Teaching for Health

Mary Ellen Wurzbach

This second edition of a health education textbook discusses the theoretical underpinnings, the process, and the issues of health teaching. The purpose is to help nurses in the United Kingdom access and debate the issues surrounding health and health promotion, to examine pressures (within the U.K.) to act as role models, and to consider the ethics of persuasive communication within the therapeutic relationship. In addition, the book offers practical steps for improving healthcare teaching. The target audience is nurses and midwives practicing in the United Kingdom. In the United States it would have more applicability for nursing students and students of health education. The illustrations are well drawn and placed. The models and tables are helpful, and the ideas in the book are very simply stated and easy to read. Additional exercises add to its utility for beginning nursing students. The references, however, at the end of each chapter are dated. This health education textbook is appropriate for beginning nursing students or students of health education. Because it is written for nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom, some of its information has limited applicability to students from the United States. However, the basic information on educational theory and teaching methods crosses cultures. It is very simply written, which is helpful for beginning nursing students. If being considered for purchase, the intended audience would need to be carefully considered.

From The Critics

Reviewer: Mary Ellen Wurzbach, RN, MSN, PhD(University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh)
Description: This second edition of a health education textbook discusses the theoretical underpinnings, the process, and the issues of health teaching.
Purpose: The purpose is to help nurses in the United Kingdom access and debate the issues surrounding health and health promotion, to examine pressures (within the U.K.) to act as role models, and to consider the ethics of persuasive communication within the therapeutic relationship. In addition, the book offers practical steps for improving healthcare teaching.
Audience: The target audience is nurses and midwives practicing in the United Kingdom. In the United States it would have more applicability for nursing students and students of health education.
Features: The illustrations are well drawn and placed. The models and tables are helpful, and the ideas in the book are very simply stated and easy to read. Additional exercises add to its utility for beginning nursing students. The references, however, at the end of each chapter are dated.
Assessment: This health education textbook is appropriate for beginning nursing students or students of health education. Because it is written for nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom, some of its information has limited applicability to students from the United States. However, the basic information on educational theory and teaching methods crosses cultures. It is very simply written, which is helpful for beginning nursing students. If being considered for purchase, the intended audience would need to be carefully considered.

3 Stars from Doody