Opinion
Board’s eye view Mosby’s Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests
Advanced Practice Nursing: An Integrative Approach
Kathleen Pagana and Timothy Pagana Elsevier £42.99 | 1,088pp ISBN: 9780323089494
Ann B Hamric, Charlene Hanson, Mary Tracy et al Elsevier £50.99 | 752pp ISBN: 9781455739806
IT WOULD be almost impossible to remember everything about all the tests that are required in clinical practice, so this comprehensive overview of laboratory tests is especially useful. The book categorises tests by specimen, such as blood and urine, and method, such as X-ray and ultrasound, with indexes to allow the reader to find tests easily. Information on each test, including normal findings, critical values, indications and contraindications, explanations, possible complications, and interfering factors, is provided. Each procedure is explained, along with the necessary patient care before, during and after the test. Because blood specimen tubes are generally standardised across the world, the fact that this text is written by US-based authors does not detract from its value. Overall, this text is a superb resource to help all those who order or collect specimens from patients. It considers what patients need to know so that each test can be undertaken with proper consent and due care at all points during each procedure. The explanatory sections are comprehensive and, in some cases, illuminating, in that they explain things that many practitioners puzzle over. The book should be placed prominently on every ward and unit for the benefit of staff who order tests and who look after patients undergoing them. It will be invaluable for clinicians at all levels of expertise and experience. Janet Marsden is professor of ophthalmology and emergency care at the faculty of health, psychology and social care, Manchester Metropolitan University
THE DEVELOPMENT of the advanced nurse practitioner role has improved patient outcomes nationally and internationally, and this newly revised edition provides a clear, comprehensive and current review of such development. The book consists of 24 chapters organised into four broad subjects: history, competencies, operational definitions and managing environments. Other topics discussed include direct clinical practice, leadership, evidence-based practice, acute care and health policy. This edition is more reader friendly than previous ones and has more headings, tables and illustrations. It also includes enhanced ‘exemplar boxes’, which give practical, real-life examples such as the evolving and innovative role of heart transplant co-ordinators. An expanded chapter on the international development of advanced nursing addresses several issues, such as the discrepancies in the titling of advanced practice nurses and educational standardisation. However, it does not address specifically the role of advanced practice nurses in emergency departments. The book is intended for nursing leaders, educators and practising clinicians who are preparing for advanced practice roles, but would be useful to any nurses advancing their roles by undertaking master’s or doctorate qualifications. Lynda Gibbons is a registered advanced nurse practitioner in the emergency department of Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, Meath, Republic of Ireland
What’s your view? If you want to express your opinions about any of the issues in these pages, contact the managing editor at [email protected] EMERGENCY NURSE
Compassion fatigue RECENTLY, I taught a leadership session to second-year undergraduate students. After distributing brief leadership questionnaires to ascertain how each student preferred to achieve his or her goals when working as part of a team, I asked them to assess whether they were ‘task’‑oriented, which means they concentrate in getting their jobs done, or ‘people’‑oriented, which means they prefer to keep patients and colleagues happy. In simple terms, the former indicates an autocratic style of behaviour, the latter a democratic style. Such behaviour may change over time. There is of course no correct answer to this question, but it gives students an insight into how they function. Following some interesting discussion of the results, the students asked me about my own behaviour. Having undertaken the same questionnaire at regular intervals over the past six years, I gave them four examples. In date order, my natural tendency was balanced, with a slight preference towards people. Four years later, I remained balanced but with a preference for the task. In the two subsequent evaluations, the last of which was only a few weeks ago, my preference for the task had become more marked. However, I found that I had not realised how much my behaviour had changed over the intervening period. Human interactions and concern for people is essential in health care and associated organisations, but during times of austerity, when jobs are being lost and workload increases, staff behaviour can change. We may seem to have a little less time and concern for each other, not because we want to be less co-operative, but because we are constrained by the increasing physical, mental and emotional burden of work. Compassion fatigue has recently been highlighted in the nursing press, but I was horrified to realise what changes to the working culture can do to otherwise caring and compassionate people. Lorna McInulty is senior lecturer in emergency and unscheduled care at the University of Central Lancashire, and a member of the Emergency Nurse editorial advisory board July 2014 | Volume 22 | Number 4 13
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 28, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
