NURSE EDUCATION TODAY 247

back is a valuable attempt to plug a gap in the market and for that it is most welcome.

PAT WEBB

RGN RNT Dip Sot Res

A Guide to the X-Ray Department. 2nd Ed. M Goldman John Wright 1986 94pp Illus ISBN: O-7236-0765-6 L5.95

This brief volume sets out to explain to nurses what X-ray investigations involve, so that they might reassure the anxious patient. To cover this remit the author considers all of the common radiographic procedures as well as ultrasound, computerised tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Dr Goldman’s test is chatty without being patronising, with some very worthwhile radiographic illustrations liberally spread throughout. The book is arranged in chapters using the medical model, dividing up the material by anatomical area (e.g. chest, central nervous system) or by specialism (e.g. scanning). Brief chapters on emergencies and protection are included at the end of the book, though neither of these chapters offers much detail on how such emergencies are rectified (e.g. a reaction to contrast medium).

Whilst all of the radiographic procedures are simply explained (often with due reference to the altered physiology that makes them prudent) there is less explanation of how the patient is handled as a person. Further discussion on informed consent to such procedures, on methods of educating and coun- selling the patient before and during the procedure would have been most welcome. Despite these short- comings the book largely succeeds in its aim to explain the procedures. This makes it a useful text to dip into when the nurse advises a patient, completes a nursing care study and prepares for examinations. Despite its affordable price the medical model format of the book makes it a less useful book to buy and be comprehensively guided by. It would therefore be a useful library text.

BOB PRICE

SRX BA(Hons) Cert Ed

Nursing 2 D Middleton Blackwell 1986 675pp Illus ISBN: O-632-01009-6 E12.95

This book is primarily aimed at student nurses in their final 18 months of training. It is extremely comprehensive and is broken into nine sections ranging from Genito-urinary to Oncology nursing,

with a very important section for would be Staff Nurses on Professional Responsibility and Ward Management.

It is clearly written, well presented, and easy to read with a wealth of information. It does, in my opinion, lose out by attempting to be too compre- hensive; in covering a wide range of conditions, some of which many learners may never see, it becomes, in some areas, systems based and misses important aspects of nursing care. This however is the only criticism that I have of the book, which together with the first volume in the series by the same author (Nursing 1) provides a very extensive reference source for any student and should find a place on the shelves of school of nursing libraries, if not the student’s own book shelf. At Ll2.95 it is good value for money.

CLIFF BECKETT

BA RMN RG.N DN(Lon) PGCEA

The Curriculum in Nursing Education Peta Allan & Moya Jolley Croom Helm 1986 224pp Illus ISBN: O-70999146228 E10.95

Changes in nurse education, and subsequent de- mands for nursing curriculum innovation, challenge nurse teachers called upon to participate in cur- riculum development groups. This book helps to meet these challenges, not by providing ready answers, but by posing questions and inviting thoughtful consideration from its readers. Beginning with an examination of early nurse education practices and a review of the several internal and external blocks to change in education, it progresses to discussing the role of various facets of a modern nursing curriculum - psychology, sociology, ethics; a more extended discussion of the changing role of the biological sciences would have been useful.

The move from teacher-centred to more open student-centred approaches is discussed, while the essential needs of adequate teacher preparation, and lively continuing teacher education, are rightly stressed. The central chapter of this book, to my mind, is Sylvia Docking’s contribution on Curriculum Innovation, with its emphasis on the need for the rational planning of change backed by a secure knowledge of change theory.

The chapters vary in depth and readability, but overall this is a stimulating book. It would be useful for nurse tutor courses, and as required preparatory reading for members of curriculum development groups.

C J GOODALL

PhD RGN DipN Cert Ed