ACEN - the Australian College Of Emergency Nursing provides trauma and paediatric training courses for nurses

Mike Cadogan, MA(Oxon), MBChB, FACEM, Consultant Emergency Physician, Sir Charles Gairdner Emergency Department, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Emergency Medicine, University of Western Australia, Australia;
Anthony F T Brown, Senior Staff Specialist, Department of Emergency Medicine, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Tony Celenza, Senior Lecturer in Emergency Medicine

Australian Version
Saunders Australia 2011
ISBN: 9780729539616

Rating •••••

Type and scope of book
This is the 2nd Edition Australian series of the internationally successful On-Call series. It an updated version with latest drug guides. The book is seen close to many new medical officers. The book is written in a style to challenge the new medical officer to cope with the many emergency and common calls that they will receive.

Contents
Section A Chapters 1-6 Section A discusses general principles of management and diagnosis. It concentrates on profession legal and ethical problems. The section examines the medical role in care of the dying patient. The communication situations and issues are identified. Communication techniques in self and situational management are introduced.

Section B Chapter 7-14 This section focuses on emergency call that maybe received. Emergency protocols of the DRABC approach is highlighted. The cardiac arrest current algorithm is explained well. The section then goes into depth to educate the reader further into respiratory, circulatory and neurological problems. Sign and symptoms are linked with the patient’s physiological changes in condition. Disaster codes are discussed briefly.

Section C Chapter 15-34. This Section concentrates on the specific common calls that will be received. The list of these call are Shortness of breath, cough, Chest pain, Rhythm disorders, Hypertension, Hypotension, Altered mental status, Collapse, headache, Seizures, Weakness, Abdominal pain, Alter bowel habits, Gastrointestinal bleeding, Haematuria, Urine output increased or decreased, Leg pain, Fever, Rashes, Transfusion reactions. This section has good reference to the emergency nurse as these are common complaints at triage.

Section D Chapter 35-46. Investigations that are commonly ordered to diagnose patients are examined in this section. This section contains many of the common investigation that are carried out most in an emergency department. This section is well explained and very useful to the reader. The investigations include ECG, Chest X-ray, Abdominal X-ray, CT head scan, Urinalysis, Arterial blood gases, Blood glucose level, blood salts, Hb, and coagulation studies.

Section E Chapter 47-66. Section E covers the many common procedures that the new medical officer is likely to be asked to perform. This section contain useful diagrams to explain the procedures. The authors give a step by step approach. Potential procedural problems are highlighted and contraindications to the procedure are given. Procedures that are Venipuncture, Blood cultures, Cannulation, Arterial blood gas puncture, Injections, Infiltration of local Anaesthetic, Nasal gastrointestinal tubes, IDC, Paracentesis, Pleural tap, Chest drain insertion, Lumber Puncture, Joint Aspiration, Cardiac monitoring, ECG, Defibrillation, Electrocardioversion, Cardiac pacing, and Central line insertion.

Section F Chapter 67. Contains a basis formulary of common medication and pharmacological groups.

Strengths
The strength of this book is that it can be used as a reference guide to management of common problems that present to hospitals. The book is well written and explanations are easily understood by the reader. Because it uses Australian standards and language this makes it very acceptable as a department reference guide.

The highlight of the book is Section C and D. This makes the book really useful and practical. These sections are of most use to the Emergency Nurse. These are the common problems that present and common diagnostic tools used to formulate treatment plans. It is these sections that are referenced the most by the reader.

This book in its 2nd Edition is widely purchased by many new medical officers. This is witnessed by seeing the book with new medical officers in the department.

Deficiencies
The strength of Section C and D is the centre of the book. Parts of sections A and B could have been combined. Parts of section A and B could have been placed at further back towards the back of the book. This may have given the book better balance.

Recommended readership
The book is marketed as a study guide and so is suited for this purpose. A small scope of readers would find this an invaluable resource and it may be of use out of interest for those not targeted.

Overall Rating
This is a well written book. It has plenty of application for an emergency nurse. The book can be used as a quick reference guide or a complete read. Upon the completion of the book the reader will be able to deal with many presenting problems. To chose and perform appropriate diagnostic studies.

This knowledge and skills can then be the basis for further specialist education, training and knowledge.

