logy and pathology, medical diagnosis, treatment, nursing care rehabilitation and education.

The medical model dominates the whole text and it is therefore not surprising to find that the nursing input is limited to four pages of text. Although the author of this section has attempted to present the nursing care within the framework of a model of care >hc has in fact used Hcndersons Activities of Living as a series of headings for an account of interventions. using a thrrc point framework covering maintenance of essential processes, prcvcntion of complications, and restorations offunction. There is no attempt to provide a guide to care-planning or any problem-solving approa(,h.

‘I‘hc value of the book is most certainly in the photo- graphs and illustrations. Every section is beautifully illustrated. providing a valuable source of visual in- tbrmation, thus fulfilling its stated purpose to be an atlas tbr rcfrrcncr.

For the nurse working in the acute stages of care thrrr is littlr new information. but some graphic illus- trations to provide them with a wider concept of the total and continuing care of their patients.

Not ‘1 book, perhaps, for the individual, but it would provide a useful addition to any ward, unit or dcpartnlrntal library

BARBARA PARFITT MSc M Comm

Health Dip ‘l’heol SCM RGN

Counselling Skills for Nurses by Vercna Tschudin Baillitrc Tindall, 1987, 164 pages, ISBN 702011789 Prire L4.9.5

Contact with stress is inevitable both in our own lives and in those of others. This is particularly true of the nurse, who normally copes with patient stress by draw- ing on her own resources without much formal guid- ance. So it was with pleasure that I read Verena ‘I’srhudin‘s book ‘Counselling Skills for Nurses’. Aimed at nurses, the accent is on ‘skills’ and the book gives an insight into practical aspects of counselling. I liked the natural progression from the need to know and under- stand oneself, before we can apply this understanding to others. The author explains empathy, sympathy and feelings, and gives instances which highlight the differences between these qualities. Empathy is the basis of helping, so counselling is the skill in using empathy. As we are led from knowledge of self to coun- selling others, theoretical skills such as listening, res- ponding and challenging are covered and there are practical suggestions for practising these skills both by

the individual or in groups. Counselling is still vcr)- new in nursing. The word is recognised but rarely util- iscd in practice. This book covers a wealth of informa- tion in a readable fashion, a little superficialI). but nonetheless it should be of use to nurses ,gcncrally.

STEPHANIE E R PENFOLD SKN PDN

Intensive Care: A Concise Textbook by C J Hinds BailliPre Tindall, 1987. 378 pages ISBN 702011509. Price: Ll4.35

This book in the authors own words ‘attempts to sum- marisc the important theoretical asperts of intensive care practice and discuss some of the current rontro- versies as well as making practical rrrommendations for treatment, and the author has succeeded in doing this.

‘I‘he book is written by Dr Hinds, Senior Izcturer and Honorary Consultant in Anaesthcsia and Intens- ivc Care at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. It is aimed par- ticularly at junior medical staff entering clinical posts in intensive rare and at nurses sperialising in intensive care. Having just finished reading the book 1 feel that it will be of interest to all caring for rriticially ill patients.

‘l’his ‘Intensive Cart’ book commcncrs with a chapter on applied cardiovascular and respiratory physiology, then progresses to separate chapters on the monitoring of the above. The chapter about cardiovas- cular monitoring includes insertion of \‘enous and arterial lines as well as pulmonary artery cathetrrisa- tion, it also highlights pitfalls encountered when inter- preting readings. The illustrations provided with the transcript arc particularly- good.

Further rhapters deal with the more commonly encountered situations in intensive rare and include chapters on acute renal failure, acute hepatir failure, and a very good account of shork. As an intensive care nurse I particularly enjoyed reading the chapters ‘As- pects of ‘Trauma’ and ‘Neurological disorders‘. ‘As- pects of Trauma’ included good coverage of the treatment of fractured ribs and included a section on the management of spinal injuries. The chapters on respiratory failure and artificial ventilation are well- presented, and up-to-date. ,411 the chapters have obviously been well researched.

I would thoroughly recommend this book for a place in every Intensive Care Unit. Its rontcnts are clear, comprehensive and up-to-date. The illustrations are very good and support the text well. This book will be useful both as a textbook and for quick reference.

CATHERINE HILLIER SRN. Dip. Nursin,g