Board’s eye view Mosby’s Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests
Advanced Practice Nursing: An Integrative Approach
Kathleen Pagana and Timothy Pagana Elsevier £42.99 | 1,088pp ISBN: 9780323089494
Ann B Hamric, Charlene Hanson, Mary Tracy et al Elsevier £50.99 | 752pp ISBN: 9781455739806
IT WOULD be almost impossible to remember everything about all the tests that are required in clinical practice, so this comprehensive overview of laboratory tests is especially useful. The book categorises tests by specimen, such as blood and urine, and method, such as X-ray and ultrasound, with indexes to allow the reader to find tests easily. Information on each test, including normal findings, critical values, indications and contraindications, explanations, possible complications, and interfering factors, is provided. Each procedure is explained, along with the necessary patient care before, during and after the test. Because blood specimen tubes are generally standardised across the world, the fact that this text is written by US-based authors does not detract from its value. Overall, this text is a superb resource to help all those who order or collect specimens from patients. It considers what patients need to know so that each test can be undertaken with proper consent and due care at all points during each procedure. The explanatory sections are comprehensive and, in some cases, illuminating, in that they explain things that many practitioners puzzle over. The book should be placed prominently on every ward and unit for the benefit of staff who order tests and who look after patients undergoing them. It will be invaluable for clinicians at all levels of expertise and experience. Janet Marsden is professor of ophthalmology and emergency care at the faculty of health, psychology and social care, Manchester Metropolitan University
THE DEVELOPMENT of the advanced nurse practitioner role has improved patient outcomes nationally and internationally, and this newly revised edition provides a clear, comprehensive and current review of such development. The book consists of 24 chapters organised into four broad subjects: history, competencies, operational definitions and managing environments. Other topics discussed include direct clinical practice, leadership, evidence-based practice, acute care and health policy. This edition is more reader friendly than previous ones and has more headings, tables and illustrations. It also includes enhanced ‘exemplar boxes’, which give practical, real-life examples such as the evolving and innovative role of heart transplant co-ordinators. An expanded chapter on the international development of advanced nursing addresses several issues, such as the discrepancies in the titling of advanced practice nurses and educational standardisation. However, it does not address specifically the role of advanced practice nurses in emergency departments. The book is intended for nursing leaders, educators and practising clinicians who are preparing for advanced practice roles, but would be useful to any nurses advancing their roles by undertaking master’s or doctorate qualifications. Lynda Gibbons is a registered advanced nurse practitioner in the emergency department of Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, Meath, Republic of Ireland
What’s your view? If you want to express your opinions about any of the issues in these pages, contact the managing editor at [email protected] EMERGENCY NURSE
Compassion fatigue RECENTLY, I taught a leadership session to second-year undergraduate students. After distributing brief leadership questionnaires to ascertain how each student preferred to achieve his or her goals when working as part of a team, I asked them to assess whether they were ‘task’‑oriented, which means they concentrate in getting their jobs done, or ‘people’‑oriented, which means they prefer to keep patients and colleagues happy. In simple terms, the former indicates an autocratic style of behaviour, the latter a democratic style. Such behaviour may change over time. There is of course no correct answer to this question, but it gives students an insight into how they function. Following some interesting discussion of the results, the students asked me about my own behaviour. Having undertaken the same questionnaire at regular intervals over the past six years, I gave them four examples. In date order, my natural tendency was balanced, with a slight preference towards people. Four years later, I remained balanced but with a preference for the task. In the two subsequent evaluations, the last of which was only a few weeks ago, my preference for the task had become more marked. However, I found that I had not realised how much my behaviour had changed over the intervening period. Human interactions and concern for people is essential in health care and associated organisations, but during times of austerity, when jobs are being lost and workload increases, staff behaviour can change. We may seem to have a little less time and concern for each other, not because we want to be less co-operative, but because we are constrained by the increasing physical, mental and emotional burden of work. Compassion fatigue has recently been highlighted in the nursing press, but I was horrified to realise what changes to the working culture can do to otherwise caring and compassionate people. Lorna McInulty is senior lecturer in emergency and unscheduled care at the University of Central Lancashire, and a member of the Emergency Nurse editorial advisory board July 2014 | Volume 22 | Number 4 13
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 28, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