Christopher Thomas, BMedsc, MBBS, FANZCA, Consultant Visiting Medical Officer (Anaesthesia), The Ipswich Hospital; Specialist Anaesthetist, St Andrews Ipswich Hospital & Ipswich Day Hospital; Clinical Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane
Christopher Butler, MBBS FANZCA MPH & TM CertDHM PGDipEcho, Senior Staff Specialist, Department of Anaesthesia, The Townsville Hospital; Clinical Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville

Churchill Livingstone Elsevier 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7295-3947-0

Rating •••••

Type and scope of book
This book is a study guide specifically for doctors who are planning on taking the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetics fellowship exams. As this is a study guide it is structured in similar fashion to how study would be undertaken.

Contents
This book has 7 chapters with an abbreviation list included.

Chapter 1 and 2 - There is an overview on the final examination format and the training scheme that is undertaken. Useful tips on preparation for the exams with resources, past paper availability and professional standards are found in the preparation guide. A comprehensive textbook list is also included and separated into specific groups like airway management, crisis management and pain management.

Chapters 3 through 5 - Specific to the components of the exams with written and viva topics outlined. These chapters are broken into specific conditions that are encountered, how the studier should structure their assessment and the types of investigations that are required.

Chapter 6 - is by far the most useful for the emergency nurse. This chapter is data interpretation that is useful for the final exam and can be adapted and applied for nursing practice. This chapter includes ECG interpretation and practice ECG’s, X-ray and CT interpretation and examples of typical presentations. Arterial blood gas and chemistry is also discussed. There are topics in this chapter that may be beyond the requirements of emergency nursing but as this book is not aimed at this group its application is relevant.

Chapter 7 - A chapter dedicated entirely to resource material and articles for review in preparation for the exams. There are resources’ of interest for nursing but again more anaesthetic exam relevant.

Strengths
This book has a great structured approach to study with lots of useful information for not only those undertaking the FANZCA but also the emergency nurse. The use of pictures helps with visual recognition when describing X-ray, CT and MRI imaging. The compact nature would be an advantage for those wanting to do revision on the run. Quotes are at the start of each chapter and help refresh the mind between topics.

Deficiencies
The book is specific for those studying for exams and so not an ideal resource for the emergency nurse. While there is lots of useful bits of information it is in a format suited more to the student and would not be a reference book that could be flicked through when looking for a specific answer.

Recommended readership
The book is marketed as a study guide and so is suited for this purpose. A small scope of readers would find this an invaluable resource and it may be of use out of interest for those not targeted.

Overall Rating
This is a compact, comprehensive study resource that is well structured and easy to read. An interesting read that stimulates thought around assessing patients and presentations. While not a book I foresee on my shelf, one I would not pass by without having a flick through.

Australian Version

Mike Cadogan, MA(Oxon), MBChB, FACEM, Consultant Emergency Physician, Sir Charles Gairdner Emergency Department, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Emergency Medicine, University of Western Australia, Australia
Anthony F T Brown, Senior Staff Specialist, Department of Emergency Medicine, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Tony Celenza, Senior Lecturer in Emergency Medicine

Saunders Australia 2011
ISBN: 9780729539616

Rating •••••

The scope of the book
This is the 2nd Edition Australian series of the internationally successful On-Call series. It an updated version with latest drug guides. The book is seen close to many new medical officers. The book is written in a style to challenge the new medical officer to cope with the many emergency and common calls that they will receive.

Section A Chapters 1-6 Section A discusses general principles of management and diagnosis. It concentrates on profession legal and ethical problems. The section examines the medical role in care of the dying patient. The communication situations and issues are identified. Communication techniques in self and situational management are introduced.

Section B Chapter 7-14 This section focuses on emergency call that maybe received. Emergency protocols of the DRABC approach is highlighted. The cardiac arrest current algorithm is explained well. The section then goes into depth to educate the reader further into respiratory, circulatory and neurological problems. Sign and symptoms are linked with the patient’s physiological changes in condition. Disaster codes are discussed briefly.

Section C Chapter 15-34. This Section concentrates on the specific common calls that will be received. The list of these call are Shortness of breath, cough, Chest pain, Rhythm disorders, Hypertension, Hypotension, Altered mental status, Collapse, headache, Seizures, Weakness, Abdominal pain, Alter bowel habits, Gastrointestinal bleeding, Haematuria, Urine output increased or decreased, Leg pain, Fever, Rashes, Transfusion reactions. This section has good reference to the emergency nurse as these are common complaints at triage.

