Significant Resources for Nursing Collections

Ebersole, Priscilla.  Geriatric nursing: growth of a specialty, by Priscilla Ebersole and Theris A. Touhy.  Springer Publishing, 2006.  298p bibl index ISBN 0826126499  pbk, $49.95.  Outstanding Title! Reviewed in 2006oct CHOICE.
44-0951  RC954  2005-31308 CIP
 
Ebersole (emer., San Francisco State Univ. School of Nursing) and Touhy (Florida Atlantic Univ. College of Nursing) offer a practical handbook that highlights the development of geriatric nursing. The first part offers an overview of the history of geriatric nursing; the last part describes the scope of practice and presents information on organizations, Web sites, and educational requirements and roles of a geriatric nurse practitioner. But the central thrust of the book is a compilation of personal narratives and memories from well-known nursing leaders who have sculpted the face of geriatric nursing since WW II. Their stories are authentic, poignant, and fascinating. Collectively, the narratives reveal the fervent belief that geriatric care is significant work and, in point of fact, the essence of professional nursing. In compiling the book’s content, Ebersole has given a piece of her personal legacy within geriatric nursing to future generations of nurses. Those who are interested in the care of older individuals will find this book thoughtful, exciting, and useful. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-/upper-level undergraduates, graduate students, and practitioners. — D. B. Hamilton, Western Michigan University

Encyclopedia of nursing research, ed. by Joyce J. Fitzpatrick and Meredith Wallace.  2nd ed.  Springer Publishing, 2006.  795p bibl index ISBN 0-8261-9812-0, $125.00.  Outstanding Title! Reviewed in 2007apr CHOICE.
44-4200  RT81  2005-17674 CIP 
 
The strong point of the second edition of this reference tool (1st ed., CH, Dec’98, 36-1934) is its synthesis of nursing research in many different areas, followed when necessary by recommendations for future research. Both editors are very well qualified. Fitzpatrick (Case Western Reserve) is senior editor for the Annual Review of Nursing Research (Springer, 1983-) and coeditor, with K. S. Montgomery, of Internet for Nursing Research (CH, Apr’05, 42-4679). Wallace (Fairfield Univ.) has extensive experience as an author and editor. Written in easily understandable language, the 320 entries by 200 experts are arranged in alphabetical order; 30 percent are new to this edition. This book provides succinct summaries of major theorists, research findings, and many other aspects of nursing, including material on continuing care retirement communities, disparities in health, nursing informatics, and retirement.

Entries incorporate recommendations for further reading and research. One missing area is ethics. Although the ethics of research is discussed, research on ethical consultation is omitted. In addition, some topics important for the practicing nurse are missing, such as core measures, the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators, nursing-sensitive indicators, and process improvement. By summarizing existing studies and using understandable language, this book can really jump-start evidence-based practice in a variety of nursing settings. It is an indispensable reference not only for researchers and graduate students, but also for practice-based research councils and evidence-based practice teams. The title’s companion volume from Springer is A Dictionary of Nursing Theory and Research, by B. A. Powers and T. R. Knapp (3rd ed., CH, Feb’06, 43-3143). This encyclopedia will be a very valuable addition to academic libraries supporting nursing or medical programs, evidence-based practice teams, and practice-based research councils. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through professionals/practitioners. — L. A. Blewett, formerly, University of Chicago 
 
Ettinger, Laura E.  Nurse-midwifery: the birth of a new American profession.  Ohio State, 2006.  269p bibl index afp ISBN 0-8142-1023-6, $74.95; ISBN 0814251501  pbk, $26.95; ISBN 9780814210239, $74.95; ISBN 9780814251508  pbk, $26.95.  Outstanding Title! Reviewed in 2006dec CHOICE.
44-2141  RG950  2006-3984 CIP
 
In this meticulous and fascinating historical study, Ettinger (history, Clarkson Univ.) details the emergence of American nurse-midwifery and analyzes the trends to the present. The author argues that nurse-midwives across the country who completed advanced education in the 1920s were simultaneously in alliance with and antagonistic to the medicalization of childbirth. Early nurse-midwives served low-income people and lost astonishingly few mothers at a time when maternal mortality was high. However, when childbirth moved from the home to the hospital, nurse-midwives were forced by politics and the hospital hierarchy to accommodate physicians, and thus lost autonomy. The roadblocks that this accommodation created for nurse-midwives are recognizable barriers today. Ettinger argues that nurse-midwives have been and are currently misunderstood and ignored; they continue to face opposition. This work reflects a recurring theme in nursing history: nurses are educated and talented; nurses offer excellent patient care; nurses are not unified; and in the end, nurses remain less powerful than they could be. This well-researched, well-written book is an enjoyable read. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels. — D. B. Hamilton, Western Michigan University
 
