Book club: your reviews

Setting Up and Facilitating Bereavement Support Groups. A practical guide.

19 June, 2013 Posted by: Ibadete Fetahu -

What was it like?

Setting up and facilitating bereavement support groups is a book written by Dodie Graves who is a counselor with over 20 years worth of experience. The book provides guidance in setting up and facilitating a new bereavement support group. It is an honest book that highlights not only the highs and joys experienced by Dodie but also the pitfalls and lows that she has experienced through the years providing the reader with a balanced guide in setting up a new bereavement group.

What were the highlights? 

For me the highlight of this book was the chapter on pitfalls along the way. This provided new facilitators guidance on problems that they may encounter along the way of setting up a new bereavement support group. It highlights the difficulties that Dodie has encountered in her groups ranging from participants forming a clique, overstepping boundaries and allowing a group to go down in their mood each week. By discussing the difficulties that Dodie has encountered provides the reader with key areas to look out for when setting up a new group. This forewarns the reader that setting up a new group may not always be easy and problems may be encountered.

Strengths & weaknesses:

This book  provides clear guidance for people setting up a new bereavement support group. It outlines positives and negatives, highs and lows and things that have worked and haven’t worked. It provides answers while raising more questions but most of all it leaves the reader feeling supported if they were embarking on setting up a new bereavement support group in having a resource that they can make reference too. The book is easy to read and the chapters are well set out providing reference in the contents page to the sub sections of each chapter making it easier to find points of interest.

Who should read it?

This book would be suitable for new bereavement support groups and is written in such a fashion that it would benefit both the facilitator of the group and also the participants. The book would also be suitable for professionals that work within hospices or professionals that work within another health setting and have a keen interest in setting up and facilitating bereavement support groups.

A Man’s Guide to a Nursing Career

18 June, 2013 Posted by: Ibadete Fetahu -

What was it like?

The book is described as a nuts and bolts guide to a career in nursing. It is an American publication. My first thought was this is a bit sexist – why not write a guide for anyone pursuing a nursing career?

Reading further changes the reader’s mind. How many times do we hear “he is a typical male nurse”. This book goes beyond the typical stereotypical role, of the nurse being a female.

One particular chapter title that caught my eye was “does nursing put out the welcome mat to men” but thoughts came to mind that this profession goes beyond just welcoming men. Nursing is a breed and it appears at times at odds with everyone including the shift that went before them.

It guides the reader through potential obstacles the nurse may encounter from sterotypes to bullying.

What were the highlights? 

The author is an RN and has taught nursing at Montana State University and the University of Portland. In 2006 he co-authored the first comprehensive academic book on men in nursing.

The author writes a history of nursing through the biographies of nine really interesting and notable male nurses.

The book is unique and covers a subject possibly not written about previously.

It is well written and easy to read.

Strengths & weaknesses:

This is obviously written for the male nurse training for an RN course in the US so therefore the licensing exam will not be relevant to readers in the UK. The book also addresses the specific needs of second-degree and accelerated programme students again this would not be relevant in the UK.

If the reader looks beyond the fact this is written in the US, it is still a really useful guide as this guides the student from considering nursing school to starting training on day one.

The book focuses on team work, professional development, good leadership and communication.

Good up to date reference guide at the end of each chapter.

Who should read it?

Male students wishing to undertake a career in nursing (but some of the book will not be relevant to the UK reader) and nursing students. It is a good book to have on the reading lists of students and qualified nurses because  every nurse can learn from this book.

An Emptied Space

14 June, 2013 Posted by: Ibadete Fetahu -

What was it like?

This is a collection of poems that reflect the author’s own life experiences, as well as those of his parents. He explores the passions of parenthood and spiritual faith as well as the world of the aged and dying that he knows intimately through his work as a nurse.

What were the highlights? 

There are many poems in this book, with chapters ranging from “Beginnings” to “Dying” and “Family Life” to “Something More”. With 34 poems spread over seven chapters, there is likely to be something to capture the imagination of any reader.

Strengths & weaknesses:

This book provides a gritty reflective, poetic narrative of the author’s life experiences, and those of his parents. I did, however, find many of these poems quite difficult to read, and tended to lose concentration before the end of some of the longer ones. There were times when I was unsure if the grammatical construction of some of the poems was by design, or as a result of error.

Who should read it?

Having written a few poems and many rhymes of my own I generally enjoy reading poetry. But I did find this quite a difficult read. While I appreciate the content and experiences of these poems, I did not find them particularly stimulating. I am unsure who any potential readers might be, but suspect that anyone with a true interest in poetry would be interested to have a look. It is not, however, going to be on the reading list at the local school of nursing or social care.

Loads of experiences,

there’s lots to read,

Many thoughts;

More than you’ll need!

Is it good?

It’s not that bad.

It isn’t jolly,

It’s rather sad!

Who should read this?

Who is it for?

It’s rather “Gritty”

I’m not quite sure!