Section D Chapter 35-46. Investigations that are commonly ordered to diagnose patients are examined in this section. This section contains many of the common investigation that are carried out most in an emergency department. This section is well explained and very useful to the reader. The investigations include ECG, Chest X-ray, Abdominal X-ray, CT head scan, Urinalysis, Arterial blood gases, Blood glucose level, blood salts, Hb, and coagulation studies.

Section E Chapter 47-66. Section E covers the many common procedures that the new medical officer is likely to be asked to perform. This section contain useful diagrams to explain the procedures. The authors give a step by step approach. Potential procedural problems are highlighted and contraindications to the procedure are given. Procedures that are Venipuncture, Blood cultures, Cannulation, Arterial blood gas puncture, Injections, Infiltration of local Anaesthetic, Nasal gastrointestinal tubes, IDC, Paracentesis, Pleural tap, Chest drain insertion, Lumber Puncture, Joint Aspiration, Cardiac monitoring, ECG, Defibrillation, Electrocardioversion, Cardiac pacing, and Central line insertion.

Section F Chapter 67. Contains a basis formulary of common medication and pharmacological groups.

Strengths
The strength of this book is that it can be used as a reference guide to management of common problems that present to hospitals. The book is well written and explanations are easily understood by the reader. Because it uses Australian standards and language this makes it very acceptable as a department reference guide.

The highlight of the book is Section C and D. This makes the book really useful and practical. These sections are of most use to the Emergency Nurse. These are the common problems that present and common diagnostic tools used to formulate treatment plans. It is these sections that are referenced the most by the reader.

This book in its 2nd Edition is widely purchased by many new medical officers. This is witnessed by seeing the book with new medical officers in the department.

Deficiencies
The strength of Section C and D is the centre of the book. Parts of sections A and B could have been combined. Parts of section A and B could have been placed at further back towards the back of the book. This may have given the book better balance.

Overall Rating
This is a well written book. It has plenty of application for an emergency nurse. The book can be used as a quick reference guide or a complete read. Upon the completion of the book the reader will be able to deal with many presenting problems. To chose and perform appropriate diagnostic studies.

This knowledge and skills can then be the basis for further specialist education, training and knowledge.

Peter Thompson, MD FRACP FACC MBA, Cardiologist (formerly Director of Coronary Care at SCGH); Director of Research Development SCGH; Clinical Professor of Medicine & Population Health, UWA

Churchill Livingstone Elsevier 2011
ISBN: 9780729539272 (pbk)

Rating •••••

Type and scope of book
This is a gold standard guide to coronary care treatment in 2011. This book moves from epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of the cardiology patient. This book is written by well-known experts in the field of cardiology in Australia and the World.

The 2nd Edition of this book is a updated version of the successful 1st edition 12 years ago. It highlights the standards in coronary care and shows the progression and outcomes in current treatments and therapies.

The book has an Australian slant and uses Australian statistics in comparison to world statistics. The book essentially comprehensively examines contemporary clinical practice in cardiology.

Contents
Section 1 Background to Coronary Care
Section 2 Epidemiology, Genetics and Risk Factors
Section 3 Pathophysiology
Section 4 Evaluation of the Patient
Section 5 Drug therapies
Section 6 Non-drug therapies
Section 7 Acute coronary syndromes
Section 8 Other cardiac problems
Section 9 Special problems in the coronary care unit patient
Section 10 Post coronary management

Strengths
This book has many strengths that Emergency Nurses will enjoy. The book is considered a must read for Coronary Care Nurses. The book sets the Australian standards for the treatment of Cardiology patients.

The layout and chapter design builds knowledge learnt from the previous chapters. This book uses a style and language that the Australian Emergency Nurse can easily understand.

The book uses many easily to understand diagrams and pictures. The diagrams add to the text and help give the student a sense of colour in using the text. The pictures included use good resolutions so you can see scans and the highlighted features. All pictures and diagrams are well analysed and referenced back into the text.

I really enjoyed reading Section 4 The Evaluation of the Patient. This examines thoroughly diagnosis of the Cardiac Patient. It goes The explanation of diagnostic techniques, ECG, CXR, and Biochemical Markers are well explained.

I found the Section 5 Drug Therapies chapter of particular use. I have increased my knowledge and understanding of the therapies from reading this book. The language of the descriptions of the drug therapies was highlight in my knowledge gain.

