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Home News Board members Courses Course reviews Position statements Become a member Members resources Articles Book reviews Photos Merchandise Links Contact Us ACEN Courses 2008 new course dates announced. more...	Book reviews Colour Atlas of Domestric Violence S.Scott Polsky, MD. FACEP & Jennifer Markowitz, ND RNo WHNP MOSBY, ST Louis, 2004 RRP.$ Rating ••••• Type and scope of book This book is 230 pages long, hard bound, and is an ideal size to handle. It has multiple photographs, with important points highlighted in coloured boxes, which make it extremely easy to access relevant information. It is aimed at all levels of the health care system –ie medical officers, registered nurses, social workers, etc. Contents The book consists of 11 chapters, and 6 appendices, headed thus: Clinician’s Approach to Domestic Violence Injury Patterns and Patterned Injuries Approach to the Serious or Multiple Trauma Patient Penetrating Injuries Oral and Facial Injuries Blunt ThoracicTrauma Blunt Abdominal Trauma Trauma in Pregnancy Genital Trauma Musculoskeletal Injuries Patient Populations and Special Considerations Appendices: Professional Organizations Suggested Screening Questions Resourses for Information about Patient Population and Special Considerations State Reporting Statutes Communication Tools Sample Forensic Examination Documentation Chapter 1 of the Atlas looks at the clinician’s approach to domestic violence, or as they call it, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). There is a brief review of the epidemiology, and then the physical and emotional sequelae of domestic violence. It also describes screening for IPV, looks at clinical clues, how to document injury and discusses the safe and appropriate referral of patients. The photographs begin in chapter 2, where injury patterns are described, and descriptors for injury are reviewed. Chapter 3 details the clinical approach to patients with multiple trauma. It discusses techniques for collecting and preserving evidence and photographing injuries. Chapter 4 takes an in-depth look at penetrating injuries and is designed as an introduction to firearms and ballistics information for clinicians who may not have dealt with this topic. It also review sharp force injuries. Chapters 5 to 10 inclusive address specific body area injury, including the pregnant abdomen. There are comprehensive illustrations of the of the entire scope of domestic violence-related injuries, and x-rays are also incorporated. Chapter 11 looks at special considerations for patients coping with domestic violence. It briefly reviews issues related to same-sex violence, violence against the disable, violence against the elderly and cultural abuse. It also deals with children who witness violence. Strengths Colour Atlas of Domestic Violence, whilst quite confronting at times, is an excellent reference. It is well set out, easy to read, and will be an invaluable resourse in any health care setting where victims of domestic violence may present. The authors states that the ultimate goal of the Atlas is “to increase the index of suspicion for all professionals involved in patient care”, and it has certainly done this for me. Deficiencies Whilst the epidemiology is American, and a couple of the appendices are local in contact this does not in any way detract from the usefulness of the text. Clinicians should be aware of their local laws and resources. Recommended Readership This text will be useful for any clinician who has contact with victims of domestic violence, regardless of specialty, as domestic violence – related complaints may be screened for and observed across the health care continuum. Overall Rating Outstanding- I have not seen anything as clear or comprehensive in this field. We all need to be more aware of the possibility of domestic violence, and this text will certainly help to point us very much in the right direction. Every emergency department should have a copy. Linda Sims RN RMN ED Cert. Nepean ED, Penrith. Real World Nursing Survival Guide – Critical Care & Emergency Nursing Lori Shcumacher, PhD, RN, CCRN & Cynthia Chernecky, PhD, RN, CNS, AOCN Elsevier Saunders, St Louis, 2005 RRP. $60 – 65 Rating ••••• Type and scope of book Real World Nursing Survival Guide – Critical Care & Emergency Nursing is another of the books from the Real World Series (other titles include Pharmacology, Hemodynamic (sic) Monitoring and Fluids & Electrolytes). It is 480 pages long, is softbound and fairly compact. It is a reasonably comprehensive guide to anything to do with emergency and critical care nursing. It follows a systems approach with a focus on best and current practices. All of the chapters follow the same style and cover a broad range of information for emergency and critical care nurses. Contents The book is separated into 12 chapters, and the headings are thus: Review of Hemodynamics Shock Trauma Trauma and Emergency Care Cardiovascular System Respiratory System Nervous System Gastrointestinal System Renal System Endocrine System Hematologic System Integumentary System Multisystem Each of these chapters is very consistent in their style and layout. All sub-headings in the chapter use a four-step process to facilitate the adult learner. They all begin with the question “What is”, e.g., “What is Angina?” in the cardiovascular chapter. There is then an explanation of what the topic is. The next heading is “What you need to know”. This is then followed with a detailed description of the important information that the nurse needs to know about that particular problem. The next heading is “What you do”. There is then an extensive but concise explanation of the nursing interventions that need to be attended to. Subjective and objectives findings of assessment are sometimes also listed here. There is occasionally also some treatment options given to assist the nurse in pre-empting care. The last heading is a question “Do you understand?”