Nursing Now

From The Critics

Reviewer: Jayalakshmi Jambunathan, PhD, MSN, MA, BSN, BSc(University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh)
Description: This book provides a basic understanding of the current issues and trends affecting the nursing profession and healthcare in general. This updates the 2000 edition
Purpose: The purpose, according to the author, is to provide an overview and synthesis of the important issues and trends that impact the development of the nursing profession. The book is needed as a primer for nursing students to not only help them understand the context within which issues arise, but also the significance in confronting the issues. It is intended to help them be better prepared as future leaders in providing high quality care in a changing healthcare delivery system. The author has succeeded in accomplishing the objectives by providing a book that is simple and easy to read and understand.
Audience: The book is primarily intended for nursing students, although it also has utility in a practice setting. For the students, it can be used both at the beginning of the educational experience and toward the end. At the beginning of the educational experience, students can be introduced to the historical perspectives and context of nursing, principles of ethics and law as these relate to nursing, and the various nursing specialties and alternative and complementary therapies. Toward the end of the program, application of these same concepts can be accomplished through discussion of trends related to bioethics, leadership and management, role transition, and cultural practices in an ethnically and culturally diverse population. Hence, the book can be used throughout the educational program with an emphasis on salient features at every stage of the student's progression through the program. The book can also be used by practicing nurses as there is a wide range of current issues and topics covered in sufficient depth.
Features: The focus is on current issues and trends as the author traces the evolution of the profession through a portrayal of the historical perspectives and theory development in nursing, to role transition from a graduating to a practicing nurse — all in the context of a technologically oriented, culturally diverse healthcare delivery system that is undergoing an information revolution while offering an array of alternative and complementary therapies. In delineating these aspects, the author emphasizes the need for nurses to be critical thinkers, to be knowledgeable about ethical and legal issues, to have leadership, management, and delegation skills, and to be involved politically in order to lead the profession. The chapters on forensic nursing, cultural diversity, nursing informatics, alternative therapies, and spirituality and healthcare can provide basic and sufficient information essential for a beginning and/or practicing nurses who may be interested in pursuing these areas. The interactive format of the book, along with current issues boxes for both student nurses and practicing nurses, along with integration of questions throughout are attractive features of the book. Other helpful features are the critical thinking exercises, appendixes, and glossary. The one shortcoming of the book may be that it is not detail-oriented. However, since the primary audience is student nurses, this shortcoming is minor.
Assessment: The book will be valuable and useful for students and practicing nurses. The emphasis on issues throughout highlights the importance of the need for nurses to not only solve complicated problems, but also to be skilled and knowledgeable in their undertakings in order to provide high quality care in a complex healthcare delivery system.

4 Stars! from Doody