DECEMBER 1992, VOL 56, NO 6 AORN JOURNAL

The fundamental purpose of this book is to help the health care worker communicate with the elderly patient with improved perception and skill. This book consists of four chapters and four appendices. Each chapter identifies interpersonal communication problems that may be encountered in caring for the elderly (eg, memory loss, confusion, paranoia, loss of speech or hearing, depression). Alternative solutions for dealing with these problems based on identifying the problem, exploring solutions, and making the optimal choice are discussed.

Chapter four is a valuable discourse on the meaning and purpose of life. The appendices include information on helping patients make decisions and durable powers of attorney, and they provide model answers for the exercises in the chapters.

This is a useful book for all health care workers who deal with the elderly. It is a valu- able addition to nursing and medical school l ibraries and is available from American Hospital Publishing, Inc, PO Box 92683, Chicago, IL 60675-2683.

NORMA V. CHEW, RN HEAD NURSE/OR

JACKSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL MIAMI

EDUCATION

Gerontological Nursing Review: A Self- Instructional Text, second ed By Charlotte Eliopoulos 1991,150pp $24.95 paperback

This second edition is a continuation of the author’s work to assist nurses without formal education in gerontological nursing as they pre- pare for the American Nurses Association (ANA) certification examination. The author has been a certified gerontological nurse for more than 15 years, and she has served on the ANA’s Gerontological Nursing Certification Board.

The text offers a review and assessment of knowledge and skills in gerontological nursing. It provides 100 questions in a format similar to

that used in the certification examination. Also, answer sheets are provided in the back of the book, so the book itself does not need to be marked and can be shared with colleagues. There also is a section of test answers and dis- cussions. Each test question is repeated, and the correct answer is identified and explained. Topics the author believes need more detailed explanations, such as theories of aging, have extensive discussion. The expanded content areas focus on those topics that are not normal- ly learned during day-to-day caring for geron- tological patients. This is a major plus for the book.

The book is easy to read, and the print is an appropriate size. The questions cover a wide variety of topics, and the bibliography is thoughtfully broken down into subject areas so references for areas of weaknesses can be iden- tified easily.

Including a suggestion to test takers that they answer 10 questions and then check their answers would improve the book. This would give the reader permission to experience early feedback and to reinforce positive responses. I found myself doing this as a learning device. The hints for taking multiple-choice examina- tions could be expanded, and I would have liked more information concerning the ANA examination. The book was fun to experience and should serve as a confidence builder for nurses preparing for certification.

This book is available from National Health Publishing, 90 Painters Mill Rd, Owings Mills, MD 21 117.

A. LOUISE HART, RN, DNSc DIRECTOR, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

INDIANAPOLIS DEPAUW UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING

SPECIALIZATION

Essentials of Cardiovascular Nursing Edited by Linda S . Baas 1991,322 pp $39.95 hardcover

Essentials of Cardiovascular Nursing brings

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together the current knowledge and expertise needed to provide nursing care to cardiovascu- lar patients. It progresses logically from health problems associated with cardiac patients to nursing intervention and application of learning theories to nursing practice.

Nurses in diverse clinical settings, such as the surgical care areas, critical care units, and cardiac rehabilitation units, will find the infor- mation concerning risk factors, nursing inter- vention, and the disease process very helpful.

This book is enhanced by many case studies. It has many outlines and diagrams to clearly demonstrate each factor in cardiac diseases and care. The chapters on tobacco dependence, stress, and the use of touch are especially enlightening, and there are several nursing care plans that can be used as teaching tools.

This book is available from Aspen Publishers, Inc, 1600 Research Blvd, Rockville, MD 20850.

PEARL M. TORRESYAP, RN, CNOR

BOSTON VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER THORACIC CHARGE NURSE

TRANSPLANTATION

Organ Transplantation: A Manual For Nurses Edited by Barbara A . Helene Williams, Kathleen L. Grady. Doris M . Sandiford Guttenbeil 1991,357 p p $47.95 har.dcover

This manual provides pertinent information for health care professionals caring for transplant patients that is beneficial to both the novice and experienced nurse. Topics include transplant candidates’ acceptance into a program, preop- erative and postoperative care, discharge plan- ning, and rehabilitation. Nursing diagnoses and nursing care plans are included for the various organs transplanted (eg, heart, kidney, lung, liver, bone marrow).

In addition, immunological aspects of trans- plantation, infection control, and organ pro- curement are discussed, including factors perti-

nent to neonatalhnfant heart transplantation and pediatric organ transplantation.

This book is targeted more toward intensive care unit nurses and postanesthesia care unit nurses than toward perioperative nurses, but it is quite informative. It is available from Springer Publishing Co, 536 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.

JANET COZAD, RN, MSN, CNOR, CFNP ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

BIOLA UNIVERSITY LA MIRADA, CALIF

AORN Telephonepax Registration Accepted AORN’s customer service department now accepts registration for educational offerings via telephone or fax machine. When register- ing by telephone or fax, list the event number, date, and location of the offering. In addition, include the account number and the expiration date of the Visa, Mastercard, or American Express card to which the registration will be charged.

To register by phone, call customer service directly at (303) 751-0337. The fax number is (303) 752-0299.

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