 
Fairman, Julie.  Making room in the clinic: nurse practitioners and the evolution of modern health care.  Rutgers, 2008.  270p bibl index afp; ISBN/9780813543192, $45.95. Reviewed in 2008nov CHOICE.
46-1516  RT82  2007-33712 CIP

Fairman (Univ. of Pennsylvania) offers a historical study that delineates the story of the nurse-practitioner movement from its beginnings in the 1960s-70s. Suspenseful at times, the saga is filled with the political, cultural, conceptual, and gender dilemmas that have framed the definition, role, and acceptance of nurse-practitioners. Fairman uses two exemplars (the University of Rochester and the University of Florida) to examine the development and rise of medical nurse-practitioners. She analyzes the thorny social, economic, ideological, and political issues between the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Nurses Association (ANA), which led both organizations to turn their gaze inward, focusing on self-protection rather than quality patient care. She also examines the tension between the ANA, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners as pediatric nurse-practitioners sought “space” in which to care for children. This is a well-researched, well-written, and scholarly work that highlights the complex ways in which advanced practice nurses and physicians negotiated the boundaries of clinical care for vulnerable patients. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through professionals/practitioners. — D. B. Hamilton, emerita, Western Michigan University
 
The Gale encyclopedia of nursing and allied health, ed. by Kristine Krapp.  Gale, 2002.  5v bibl index afp ISBN 0-7876-4934-1, $850.00.  Outstanding Title! Reviewed in 2002apr CHOICE.
39-4318  RT21  2001-40910 CIP
 
Gale’s solid reputation for publishing comprehensive encyclopedias (The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, ed. by Donna Olendorf et al., CH, May’99; The Gale Encyclopedia of Science, ed. by Bridget Travers, CH, Jan’97; The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, ed. by Kristine Krapp and Jacqueline Longe, CH, Jul’01; The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology, ed. by Susan Gall et al., CH, Apr’97; to cite only a few) is enhanced by this work. It covers a wide variety of diseases and treatments, tests and procedures, and other topics appropriate to the nursing and allied health professions. The set offers more than 850 essay-form entries and 400 photographs and other illustrations. The essays, written by experienced medical authors (including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and allied health care professionals) are arranged alphabetically, use boldfaced terms to indicate related articles, have abundant cross-references, and are written in a style accessible to general readers. Highly recommended for health science, academic, and public libraries. — J. M. Coggan, University of Florida 

Ivanov, L. Louise.  Public health nursing: leadership, policy & practice, by L. Louise Ivanov and Carolyn L. Blue.  Delmar, part of Cengage Learning, 2008.  791p bibl index; ISBN 9781401839659, $45.95. Reviewed in 2008dec CHOICE.
46-2120  RT98   MARC
 
This first edition is easy to read, comprehensive, timely, and authoritative. The primary authors, Ivanov and Blue (Univ. of North Carolina, Greensboro), have more than 60 years of combined professional nursing experience. Additional nursing professionals contributed to writing chapters, and 18 experts reviewed the book. Divided into five major parts, this textbook has 30 chapters, each of which includes a brief outline, learning objectives, key terms, references, a selected bibliography, a key concepts summary, and an annotated list of relevant resources. In addition, other sections in the chapters, e.g., a research application article, a practice application example, policy highlights, and open-ended questions in the critical thinking activities, further illustrate the development and implementation of the concepts. Although the book covers traditional aspects of public health nursing such as its history, health promotion, and education, its strength lies in the coverage of vulnerable populations, e.g., part 4 is devoted entirely to the subject. Other timely and relevant issues discussed include risk communication, health risk appraisal, and disaster preparedness. Less coverage is devoted to leadership and management issues than might be expected, considering the subtitle. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduate nursing students through professionals/practitioners. — M. Y. Antunez, Appalachian State University 

