nursing concepts: oxygenation

1
International Journal of Nursing Practice 2002; 8 : 342 Blackwell Science, LtdOxford, UK IJNInternational Journal of Nursing Practice1322-71142002 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd 86December 2002 388 Book Reviews Book Reviews 10.1046/j.1322-7114.2002.00388.x Book Review342 BEES SGML BOOK REVIEW Nursing Concepts: Oxygenation. Lisa Kennedy Shelton (2001). Slack Inc, Thorofare, NJ, USA. 225 pages, $US23.95, ISBN 1-55642-523-6 This text is one of a series of Nursing Concepts and is aimed both at nursing students and practising nurses. Other titles in the series include Mobility, Symptom Management in the Acute Care Setting, and Ethics and Conflict. On that basis, it is unclear what the overall scope of the series is intended to achieve. The title of this text both undersells and correctly describes the content; in discussing oxygenation, the text includes chapters on the cardiovascular and haematologi- cal systems as well as the more obvious in-depth review of the respiratory system. This approach would assist the stu- dent to grasp the holistic, inter-related nature of the body systems. At first glance, this is a useful approach. How- ever, the content is not sufficient for a student at any level to use this as a main source of reference. The text is surprisingly comprehensive in some areas, for example descriptions of preload and stroke volume in the cardiovascular chapter. Similarly, the chapters on assessment of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems are thorough. However, some sections do suffer from a lack of balance, for example the section on mechanical ventilation gives over emphasis to negative pressure ven- tilation (the ‘iron lung’ type ventilator) but no mention is made of Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV), the mainstay of contemporary oxygenation therapy for many patients with respiratory failure. The author uses clear diagrams to explain procedures and aspects of nursing assessment (e.g. JVP measure- ment); however, the depth is limited for the registered nurse, who would need to refer to other texts for greater detail. Patient scenarios are used throughout; these suc- ceed in capturing the readers attention and also provide clinical application for the main text. Each chapter con- cludes with a small multiple-choice questions self-test. The usefulness of the text is limited by the use of a bib- liography at the end of each chapter, rather than direct ref- erences. As a result, some unsubstantiated claims are made by the author, for example, ‘research has been unable to identify any parameters that can predict weaning success’. This approach is unhelpful for any reader, par- ticularly students and clinicians who are encouraged to explore the evidence base of material presented as ‘best practice’. This text is suitable for both quick reference and general interest reading. I would recommend the text for students, although the cross-systems approach limits its usefulness to a library loan rather than purchase. Regis- tered nurses would find the text helpful to refresh previ- ous learning but would, I suspect, be frustrated by the lack of depth. Ruth Endacott Professor of Clinical Nursing, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia [email protected]

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International Journal of Nursing Practice

2002;

8

: 342

Blackwell Science, LtdOxford, UKIJNInternational Journal of Nursing Practice1322-71142002 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd

86December 2002388

Book ReviewsBook Reviews

10.1046/j.1322-7114.2002.00388.xBook Review342 BEES SGML

B O O K R E V I E W

Nursing Concepts: Oxygenation.

Lisa KennedyShelton (2001). Slack Inc, Thorofare, NJ, USA. 225pages, $US23.95, ISBN 1-55642-523-6

This text is one of a series of Nursing Concepts and isaimed both at nursing students and practising nurses.Other titles in the series include Mobility, SymptomManagement in the Acute Care Setting, and Ethics andConflict. On that basis, it is unclear what the overall scopeof the series is intended to achieve.

The title of this text both undersells and correctlydescribes the content; in discussing oxygenation, the textincludes chapters on the cardiovascular and haematologi-cal systems as well as the more obvious in-depth review ofthe respiratory system. This approach would assist the stu-dent to grasp the holistic, inter-related nature of the bodysystems. At first glance, this is a useful approach. How-ever, the content is not sufficient for a student at any levelto use this as a main source of reference.

The text is surprisingly comprehensive in some areas,for example descriptions of preload and stroke volume inthe cardiovascular chapter. Similarly, the chapters onassessment of the respiratory and cardiovascular systemsare thorough. However, some sections do suffer from alack of balance, for example the section on mechanicalventilation gives over emphasis to negative pressure ven-tilation (the ‘iron lung’ type ventilator) but no mentionis made of Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation(NIPPV), the mainstay of contemporary oxygenationtherapy for many patients with respiratory failure.

The author uses clear diagrams to explain proceduresand aspects of nursing assessment (e.g. JVP measure-ment); however, the depth is limited for the registerednurse, who would need to refer to other texts for greaterdetail. Patient scenarios are used throughout; these suc-ceed in capturing the readers attention and also provideclinical application for the main text. Each chapter con-cludes with a small multiple-choice questions self-test.

The usefulness of the text is limited by the use of a bib-liography at the end of each chapter, rather than direct ref-erences. As a result, some unsubstantiated claims aremade by the author, for example, ‘research has beenunable to identify any parameters that can predict weaningsuccess’. This approach is unhelpful for any reader, par-ticularly students and clinicians who are encouraged toexplore the evidence base of material presented as ‘bestpractice’.

This text is suitable for both quick reference andgeneral interest reading. I would recommend the text forstudents, although the cross-systems approach limits itsusefulness to a library loan rather than purchase. Regis-tered nurses would find the text helpful to refresh previ-ous learning but would, I suspect, be frustrated by thelack of depth.

Ruth Endacott

Professor of Clinical Nursing,

La Trobe University,

Melbourne, Australia

[email protected]