NURSE EDUC41‘1OPt ?‘ODA\ 237

It is wide-ranging in its coverage, from ‘bottle

feeding’ to ‘trachea-oesophageal fistula’. The expla-

nations are clear and free of medical.jargon, without

being patronizing. There are several excellent illustra-

tions, covering aspects such as normal anatomy and

effects of an asthmatic attack on the lungs. There are

helpful diagrams to explain procedures such as dialy-

sis. 1 would question the appropriateness of including

subjects such as ‘child abuse’ and ‘the dying child’, as

the enforced brevity of the content renders them of

little value.

It is a book that may well prove to be of value on a

paediatric ward, to help staff in giving information to

parents. It is of little value to the individual nurse or

library. The book is well bound and printed, and good

value at f7.99.

SALLY HURANI)

SRN RX-N SCM QIDNS RNT BA

Promoting Stroke Recovery Bronstein et al

Wolfe 1991 325pp illus ISBN: 0-8016-6229-X f18.00 HB

There is no doubt that caring for the stroke patient

requires a sound knowledge base and an understand-

ing of the whole range of physical and emotional

trauma associated with the condition. Research

findings are central to the development of nursing

knowledge and the authors of this book have used

such knowledge extensively to inform practical care

problems.

The 3 sections and 15 chapters cover all aspects of

the management of the patient with stroke. Section I

provides a readable account of the mechanisms of

stroke and its syndromes. The emphasis is on manag-

ing the effects and helping the patient to recover.

Section 11 addresses the background knowledge

required for an effective management dealing with

activities of living (including sexuality) and issues

about coping. An interesting and useful approach to

the management is the summary of nursing care plan

relating to each activity of living. The road to recovery

is difficult but can be promoted by judicious use of

research-based approach to care plan.

‘This is a welcome addition to the existing literature

on the subject of stroke and its nursing management.

It can be recommended for use by all nursing staff as a

source of reference.

CYNTHIA Y AKINSANY,~

RGN RFN RM DN CERT PWT PGCXA DNT RNT

Bibliography of Nursing: Quality Assurance and Standards of Care

The book is primarily concerned with co-operation

at the interpersonal and small group level rather than

at the level of society as a whole. It explores a

non-egoistic view to human behaviour by examining

and re-inforcing the empirical research supporting

the many co-operative situations where there is con-

cern for the others’ welfare with IIO calculation of

rewards and costs to self. In this way, it offers

interesting and alternative views to the mot-e egoistic

models of human nature such as Maslow.

Ahson Kitson & Gill Harvey

Scutari 1991 29Opp ISBN: 1-8711364-4~9 f25.95 PB

This is a highly topical book coming at a time when span the major studies published cm co-operation

The book contains manv excellent references which

standards of care and quality assurance have assumed

major importance in nursing for a variety of reasons.

The book is the culmination of the R6N’s Nursing

Quality Assurance Bibliography the purpose of which

was to provide a record of the documented develop-

ments that have happened over the past 50 years

(1932-1987) within nursing quality assurance. The

end result is an annotated list of references classifted in

four main sections these being: background to

standards and quality, philosophies practice and edu-

cation, quality assurance tools and manpower. These

sections have a short introduction and represent

possibly the only disappointment of the book in that

their brevity curtails discussion on the characteristics,

strengths and weaknesses of the v,arious approaches to

quality assurance and standards of care.

Overall this is an excellent text extremely well-reftr-

enced and essential reading for all involved in quality

assurance. It will be an invaluable resource book for

researchers and for any inquiring nurse seeking ways

to assess and improve patient care.

D,\vru O‘BRIEN

Co-operation Michael Argyle

Routledge

1991 illus ISBN: O-415-03546-5 f10.99 PB

Michael Argyle is well-known for his previous texts on

social psychology and in this new book be sets out to

explore the nature of co-operation, in an attempt to

gain a fuller understanding of the concept.

Previous research findings about the co-operative

side of human nature are explored and the text

pursues the evolutionary, sociological and develop-

mental roots of co-operation and its manifestations in

different relationships. It includes chapters dealing

with such issues as friendship. co-operation in the

family and cultural differences in co-operation. The

author also attempts to apply the evidence to an

investigation of inter-group problems and looks dt

co-operation in working groups and ways of promot-

ing co-operation between members of different

groups, exploring such issues as ethnicity and equalitv.