Kingma, Mireille.  Nurses on the move: migration and the global health care economy.  ILR Press, 2006.  275p bibl index afp ISBN 0-8014-4305-9, $49.95; ISBN 0801472598 pbk, $24.95. Reviewed in 2006jul CHOICE.
43-6561  RT89  2005-18420 CIP 
 
Kingma (International Council of Nurses, Geneva, Switzerland) examines the globalization of nursing, investigating the variables that precipitate the migration of nurses internationally. These include unsatisfactory work conditions, the promise of financial gain, the desire to travel, and the ever-growing nursing shortage. Throughout this remarkable book she interviews several immigrant nurses, mostly females, who travel to other countries in search of a better way of life. These interviews provide a sense of harsh reality in relationship to a complex topic. Kingma addresses issues such as salary, culture, workplace violence, family, gender issues, ethics, recruitment, retention, and economics. In the section “Brain Drain, Brain Gain, Brain Circulation,” she explores the ways in which these migrating nurses may take away or give back to the countries of origin, and the circular fashion in which some nurses leave and return. The final chapter, “The Grass Could Be Greener,” provides a summary of the state of global nursing and the changes that are necessary to ensure a positive global profession. This is a must read for anyone interested in nursing and health care policy. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels. — M. A. Volino, Elmira College
 
Malka, Susan Gelfand.  Daring to care: American nursing and second-wave feminism.  Illinois, 2007.  219p bibl index afp ISBN 0-252-03247-0 , $65.00; ISBN 0252074815  pbk, $25.00; ISBN 9780252032479, $65.00; ISBN 9780252074813  pbk, $25.00. Reviewed in 2008apr CHOICE.
45-4415  RT4  2007-19533 CIP 

 
Since the time of Florence Nightingale, the history of nursing has been intricately intertwined with women’s history. Malka (history, Univ. of Maryland) describes the profound influences of second-wave feminism on the professionalism and autonomy of today’s nurses. In her exploration of feminism’s relationship to nursing culture, Malka builds on the work of historians Susan Reverby, Sandra Beth Lewenson, and Barbara Melosh. However, Malka’s work is the first nursing history book to thoroughly address feminism’s “second-wave” (from the mid-1960s to mid-1980s). Malka’s thesis that second-wave feminism encouraged nursing to develop into an autonomous profession is well supported by discussions of curricular changes in nursing education, increased specialization among nurses, and the emphasis on caring that has uniquely defined present-day nursing practice. Malka invites readers to appreciate the feminist roots of 21st-century nursing, which is characterized by independent nurse practitioners, high-powered clinical nurse leaders, and well-respected nursing research. Former pediatric nurse Malka writes from the point of view of both a nurse and a historian, providing a rich perspective on the timely issues addressed in the book. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through practitioners. — J. S. Jameson, University of Toledo 

Men in nursing: history, challenges, and opportunities, ed. by Chad E. O’Lynn and Russell E. Tranbarger.  Springer Publishing, 2007.  297p bibl index ISBN 0826102212 pbk, $40.00.  Outstanding Title! Reviewed in 2007jun CHOICE.
44-5679  RT41  2006-18585 CIP 
 
Men dominated the nursing field in ancient Greece and Rome, the early Christian era, and during the Crusades. Nursing today, however, is considered a female profession. Editors O’Lynn and Tranbarger, who are seasoned educators and practicing nurses, provide a fascinating historical perspective on men in nursing; the societal stereotypes associated with nurses and nursing; and the gender-based barriers facing males in the profession and those considering nursing as a career. Their well-researched work includes a list of US nursing schools for men, curriculum recommendations, and a chapter on male nurses in foreign countries. Though societal attitudes associate caring and nurturing characteristics exclusively with the female gender, numerous studies show that caring is a human trait, not limited by gender. Despite a growing nursing shortage, nursing schools and other health care stakeholders traditionally have been conservative in their efforts to recruit men. With the major changes taking place in health care, none of the professions involved, including nursing, can afford to ignore some of their brightest and best talent. Everyone in the expanding health care delivery system should read this new book on men’s contributions to the field of nursing. Summing Up: Essential. Upper-level undergraduates and above; general readers. — P. Wermager, University of Hawaii at Manoa  
 
Nurses’ work: issues across time and place, ed. by Patricia D’Antonio et al.  Springer Publishing, 2007.  374p bibl index afp ISBN 0-8261-0211-5, $55.00. Reviewed in 2007jun CHOICE.
44-5680  RT31  2006-45037 CIP 

