn Duckworth, London, p 59

Errata

Pain following coronary artery bypass grafting: an exploration of contributing factors Janet A. Ferguson 8,3: 153-I 62

Please note that the incomplete last line on page 153 should read. . . It is generally believed to be amongst the least complicated of all pain problems, being a distinct anatomical lesion, and having a self-limiting course (Keerio-Szanto, 1979).

Please note that page 159 (line 36) should read. . . the high technology of ICU can depersonalise care and decrease the nurse’s awareness of pain.

The publishers apologise for any inconvenience.

BOOK REVIEWS A Colour Guide to the Assessment and Management of Leg Ulcers By Moya J. Morison Wolfe Publishing Ltd, London, 1991, 58 pages. Price $9.95

The scene for this book is set in the foreword which highlights the diverse aetiology of leg ulcers and the need for treatment which is logical, consistent, scien- tifically validated and which, above all, does no harm. A wealth of useful information is provided in just 58 pages.

The book comprises six chapters covering: epidem- iology (apparently 1% of the population will develop a leg ulcer at some point in their lives); causes of leg ulcers; patient assessment (including the underlying cause, ulcer and other factors that might affect healing); treatment options (covering topics ranging from bandaging to psychosocial factors); patient edu- cation; and preventing recurrence and ulceration.

The book is a concise, practical, problem solving guide, which may serve as a useful addition to the intensive care library.

ROSEMARY A. WEBSTER BSc RGN

Emergency Nursing Review By Renee Semonin Holleran Mosby Year Book, 1992, Price f 17.50

This book, written by a chief Bight nurse and emer- gency clinical specialist, provides 565 multiple choice questions in case study or miscellaneous format under a series of 25 fundamental accident and emergency patient care situations ranging from medical; surgical and orthopaedic emergency scenarios to substance abuse; triage and disaster mangement. It is based on the American ‘Emergency Nursing Care Curriculum’. Each chapter is clearly presented with a ‘review outline’ designed to provide the reader with the revision checklist followed by an introduction of each topic under examination before each self test. At the close of each chapter answers, together with rationale, are provided; some of which are referenced with American journals.

Although arguably designed, as the author acknow- ledges, for the American nurse preparing to take the emergency certification examination, it provides the reader with an addictive desire to self test their knowledge base. However, some clinical aspects of care described in the text differ to the clinical care delivered in the UK, for example the use of antishock

INTENSIVE AND CRITICAL CARE NURSING 249

trousers and pneumatic antishock garments. Never- theless, this book could prove a valuable addition to nursing libraries for students who wish to evaluate their knowledge base and would certainly be useful for those wishing to travel with the intention of working in the United States of America.

ANN LEE BEd RNT RGN

Comprehensive Respiratory Nursing: A Decision

F!FYeZTh . . W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia, 1989, 864 pages. Price f45.50

This book is the culmination of seven years work of one author assisted by several health professionals who acted as reviewers. It aims to provide a conceptual and integrated approach to respiratory nursing care. The author sets out to present the reader with the theory necessary for assessment and intervention which is then developed to place emphasis on the process of decision-making for the patient with acute and chronic respiratory problems.

The book is divided into six parts, each with an introduction and glossary. Each chapter (there are 32) includes learning objectives designed to orientate the reader tc key concepts and to guide them towards further study.

The philosophy of the book seems sound although I am not certain that it would work in practice. Readers could be forgiven for thinking on the first flip through that they had been presented with a medical text. At least three-quarters of the chapters are heavily weighted towards anatomy and physiology, pathophy- siology, diagnostic tests and medical intervention. The sections on chest examination, inspection, palpation and auscultation are of less relevance to a UK audience. Chapters on patient motivation, self-care education, and nursing diagnosis and intervention, somewhat redress the balance, but could be easily lost amidst the rest of the book.

The book is clearly presented, well-illustrated and well-referenced, albeit with American sources, and the author must certainly be congratulated on her magni- &ant effort. However, as the volume of the book makes it more likely to be dipped into rather than being read as a whole, it is doubtful that the objective of providing the reader with a comprehensive theory base for decision making in respiratory nursing would be realistically achieved in practice.

In summary, it is a useful source for the nurse specialising in respiratory nursing. It would be a useful addition to a library but is likely to be too expensive as an individual purchase.

ROSEMARY A. WEBSTER BSc, RGN

The Management of Acute Pain G. Park and B. Fulton Oxford Medical Publications, Oxford, 1991, 166 pages. Price 214.95

This book aims to be a ‘practical problem-orientated guide’ and it certainly covers a wide range of topics. The sections on pharmacological methods of pain relief form the bulk of the text and are comprehensive.

‘The section on pain assessment is very brief and more discussion, including the use of pain charts, would be helpful in a book with a practical focus. Many people would disagree with the description of a patient’s analgesic requirements as an ‘objective method of assessing pain’, and with the description of relaxation as something that may be appropriate for ‘difficult’ patients. More details on complementary methods of pain relief would have been useful.

The case studies they present highlight medical diagnoses and do not address the caring aspects of pain management nor the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of pain-relieving interventions.

The main drawback of this otherwise useful book is the inadequate use of referencing. Although there are suggestions for further reading, the lack of references for specific points frustrates the reader in pursing areas of interest. For example, they state ‘Morning operations are associated with less discomfort than those performed in the afternoon.’ However, there is no reference to the source of this statement. Since this book is not intended by its authors to comprehensively review the subject and thus further reading would be needed, this omission is rather surprising and can only limit the book’s usefulness.

There is a very small section on critically ill patients, described under the heading ‘Problem Patients’. So whilst this book is likely to provide a useful overview for those in ITU, it would need to be supplemented with more specific texts.

KATE SEERS BSc, PhD, RGN

Physiotherapy in Respiratory Care - A Problem- Solving Approach Alexandra Hough Chapman and Hall, London, 1991, 243 pages. Price f12.95

In recent times there has been much debate on the value and necessity of respiratory physiotherapy. This book expertly and efficiently addresses the need for respiratory physiotherapy by means of carefully referenced explanation of clinical practice and detailed critique of present day research into this field. The early chapters of the book provide an overview of physiotherapy in relation to clinical practice together with a practical guide to patient assessment. Later