Contemporary Professional Nursing

From The Critics

Reviewer: Kim Haidet, RNC, MSN, CRNP(Pennsylvania State University)
Description: This book is an interesting aggregation of chapters discussing the theoretical components of nursing. It provides basic information in the introductory chapters on the development of nursing as a profession, theories and models of nursing, nursing process, educating nurses, ethics in nursing, reality shock in the workplace, and the NCLEX examination.
Purpose: The purpose of this comprehensive textbook is to present an overview and synthesis of issues and trends germane to the development of professional nursing.
Audience: The primary target audience is the undergraduate nursing student. Select chapters on bioethical issues, licensure/certification, health care delivery, the politically active nurse, and nursing law and liability are also relevant to the advanced practice nursing student and/or practicing professional nurse.
Features: Each chapter begins with key learning objectives specific to the chapter content. "A closer look" and "issues in practice" are presented to help the reader apply theoretical information to real nursing situations. Another important feature, "critical thinking exercises," allows the reader to apply higher level reasoning to resolve complex issues. Additionally, dispersed throughout the text are informative historical perspectives that are quite interesting. Unfortunately, the book does not include drawings or illustrations that could supplement the historical information. A summary and current bibliography accompany each chapter. Essential tables and charts are effectively placed. Both the index and glossary contain pertinent, easy to use entries. The appendixes serve as an excellent reference and include numbers and demographics, glossary, national council of state boards, and specialty nursing organizations.
Assessment: This softcover edition is well-written and organized and ideally suited as a textbook for an introductory nursing course or issues and trends course. The author expresses ideas clearly and succinctly. The book is a comprehensive and well-chosen combination of theoretical and practical information, an invaluable resource to both the novice and expert professional nurse.

Kim Haidet

This book is an interesting aggregation of chapters discussing the theoretical components of nursing. It provides basic information in the introductory chapters on the development of nursing as a profession, theories and models of nursing, nursing process, educating nurses, ethics in nursing, reality shock in the workplace, and the NCLEX examination. The purpose of this comprehensive textbook is to present an overview and synthesis of issues and trends germane to the development of professional nursing. The primary target audience is the undergraduate nursing student. Select chapters on bioethical issues, licensure/certification, health care delivery, the politically active nurse, and nursing law and liability are also relevant to the advanced practice nursing student and/or practicing professional nurse. Each chapter begins with key learning objectives specific to the chapter content. A closer look and issues in practice are presented to help the reader apply theoretical information to real nursing situations. Another important feature, critical thinking exercises, allows the reader to apply higher level reasoning to resolve complex issues. Additionally, dispersed throughout the text are informative historical perspectives that are quite interesting. Unfortunately, the book does not include drawings or illustrations that could supplement the historical information. A summary and current bibliography accompany each chapter. Essential tables and charts are effectively placed. Both the index and glossary contain pertinent, easy to use entries. The appendixes serve as an excellent reference and include numbers and demographics, glossary, national council of state boards, andspecialty nursing organizations. This softcover edition is well-written and organized and ideally suited as a textbook for an introductory nursing course or issues and trends course. The author expresses ideas clearly and succinctly. The book is a comprehensive and well-chosen combination of theoretical and practical information, an invaluable resource to both the novice and expert professional nurse.

3 Stars from Doody