. It is here that the reader can revise and confirm what they have learnt through the use of quizzes, crossword puzzles, word finds and fill in the blanks. Also, throughout the text there are helpful side notes for the reader to look at. These side notes include cautions, weblinks, take home points, monitoring tips, lifespan considerations and cultural implications. At the end of the 12 chapters there are some practice NCLEX questions (the NCLEX exams are the exams to gain registration in the USA) and answers, therefore again reinforce the learning that has taken place. Strengths Real World Nursing Survival Guide Critical Care is an impressive text. It is very easy to read and where possible uses basic language, so it shouldn’t confuse the learner. It is interesting and informative and would certainly be of benefit on the shelf of any critical care or emergency nurse. It uses first-rate adult learning principles in the way that it’s written; it encourages and motivates the nurse to read on to learn more. The side notes/tips and the take home points are insightful and the quizzes and games are a fine way to consolidate the learning acquired. The text also covers a large range of topics and defines them all quite well. Deficiencies One of the deficiencies with this text is that it is very American in its language. Who was to know what the Sellick maneuver was?? (it’s cricoid pressure if you didn’t know). Most of the statistics throughout the book are all American, as is the spelling. The drugs are also all American (acetaminophen=paracetamol). This does not distract from the context; it’s just annoying to have to constantly transfer to an Australian workplace. The only other deficiency is that it is slightly basic. For those experienced practitioners out there, it may be a little frustrating with the lack of information given at times. Recommended Readership This text would be ideal for somebody who is just starting out in critical care. It is solely a nurse’s book, so the interventions and treatments guides are very helpful. Anybody can get something from this text. It would also suit somebody who was interested in nursing in the States. Overall Rating Excellent – an insightful and easy to read text, especially for the novice. Jason Montgomery CNC Emergency Services. Blacktown Mt Druitt Hospitals. Saunders Nursing Drug Handbook 2007 Hodgson Barbara RN, OCN: Kizior Robert BS, RPh Saunders Elsevier. St.Louis Missouri, 2007 ISBN-13:978-1-4160-3612-8 RRP.$ Rating ••••• Type and scope of book The Saunders Nursing Drug Handbook 2007 is a comprehensive, user friendly, drug information guide for nurses. The book is a compact soft cover, containing over 1350 pages, a foldout IV compatibility chart, colour atlas of medications, and a mini CD-ROM that offers over 300 printable drug cards and an interactive drug calculator. The book differs from other drug handbooks by the inclusion of relevant nursing considerations regarding the introduction of the medication such as Baseline Assessment, Intervention/Evaluation and Patient/Family Education. An excellent additional resource to any Nurse, Medical Practitioner, Department, Ward or Clinic. Contents Drugs by Disorder Classifications A-Z Drug Entries Appendices: Calculation of Doses Controlled Drugs (United States) Drip Rates for Critical Care Medications Drug Abuse Equi-Analgesic Dosing FDA Pregnancy Categories Herbal therapies and Interactions Lifespan and Cultural Aspects of Drug Therapy Normal Laboratory Values Orphan Drugs P450 (CYP) Enzymes Poison Antidote Chart Preventing Medication Errors and Improving Medication Safety Recommended Childhood and Adult Immunizations Signs and Symptoms of Electrolyte Imbalance Sound-alike and Look-Alike Drugs Spanish Phrases Often Used in Clinical Settings Techniques of Medication Administration General Index Colour Pill Atlas. The bulk of the book contains an alphabetical listing of drug entries by generic name. It includes new drugs and revised updates of existing medications. Each entry is separated into segments such as Generic Name, Classification, Action, Pharmacokinetics, Uses, Precautions, Contraindications, Lifespan considerations i.e. pregnancy category, Interactions including Drug, Herbal, Food and Lab values. Availability, Administration/ Handling, Indication/Routes/Dosages, Side Affects Adverse Reactions and Toxic Effects. Nursing Considerations include Baseline Assessment, i.e Metoprolol Tartrate “Assess baseline renal/liver function tests. Assess BP, apical pulse immediately before drug administration”. Intervention and Evaluation i.e. “Assess for paradoxical reaction,” and Patient/ Family Teaching i.e. “Do not abruptly discontinue medications” etc…these inclusions allow for safer practice and better patient care. The colour pill atlas and foldout IV compatibility chart are also user friendly components of the book that would be regularly consulted. Strengths The Saunders Nursing Drug Handbook 2007 is printed in a easy to read format. Its compact size and unique addition of comprehensive nursing considerations make this an excellent reference book for doctors and nurses alike. Additional inclusions such as Herbal Therapies and Interactions, Poison Antidote Chart, Recommended Childhood and Adult Immunisations, and Techniques of Medication Administration, ensure this comprehensive handbook will be regularly consulted. Deficiencies The Saunders Nursing Drug Handbook 2007 in written in the United States. This results in minimal aspects of the book not being applicable to countries out side the US. Recommended Readership This Handbook would be a valuable resource to anyone working within the medical field, doctors and nurses alike. It would be an appropriate addition to any drug trolley whether it is in a nursing home or hospital ward. It would also be a valuable addition to a GP or Emergency Department where a wide variety of medications are commenced. Overall Rating I believe the Saunders Nursing Drug Handbook 2007, is an excellent resource that would be a welcome addition to any Nurse, Medical Practitioner, Department, Ward or Clinic. Kate Chapman RN, BN, Grad Dip (Emerg). Mt.Gambier & Districts Health Services SA. Foerensic Emergency Medicine Jonathan S Olshaker MD, M. Christine Jackson MD, William S Smock MD MS Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins Philadelphia 2001 RRP.