I liked the inclusion of the major cardiac research studies outcomes in providing evidence for treatments and therapies. This gives the book the edge of hard science to back up its knowledge delivery. The diagnostic studies use the Australian numeral values and ratios. This makes the book useful at the bedside in Australia in 2011 and beyond.

Deficiencies
Section 8-10 may have less relevance to the Emergency Nurse as these sections particular relate to Coronary Care and Cardiac Surgery. This although not essential reading for ED treatment and care, it is interesting as shows potential pathways and treatment options for this large client group.

As with all text book they can date easily. This authors department now uses a new Troponin T Sensitive test that is not covered by the book.

Recommended Readership
A fantastic read for any Emergency Nurse. Upon reading and understanding the knowledge of this book you will have advanced knowledge and skills in coronary care in Emergency Department presentations.

Coronary Care patients make up a large workload for any Emergency Department. Many others present with their complicated history and drug therapies. This book would be a fabulous reference book for any Emergency Department

Overall Rating
This is a excellent text book that sets the Australian Standards of Care in Coronary Care. The book is easily applied to the Emergency Nursing discipline. This is a topic that has great overlap in knowledge and treatment and is very applicable to Emergency Nursing.

Gary J. Browne, MBBS, MSpMed, FRACP, FACEM, FAAP, Inaugural Head, Discipline of Emergency Medicine. The University of Sydney, Head of Academic Emergency Medicine & Senior Physician, Children’s Hospital Westmead., Lecturer Clinical School. University of Notre Dame, Sydney. University of NSW, Faculty of Medicine.
Nicholas Cheng, Paediatric Emergency Physician, The Children’s hospital Westmead: Adjunct senior Lecturer, School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame (Sydney), New South Wales.
Mary McCaskill, Paediatric Emergency Physician, Head of Emergency Department, Co-chair, Ambulatory and Emergency Programme, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead , New South Wales.

Saunders Elsevier 2011
ISBN: 9780729539128

Rating •••••

Type and scope of book
This is the Australasia version of the successful Nocton and Gedeit’s On Call Paediatrics 3rd Edition and the On Call series of medical textbooks. It is written and edited by experts on in paediatric Medicine in Australia and New Zealand.

The text is specifically aimed at paediatric doctors on call. However it is an easy read for either nursing or medical staff. Although the text is designed to assist medical personal, significant information can be pulled from it to encourage and assist nurses to easily identify the relevant “red flags”. It is a text that is well laid out and is an uncomplicated read for those with limited paediatric exposure to. Enabling them to grasp and comprehend the essential and relevant information that may be required.

Each chapter follows a similar format; essentially highlighting the relevant questions to raise that enables those involved to identify “red flags”. Another significant and clever area in each chapter is the identification of the potential and common life threatening situations that need to be excluded. This could be considered and viewed as a valuable resource to those involved in treating an unwell child, and holds essential information to those medical or nursing personal with limited paediatric experience.

The text is broken down into a number of chapters. Each chapter address a common and potential major paediatric symptom, condition or complication. The chapters are broken into sections that introduce the reader to the specific topic/problem,

• The phone call of the problem.
• The significant questions to consider to identify the potential “red flags”,
• Relevant “corridor thoughts” to consider on the way to the patient,
• The essential bedside tests to undertake,
• The essential aspects of the physical exam to focus on,
• Investigations and formal tests that need to be considered,
• potential treatments,
• common diagnoses,
• Importantly the potential major threat to life possibilities.
• A remember section or summary for traps and alternate therapies and diagnosis

Strengths
This book although compact, is well structured, simple to follow and easy to identify a section that specifically relevant to the reader. The book is easy to navigate through enabling the least experienced medical or nursing personal in paediatric medicine to find relevant information.

The structure throughout enables medical personal to understand and explore all possible avenues of a patient’s condition, to enable them to identify the specific cause or issue efficiently, to ultimately initiate relevant treatment within a timely manner.

The use of diagrams, pictures and tables also offer the reader a “quick reference guide”.

This text although specifically aimed at medical personal has the potential to benefit nurses and exposes them the vast possible paediatric conditions and complications.

Being a compact text that is loaded with powerful information, it is an essential resource that allows it to be carried around the hospital without weighing down the reader. It enables those that have the text on hand to use it a useful reference in aiding valuable and potentially lifesaving information to the reader.

Deficiencies
The text is a soft cover, allowing easy wear and tear to occur for those that use the book often as a reference on the run. However the soft cover allows the book to be lighter in weight.

