those requiring more specialised texts, the wealth of references make that task easier too. This would be a very worthwhile addition to any students bookshelves and should be of considerable interest to trained staff wishing to update/improve their knowledge base.

ANNEVBETTS

BSc(Hons) SRN RNT

District Nursing M Baly. B Robottom, J M Clark Heinemann 1987 422pp lllus ISBN: O-433-01 163-7 215.95

‘[‘his is the second issue of what for many has been the text book of district nursing. It is a well presented, compact book which aims to set out the principles of nursing in the community. As an introductory text it wsorks well covering an impressive range of issues, ranging for example from the epidemiology of disease and the financing and structure of the NHS to using the nursing process and the needs of specific client groups in the community. The chapters are clearly referenced with useful sections on recommended further reading. Inevitably, with such a book the amount of detail that can be presented on a given subject is limited. Thus, important areas such as the role of district nurse in, and strategies for, health education, the experiences and needs of informal c arers and the particular issues and problems of care planning in the community are dealt with superficially if at all. Relevant research findings were referenced throughout the book though there could have been more discussion of their applicability in the text, for example in the discussion of the nature of district nursing.

The authors themselves acknowledge it is not poss- ible to encompass everything a district nurse might want to know within a medium sized book. Perhaps the days are numbered when one can hope to produce a book that reflects the diversity of knowledge required to practice in any given specialty. The strengths of this book are the overview it provides of the interests of district nursing and as an introductory text which is competitively priced and thoughtfully presented.

CLAIREGOODMAN

BSc MSc RGN NDN Cert

Essentials of Accident and Emergency Care .J Lourie, A Bradlow, M Sutters Churchill Livingstone 1987 126pp Illus ISBN: O-443-03903-8 f6.95

This reasonably priced book is intended for use by the learner nurse during her allocation to the Accident and Emergency Department. It would, in fact, be extremely useful for any nurse requiring a summary of the management of the acutely ill/injured individual

on his arrival in hospital. The book gives an interesting introduction which is relevant and concise. It then progresses to consider each of the important categ- ories of illness encountered in the Accident and Emergency Department - acute cardiac, respiratory and abdominal problems and those associated with altered consciousness. Other emergencies include self poisoning, the ill child, injured patient, diabetic and psychiatric emergencies and those which are less common, such as drowning and serious c ommunicable diseases.

Each section is clear and succinct -- the reader’s attention is quickly drawn to important facts. There are few diagrams but this does not detract from the content. The book has useful appendites. index and bibliography. The latter is necessary in order to extend reading on certain topics for example sudden death and bereavement. The book contains. as the title implies ‘essentials’ of each of the dtorenientioned topics and I would recommend its mclusion in a nursing library.

El)\\ lU,\ .\I (iEKKY RGN OA’D RCR’T DiPN(Lo?/i KA’T (A-t Ed

Nursing in Educational Settings M S Strehlow Harper and Row 1987 2OOpp lllux ISBN: 0-OtiY18389-7 56.95

School nursing is rarely the subject of. a text which makes this book a welcome addition to nursing litera- ture. The text is logicaly organised to include a consideration of all aspects of school nursing. While some recent literature is referred to, the author does not seek to illustrate that sound nursing practice is research-based. Indeed the omission of reference to relevant school health research i$ regrettable. However, the author has a highly readable writing style in which her healthy cynicism becomes apparent.

Illustrative diagrams could have been used effectively in the text but instead somewhat confusing diagrams were placed at the end of each chapter as a means of summarising the material covered. .4 summary of key points would have been more useful. The inclusion of a short chapter on school health provision in other countries was interesting and will remind nurses that much can be learnt from the experience of health care in other countries. The

listing of recent articles 011 school nursing in a11 appendix was helpful.

In conclusion, although this book hds some short- comings I welcome its contribition to the texts on school nursing. It will be invaluable to school nurses and ail those concerned with school health.