learning and test-tahg strate- gies. It contains seven chapters written by several different authors, a practice examination and answer key, AORN’s RNFA competencies, and rec- ommended study materials.

The first few chapters of the guide cover the general knowl- edge and skills an RNFA should have before t a h g the CRNFA certification examina- tion, including knowledge of basic science, assessment tech- niques and skills, experience in the three perioperative phases, and professional accountabili- ty. These chapters offer a great deal of information for RNFAs in the beginning stages of study. Necessary resources and recommended study materials are mentioned in the later chapters of the book.

The chapter on preparing for the examination includes a vast amount of informa- tion, from avoiding procras- tination to using computers and the Internet as study aids. The next chapter includes test-taking strate- gies and use of critical think- ing skills. It also describes additional learning activities and suggests texts to use for learning or review.

The practice examination contains 50 questions and an answer key. After each ques- tion, a resource that can be used for further study of that question is provided, includ- ing the edition, publisher, and the page number where the answer can be found. Also included are the six RNFA competencies developed by the RNFA Specialty Assembly

Competency Task Force. These competencies are a valuable addition to the study guide and should be used by prospective CRNFAs as guidelines in their practice areas.

This book is an excellent resource for RNFAs who are striving to exhibit accountabil- ity and dedication to their profession by becoming certi- fied. So much information is needed to do this successfully that this book is only the beginning. It is exactly what its title says-a guide. It con- tains useful, detailed informa- tion that can lead readers in the right direction to further their studies.

AORN, 2170 S Parker Rd, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80231, http://wzvzu.aorn.org/bookstore/ defaul tmp.

This book is available from

JULI L. SHIPMAN RN, CNOR

SURGERY SUPERVISOR AND

CARLINVILLE AREA HOSPITAL CARUNVILLE, IL

RN FIRST ASSISTANT

Managing Information in

H ealt hcare: Concepts and

Cases John Abbott Worthley

2000, 315 pp $42 hardcover

Information management is the effective, efficient, organization-wide planning,

directing, and control of information within an inte- grated technology system. This book explains how information systems affect both patients and end users and presents strategies for managing health care infor- mation. The book’s format is a combination of commen- tary, case studies, and articles reprinted from management and information technology literature.

Upper-level managers (eg, directors, administrators) and those involved in selecting and planning for the pur- chase and integration of information systems will ben- efit most from this book. The book is extremely conceptual in its discussion. The author makes an excellent argument for the need to include a chief information officer at the administrative level of all health care organizations today. The chapters I found most useful were about man- aging organizational impact, user resistance, and maintain- ing security and privacy of information.

A major limitation of the book is that it was published in 2000 and, therefore, lacks a complete discussion of cur- rent Health Insurance Porta- bility and Accountability Act regulations and Joint Com- mission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations standards concerning privacy, security, and confidentiality issues in information manage- ment. The chapter on social impact of information man- agement within organizations

AORN JOURNAL 11 47

recruitment and retention strategies; and

0 the use of nurse staffing information systems.

Each chapter is written by nurses from a particular facili-

Staffing alludes to the inherent ethcal issues that arise, but it falls short of adequately discussing what the ethical issues are and providing strategies for resolving them. Health care and information system and Techniques ty and gives practical exam- administrators for Nurse Leaders ples of the tools, techniques,

and systems the facility uses to manage staffing effectively. Each strategy is described step by step and illustrated

Management Methods: Tools

Moryonn E Frolic, ed 2000, 256 pp $40 softcover

the discussion and use of case studies are intel- lectually stimulating, the book lacks explications of actual information management skills.

Health Administration Press, One N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60606.

This book is available from

CECIL KING RN, MS, CNOR

PERIOPERATIVE CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON MEDICAL CENTER SEATTLE, WASH

Submit an Article and Receive a Free AORN History Book etween Oct 15, 2004, and Apri l 1, 2005, B authors who submit a manuscript t o the AORN

Journal t ha t conforms t o Journal guidelines and i s deemed appropriate for peer review w i l l receive a free copy of AORN: Emergence and Growth, the award-winning book about the history o f AORN. The Journal i s seeking manuscripts on topics o f interest t o perioperative nurses, including clini-

cal, management, ambulatory surgery, research, and education topics. For more information, access the AORN Journal guidelines a t http://www. aorn. org/journal/guidelines. htm or contact Nancy J. Girard, RN, PhD, FAAN, editor, a t PO Box 291029, San Antonio, TX 78229-1629, (210) 567-5841, fax (210) 567-1719, e-mail girardn@uthscsa. edu.

1148 AORN JOURNAL