Book Reviews

Atlas of Surgical Techniques, Thorek, Philip: Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott CO., 1970, 195 pp, $14.

This atlas i s a compilation of surgical tech-

nics which have been most successful for

the author. They are his personal reference

and are for general surgery, thereby ex-

cluding the need for a bibliography, and

discussion of complicated and sophisticated

vascular and transplant procedures.

The first chapter generally considers su- tures, incisions, exploration and closure. The ensuing chapters cover neck, chest, abdom- inal wall, esophagus, gastro-intestinal tract, spleen, gynecology and inferior extremity. His thorough, lucid and vivid descriptions begin wkh a historical resume and review of pertinent anatomy, followed by physi- ologic rationale for the procedure. Step- by-step details of the operation are then. provided.

The outstanding combination of a pre- cise text, clear and exact drawings makes this a remarkable book and a valuable one

to the young surgeon, resident and the OR nurse.

Barba J . Edwards, RN Omaha, Neb

Behavioral Components of Patient Care, Gorton, John V.: New York: The Macmillian Co., 1970, 541 pp.

An active teacher in masters, baccalaureate programs and in hospital schools of nurs- ing; and a staff nurse in general and psy- chiatric nursing authored this textbook for nursing students.

The material presented could also be an aid to the beginning practitioner who wishes to improve nursing skills for therapeu- tic nursing care.

The content of the book i s divided into two parts: "The therapeutic process;" and "Therapeutic interactions in community care."

In part one, the author gives examples of the role of nursing students in patient health care, and demonstrates methods in which students and instructors attempt to

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help patients. In this area of nursing, as in most other areas, neither patient, student nor nurse can be isolated.

The patient’s illness must be considered in relation to his total life situation. The nurse can help the patient deal with his problems by being with him when the prob- lem is presented. As experience, new knowledge skills, and interpersonal rela- tions grow, “insight” will develop.

The author stresses the student or nurse must ”understand the reasons for her own behavior and must recognize and over- come her resistance to factors in the nurse- patient relationship.”

The development of “insight“ in actions and reactions is not only necessary in nurse-patient relations but also when work- ing in clinical situations with people who are not patients. Interesting examples are given.

The second section of this book gives a variety of personal situations which were presented to the author in the community.

Included with these are several examples of psychosocial illness and disability and the effective use of therapeutic nursing care.

Great help to understanding the needs, reactions and emotional problems with a study of the aging was given in Chapter II, “Mrs. Murgatroid and factors of geriatric nursing.“

A quote of Helen Hayes from “A Gift of Joy‘‘ accompanied the text: “and it‘s really about time that age was accepted as part of life too. One of the paradoxes of our contemporary civilization i s that so much of medical science and research is directed toward the prolonging of life that the av- erage life expectancy keeps going up steadily, yet we are afraid of growing old. And many of us spend more than half our waking hours trying to camouflage our age.”

This chapter would be especially helpful to the OR nurse who visits patients pre and postoperatively. Each chapter ends with a list of suggested reading of books, pam- phlets and articles.

Mabel Crawford, RN Los Angeles, Calif

Problem-Solving in Nursing Practice, Johnson, Mae M., Davis, Mary Lou and Bilitch, Mary Jo: Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Co., 1970, 102 pp, $1.95 paper- bound.

Any attempt to make problem-solving truly meaningful to nursing i s difficult, at best. The authors have described this text as an introduction to the process of problem- solving, intended for a wide range of nurses, from the vocational nurse to the baccalaureate nurse, for inservice programs and for individual practitioners.

It i s of doubtful value for the vocational nurse because of the complexity of the ma- terial itself and the methods used in pres- entation. Its geatest value would undoubt- edly be to the baccalaureate nurse, par- ticularly in the preparation and use of nursing care plans.

In the preface it i s stated that a discus- sion of each step in process is to be found in the next. Taken literally, this i s true. However, such heavy emphasis i s placed on the first steps of assessment and problem identification, that the concept of the en- tire sequence of steps is lost. Perhaps a second edition or sequel will correct this void.

The authors must be commended for in- troducing problem-solving as a mental process and as a method of thinking. Chap- ter 1, ”Problem-solving-an overview” i s ex- cellent. One-fourth of the book i s devoted to a chapter on patient problems versus nursing problems; physical and psycho- social needs; hierarchy of needs; and nurs-

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