 
Antonio, with her contributors, has compiled an interesting historical account of the work of nurses. It highlights the progression of nursing care throughout time and explains how nursing care has evolved to meet the needs of society. The excerpts taken from original writings and events provide readers with a sneak peek into a forgotten world. The personal accounts clearly illustrate that people provide nursing care for many reasons and that historically these providers have not always been licensed nurses. Contributors also examine the relationship between doctors and nurses and between medicine and nursing. They highlight the contributions of nursing to the improvement of health care, and explore the economic value of nursing and events that have shaped nurses’ salaries. The chapters covering recent times describe the blurring of boundaries between medicine and nursing, indicating that as technology increases, so do the expectations for nursing care and for nurses providing care. These historical accounts are evidence of professional evolution and offer insights into what may characterize nursing care in the future. This book is a must for anyone in the nursing profession. Summing Up: Essential. All levels. — M. A. Volino, Elmira College 
 
Nursing leadership: a concise encyclopedia, ed. by Harriet R. Feldman with Marilyn Jaffe-Ruiz et al.  Springer Publishing, 2008.  578p bibl index; ISBN 9780826102584, $95.00. Reviewed in 2008oct CHOICE.
46-0639  RT89  2007-37206 CIP 
 
This volume is a uniformly well-written (and frequently, eloquently written) reference work. Its editor in chief is a nationally recognized leader in nursing education, and the coeditors represent some of the best leaders in nursing education, research, and administration. The work is organized according to nine themes: “Characteristics of Leaders”; “Management and Executive Skills”; “Theories and Models of Management and Leadership”; “Major Leaders in Nursing”; “Professional Standards”; “Health Care Delivery Standards and Health Policy”; “Leadership in Practice, Education, and Research”; “Quality Outcomes”; and “Informatics and Technology.” These themes speak not only to nursing but to the complex, somewhat crisis-ridden health care delivery system as well. All nurses can peruse and benefit from at least some parts of this smorgasbord of writings. Each of the 180 entries is concise and easy to read, yet very informative.

Over 100 nursing and health care experts have contributed essays, and many discuss the nursing/health care environment interface. Some specifically address how nurses can individually and collectively help solve some of the problems of today’s health care delivery system. The entry titled “Staffing Effectiveness,” for example, correctly posits that “patient outcomes are driven primarily by nursing interventions,” and astutely observes that “it is absolutely essential … to provide the right clinician to the right patient at the right time, every time.” This much-needed, long-awaited collection of essays is critical for every nurse–from novice to expert–in every field of nursing. It highlights the fact that nurses are central and critical in the health care delivery system, and are indeed leaders not only in nursing but in the health system as well. As such, it will be especially valuable for nurses and other health care professionals. Summing Up: Essential. Lower-level undergraduates through professionals/practitioners. — M. A. Merrigan, Wilkes University

Powers, Bethel Ann.  Dictionary of nursing theory and research, by Bethel Ann Powers and Thomas R. Knapp.  3rd ed.  Springer Publishing, 2006.  210p bibl ISBN 0826117740 pbk, $29.95. Reviewed in 2006feb CHOICE.
43-3143  RT81  2005-11670 CIP 
 
This alphabetical dictionary of terms used in nursing research and nursing theory offers clear definitions–often in multiple paragraphs and sometimes ending with an example that further demonstrates the meaning of the term. Cross-references are printed in boldface after the definitions. Powers (emer., Univ. of Rochester) and Knapp (Univ. of Rochester/Ohio State Univ.) offer descriptive definitions with references that will lead the serious reader to delve more deeply into the contextual use of the terms and concepts. Given the accolades for the second edition (1995), it might be expected that the definitions would rely on older references. Instead, the majority of the 17 pages of references supporting the text take readers to publications newer than 1995, with a significant number being as recent as 2004. This work, therefore, is unlikely to become outdated for many years to come. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All libraries that support nurses’ education and research at the lower-level undergraduate level and above. — K. Bradley, Bellevue Community College 

ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health.  ProQuest. Annual academic subscription is about $14,300 for 4-year school w/10,000 FTE, and about $4,500.00 for 2-year school w/2,500 FTE.  Internet Resource. Reviewed in 2008oct CHOICE.
http://www.proquest.com/
46-0642
 