The pictures, diagrams and tables are in black and white, which may make it difficult to the reader to identify or make connections with relevant points.

Recommended Readership
This text is essential relevant to those medical or nursing personal that would utilise it during clinical practice. It is a quick reference guide and is quick and concise to the point. It would be an essential text to those with limited or rusty paediatric experience, be a nurse or a doctor.

Overall Rating
Excellent, considering the reviewer has little paediatric experience. A great book to utilise as a quick reference guide to acute paediatric complications and conditions. A must for a person involved in paediatrics, especially junior medical officers and paediatric nurse new to the world of paediatric medicine.

Frank Daly, MBBS, FACEM, Consultant Clinical Toxicologist, Emergency Physician and Director of Clinical Service Redesign, Royal Perth Hospital; Professor in Emergency Medicine; University of Western Australia; Consultant Clinical Toxicologist, WA and NSW Poisons Information Centres, Australia
Mark Little, MBBS, DTM&H(Lond), FACEM, MPH&T IDHA, Consultant Emergency Physician and Clinical Toxicologist, Royal Perth Hospital; Clinical Senior Lecturer in Emergency Medicine, University of Western Australia; Consultant Clinical Toxicologist, WA and NSW Poisons Information Centres, Australia
Mike Cadogan, MA(Oxon), MBChB, FACEM, Consultant Emergency Physician, Sir Charles Gairdner Emergency Department, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Emergency Medicine, University of Western Australia, Australia
Lindsay Murray, MB, BS, FACEM, Consultant Emergency Physician and Clinical Toxicologist, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA; Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Western Australia

Churchill Livingstone Elsevier 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7295-3939-5

Rating •••••

Type and scope of book
This book is an essential reference resource for any emergency department either big or small. All staff in both medical and nursing disciplines will find this an easy to read book. The book is able to apply the comprehensive information that can be used in the practical setting with little difficulty.

An Australia approach and experience with common venomous species of spiders, snakes and jellyfish is included. It does not limit its use exclusively for Australia as the vast and varied toxins listed, that are encountered worldwide.

The book is well written and referenced. The book includes an overview of the management and diagnosis of the poisoned patient. Specific considerations are given from a toxicological perspective as well as thorough listings of toxins, antidotes, envenomation and anti venoms.

Contents
A total of six chapters with additional appendices.

Chapter 1: Approach to the poisoned patient.
This includes an overview, resuscitation, risk assessment, supportive care and monitoring as well as specific investigations and decontamination techniques.

Chapter 2: Specific considerations.
From the extremes of age to chemical and biological exposures, this chapter guides you through case by case specific requirements.

Chapter 3: Specific toxins.
An Alcohol to Warfarin encyclopaedic quick list of toxins. The chapter is in alphabetical order with logical sequence and easy to follow guides on the specific toxin. Some of the headings found under each toxin include risk assessment, toxic mechanism, toxicokinetics, clinical features, management, useful tips and pitfalls.

Chapter 4: Antidotes.
Also listed alphabetically the antidote chapter includes drug presentations, indications from a toxicological requirement, contraindications, administration, therapeutic end points as well as adverse drug reactions and pitfalls.

Chapter 5: Envenomings.
This is Australia specific with some of the most deadly Australian animals listed. From land to sea this list includes subspecies, animal characteristic and distribution, toxins within the venom as well as management, investigations and differential diagnosis.

Chapter 6: Antivenoms.
Courtesy of Central Serum Laboratories (CSL) we have antivenom at our disposal and here this chapter explains nine of these with presentation, indication and management keys points.

Appendices: A list of useful numbers, ECG appearances, conversion tables and pathways to assist with identification, diagnosis and treatment of the toxicology patient

Strengths
This compact concise book is well structured with good flow and despite its size holds a wealth of very pertinent information for the emergency clinician. The structure throughout is conducive for reading and problem solving in even the most stressful of circumstance.

The use of tables, charts and pathways are useful for quick visual reference and provide more than just a brief overview. At the end of each key section within this book there is references, thus allowing the reader to further explore the parent material.

With an Australian team behind this book there is no need for translation from paper to practise as is seen in foreign books, thus application is time specific and can be utilised by the first time reader.

The second edition page used of the striking green colour and chapter listing make it easy to navigate. The book link with www.studentconsult.com opens up a world of on-line reference material.