$ Rating ••••• Type and scope of book Forensic Emergency Medicine is a 299 page, hardbound, multi-authored text on forensic issues in emergency medicine. The text provides essential information that emergency medical and nursing professionals need to identify, evaluate and treat patients in the emergency setting whose care also involves clinical forensic issues. The text not only offers detailed guidelines and techniques on interviewing and examining the victim but also on how to collect, preserve and appropriately document vital evidence for legal proceedings. Forensic Emergency Medicine also includes numerous illustrations alongside the text in black and white and colour to emphasize the importance of the chapter concepts and improve the reader’s retention of information. Contents The text is divided into 13 chapters. Chapter headings include the following; Perpetrators The Victims of Violence Interviewing Techniques Forensic Emergency Medicine Forensic Examination of Victims and Perpetrators of Sexual Assault Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault of Adolescents Child Abuse / Assault – General Elder Abuse Treating Survivors of Intimate Partner Abuse: Forensic Identification and Documentation Sexual Assault and the Criminal Justice System Testifying Law Enforcement Forensic Photography in the Emergency Department The initial chapters of the text address issues of criminology, extremely useful to healthcare providers who may be unfamiliar in dealing with characteristics and images of perpetrators of violence and their victims. The authors provide beneficial definitions, case scenarios and helpful recommendations throughout the text for ease of understanding the concepts discussed. The core concepts of Emergency Forensic Medicine are reviewed in Chapter 4, the author discussing in particular mechanisms of injury, wounding capabilities of weapons, wound identification (blunt vs penetrating) and injury patterns. Numerous black and white photographs have also been included within the text to demonstrate such issues. The chapter also has some useful hints and techniques for health care providers to appropriately collect forensic evidence. Subsequent chapters discuss the forensic examination of abuse and sexual assault victims and perpetrators. The main themes frequently examined throughout the chapters include: Issues of patient consent and confidentiality Patient history Physical examination Types of injuries Treatment and psychological support Documentation and referral Reporting of assault / abuse The final chapters describe the interactions between medicine and the American criminal justice system. Discussions relate to the criminal justice process, police investigation, court testimony, and documentation of forensic evidence including photography. Forensic photography has been given its own chapter providing important and detailed information and education for the healthcare provider in the principles and practices of forensic photography within the ED. Strengths Forensic Emergency Medicine is an easy to read, interesting and informative text chapter-by-chapter or used as a useful reference source on a particular forensic topic. The text covers all aspects of clinical forensic medicine that is likely to present to the ED, including child abuse, elder abuse, domestic violence and sexual trauma. The index and suggested readings at the end of each chapter are extensive and the excellent use of subject headings throughout the text makes locating the information easy. The repeated inclusion throughout the text for the need of appropriate documentation of forensic evidence emphasizes to the healthcare provider the importance documentation plays in legal proceedings for victims. The main aim therefore is not only to treat and manage the injury but also to accurately document it. The use of numerous photographs throughout the text adds to the enjoyment of the read. Deficiencies The text is primarily aimed at physicians working within the EDs of hospitals. Although emergency physicians are frequently involved in forensic medical care, so too are nursing staff, junior medical and allied health, in particular social workers. It would be beneficial to include information relevant to such groups. The text does not discuss legal drug and alcohol testing in the ED and what would be the rights of both the patients and staff in this situation. The text is solely based on the American scenario and the American criminal justice system, obviously with some aspects not applicable within Australia, however still worth the read. Throughout the text custodial issues are only referred to briefly and only in some places. Perhaps a more extensive discussion with suggested recommendations would have been helpful in an area inundated with legal barriers. Recommended Readership Any healthcare provider who may be in contact with forensic medical patients within an emergency or acute care setting will benefit from reading this text. Overall Rating Excellent – an essential read.
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