[Visited Jul’08] This thorough, well-organized database covers periodicals ranging from nursing (Critical Care Nurse, Journal of Nursing Scholarship) and allied health (Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal, Dental Assistant) to mainstream medical journals such as Brain (Oxford) and The Lancet. It features nearly 800 serials, more than 650 of which are full text, and 11,000 dissertations in full-text PDF. The Basic Search page is simply designed with a search box and four options: date range; full-text documents only; scholarly journals, including peer reviewed; and More Search Options, which expands search parameters to include features such as publication title, document and publication type, sorting options, and the capability of excluding book reviews and dissertations. Advanced Search allows even more options, including MeSH subject, document feature (e.g., charts, illustrations), and the capability of looking up specific subjects, companies, people, and locations in a thesaurus.

Available tools include Search Tips that illustrate examples of strategies using various search operators; and Browse Topics, which presents narrower topics for some subjects, people, companies, and locations. However, the rationale for the narrower topics provided is not readily apparent in all cases. Other tabs include Study Paths, currently consisting of recommended reading lists for practical nursing and registered nursing in the US; and My Research, for viewing saved documents and searches. Users will appreciate the explanations of search concepts and publication types used. The help section is good. At the results page, users will find tabs for sources (e.g., Top Journals, Scholarly Journals, Evidence Based), along with Suggested Topics. The document view gives choices for retrieval including e-mail, print, and copying the link; a citation hyperlink leads to article citation in any of six styles. Indexing/document details appear at the bottom of the screen. The database can accommodate translation into more than ten languages. The database also offers evidence-based nursing information from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Academic libraries, particularly ones with medical sciences programs, supporting lower-level undergraduates through professionals/practitioners. — J. King, San José City College

Thomas, Sandra P.  Listening to patients: a phenomenological approach to nursing research and practice, by Sandra P. Thomas and Howard R. Pollio.  Springer Publishing, 2002.  294p bibl index ISBN 0-8261-1466-0, $41.95.  Outstanding Title! Reviewed in 2002jul CHOICE.
39-6465  RT42  2001-34183 CIP 
 
Thomas and Pollio (Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville), authors of numerous publications, have written a must-read book for nurses and other health care providers who want to understand and engage in the human experiences of patients. The authors provide wonderful insights for students, researchers, and clinicians into the world of existential phenomenology and share, through the use of this research methodological approach, the personal stories of patients as they lived their experiences. As thought-provoking as the research examples are, the chapters explaining philosophy and methods of existential phenomenology are essential reading for all nursing students. The authors use the first few chapters as background to frame humanistic philosophy and methods. This introduction to phenomenological thinkers and thinking acquaints readers with the processes of engaging in dialogue with patients and interpreting what patients are saying. Remaining sections explore the major contexts in which human existence is experienced–body, other people, time, world. Each section includes discussions and original phenomenological research studies focused on the specific topic. Thomas and Pollio write clearly and simply without the usual academic jargon, a welcome change for college students, clinicians, and researchers alike. This book fills a void in the nursing research literature and will be welcome to nursing researchers, practitioners, and lower-division undergraduates through graduate students. — A. Woodtli, University of Arizona 
 
Weinberg, Dana Beth.  Code green: money-driven hospitals and the dismantling of nursing.  ILR Press, 2003.  213p bibl index afp ISBN 0-8014-3980-9, $25.00.  Outstanding Title! Reviewed in 2003dec CHOICE.
41-2209  RT5  2003-2118 CIP 

 
Weinberg (Brandeis Univ.) provides an incredible account of her observations of the state of nursing at the newly merged Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center. Her goal was “to find out why the nurses are crying.” Each chapter thoroughly examines current issues faced by the professional nursing staff as seen through their eyes. These issues are similar to those faced by nurses nationally as financial goals take precedence to quality patient care. Issues that Weinberg examines include a shift from primary nursing to team nursing, replacement of licensed personnel with nonlicensed technicians, overwhelming workloads, increasing nursing shortage, restructuring of nursing leadership, lack of administrative support, and deterioration of the physician-nurse relationship. Dialogue from focus groups provides a revealing account of how frustrated nurses were at this institution. Hospital administration often interpreted complaints from nurses as simply an effort to resist change. Weinberg also presents data indicating how ineffective these changes were at reducing financial debt, and the detrimental impact they have had on nursing care. An excellent account of challenges faced by nurses today. Summing Up: Essential. All levels. — M. A. Volino, Elmira College