Deficiencies
As the book is soft covered the durability of the book may be tested, wear and tear will possibly prematurely take a tole. Also some pictures of the specific poison forms, plants or animals to assist in identification would be of use. It is often the patient will be accompanied by the source and the trick is to pick the poison.

Recommended Readership
This book hails from some of the best toxicological minds Australia has to showcase and can be considered a key resource for any personal or departmental library. There is useful application for all nurses and particularly for the emergency nurse who is faced potentially daily by the toxicological emergency.

Overall Rating
Excellent, while I already own the first edition I will defiantly see fit to invest in the second.
Enjoy.

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

1. Drugs by Disorder
2. Classifications
3. A-Z Drug Entries

Appendices:

1. Calculation of Doses
2. Controlled Drugs (United States)
3. Drip Rates for Critical Care Medications
4. Drug Abuse
5. Equi-Analgesic Dosing
6. FDA Pregnancy Categories
7. Herbal therapies and Interactions
8. Lifespan and Cultural Aspects of Drug Therapy
9. Normal Laboratory Values
10. Orphan Drugs
11. P450 (CYP) Enzymes
12. Poison Antidote Chart
13. Preventing Medication Errors and Improving Medication Safety
14. Recommended Childhood and Adult Immunizations
15. Signs and Symptoms of Electrolyte Imbalance
16. Sound-alike and Look-Alike Drugs
17. Spanish Phrases Often Used in Clinical Settings
18. 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.

Kate Curtis Clair Ramsden Julie Friendship
Mosby Elsevier Sydney 2007
ISBN - 978 0 7295 3769 (pbk.)
RRP.$

Rating •••••

Type and scope of book
A significant Australasian Emergency Nursing text book. Written by many leading emergency nurses throughout Australia. It is a comprehensive guide to Emergency Nursing from its 2007 publication and beyond. Well written and referenced it conveys contemporary emergency nursing practice in Australia. It covers all aspects of Emergency nursing care. The book does include reference to current nursing issues.

Contents
Part A - Foundations of Emergency Nursing

• Overview of emergency nursing in Australasia
• Nursing and clinical ethics
• Nursing at the law
• Cultural dimensions
• Management and leadership

Part B - Professional Practice

• Patient education
• Research for emergency nurses
• Professional development

Part C - Clinical Concepts, Practices and Systems

• Triage
• Patient assessment and essential nursing care
• Stabilisation and transfer
• Vascular access and fluid replacement
• Laboratory, imaging, investigations and analysis
• Wound management
• Pain management
• Organ and tissue donation
• Death and dying in the emergency department
• Major incident preparedness management
• Physiology for emergency care

Part D - Medical and Surgical Emergencies

• Respiratory Emergencies
• Cardiovascular emergencies
• Neurological emergencies
• Gastrointestinal emergencies
• Renal and genitourinary emergencies
• Endocrine emergencies
• Infectious and communicable diseases
• Environmental emergencies
• Envenomation
• Haematological emergencies
• Toxicological emergencies
• Gynaecological emergencies
• Dental,ear,nose and throat emergencies
• Ocular emergencies

Part E - Unique Population Groups

• Obstetric emergencies
• Paediatric emergencies
• Violence, abuse and assault
• The elderly
• Mental health emergencies
• Alcohol and other drug use

Part F - Major Trauma

• An overview of trauma
• Mechanism of injury
• Emergency department trauma management
• Traumatic brain injury
• Faciomaxillary trauma
• Spinal trauma
• Thoracic and neck trauma
• Abdominal and genitourinary trauma
• Orthopaedic and neuromuscular trauma
• Burns trauma
• Blast injur

Strengths
The text has tapped into many sources of expert knowledge to make it impact on the reader. Each contributor has used their knowledge base and practice to deliver a very digestible information for the reader to learn and understand.

The book contains large amounts very nice diagrams that explain concepts. This serves to entertain the reader and help them focus and the information that is being delivered. The book also has a series useful tables that conveys information well and is able to be easily cross referenced.

Each chapter is broken down into component parts and the reader can easily use for reference.

The books greatest strength is that it is comprehensive and contemporary. It is written by Australians to be used in a Australian setting. The language is ours and so is its scope of reference.

Deficiencies
More space devoted to current Australian Emergency nursing issues and controversies could have put further contemporary slant on the current edition.

Recommended Readership
All emergency nurses should have copy of this book or access to this edition. Do yourself or your department a favour.

Overall Rating
Excellent.