What’s Next

11 June, 2013 Posted by: Ibadete Fetahu -

What was it like?

This is an interesting and at times infuriating book. It follows the life (and what a life!) of Nancy Vlasto. It is exciting in the amount of different areas covered but can be annoying as it does leave things unexplored and leaves the reader asking “and then what happened?” It does show graphically the difference between nursing then and now but also the different attitudes in society to so many things. I enjoyed it but felt that too much had been packed in. I was also astounded by her memory and how she could recall things from her early childhood, not only what happened but also what was said at the time. Perhaps I should have kept more diaries.

What were the highlights? 

It gives really good descriptions of social attitudes to life and how people reacted to things as they happened. Many parts of it reminded me of my childhood and of things that happened in my family. Interesting to read about the way nursing developed during her career and the changes that occurred. I was particularly taken by a telegram with a request to phone the office as early as possible today. I suppose it does show how good communication was then even without mobiles and texts

Strengths & weaknesses:

There is just so much to it. There are lots of illustrations but because of the large number they are small and hard to understand. It does feel as if it should have been two or even three books so that different areas could be explored in more depth and answers given when the reader thinks “and then”. It seems to get rushed at the end trying to fit everything in and I feel that her later life experiences also deserve to be considered

Who should read it?

Anybody who is interested in 20^th century social history will find this book interesting. There is something for everybody whether your interests are music, film, nursing, travel, charity or  war.

Playfulness and Dementia; A Practice Guide

30 May, 2013 Posted by: Ibadete Fetahu -

What was it like?

As the author says, this is an assortment of personal descriptions and anecdotes intended to give a representation of one aspect of dementia care. The book is largely made up of passages written by people with dementia and people who work in the field, discussing the idea of fun, how important it is and why it has to work differently for people with dementia. This book does not engage with evidence, as such, but includes some photographs of people enjoying themselves and laughing, and illustrations, for example, on how to blow bubbles with soap liquid. The author has a light touch, allowing the extensive direct quotations from other practitioners such as Claire Craig, and authors of published books about being a carer, to describe in general terms the nature of stumbling across what will be satisfying for people with dementia and their carers in order for them to “come to terms with their dementia.”

What were the highlights? 

 A highlight is the emphasis on avoiding creating unremitting “jollity” with “bubbles, balloons and squeakers”. The world of dementia care currently has examples of this fashion emerging in some places and as this book points out, that probably is tiresome. 

Strengths & weaknesses:

The author himself, a poet who has worked extensively with people with dementia, avoids giving instruction of any kind and this might be seen as a weakness in a book, which is part of a series called “Practice Guides”.  However, the first person accounts of people with dementia are interesting to read.

Who should read it?

This book will be of interest to anyone working alongside people with dementia, although, as the author points out himself,anyone looking for theoretical support for working with playfulness or practical instruction should look elsewhere. 

Nursing Education: Planning and delivering the curriculum

21 May, 2013 Posted by: Ibadete Fetahu -

What was it like?

This valuable book introduces the concepts of planning and delivering the curriculum. There are step-by-step instructions on how to plan and deliver an updated curriculum that includes evidenced based theory and practice.

What were the highlights? 

The author offers specific strategies to develop, plan and deliver nursing curriculum with a focus on quality management that will assist the future nursing workforce.

Strengths & weaknesses:

No weaknesses were identified with this book while strengths of this book are numerous, for example, there is an entire chapter dedicated to quality management. Programs of nursing are tasked with the important role of updating and ensuring quality in the nursing program and this book offers valuable ways to complete this. With the complexity of healthcare institutions, it is imperative that nursing programs meet the needs of those organisations. Additional strengths of this book include a section on mentoring that discusses how to prepare mentors, clinical educators and didactic educators, and it also integrates information regarding the responsibility of mentors within academia. The information contained in this publication is evidence based and is aimed at developing the future of nursing. It strives to define nursing education while building a sustainable workforce that is versed in evidence based nursing care. The authors describe a strategic plan that focuses on the development of the curricula integrating both theory and practice. A strong focus is dedicated to identifying alternate teaching and learning activities. This book not only includes ideas for curricular content, but it encompasses a focus on leadership in nursing. Transformational outcomes can be developed that are based on education and guided by the curriculum that includes both clinical skills and simulation. The book also offers a list of reasonable assistance for students with disabilities and contains a section on personal support and tutoring of students. The use of technology in nursing education is also a focus of this book and includes a description of the necessary competence in informatics that is currently of great importance for the new graduate nurse.

Who should read it?

This book is a valuable resource for anyone who teaches nursing at the didactic or clinical level, as well as those involved in curriculum revisions.   

Placement Learning in Cancer and Palliative Care Nursing. A guide for students in practice

17 May, 2013 Posted by: Ibadete Fetahu -

What was it like?

This book provides its readers with a clear and concise introduction to how to prepare and cope with supporting patients and carers in what may be an emotionally challenging placement. The authors work together well in presenting a strong first section, which works to prepare students to challenge their own perceptions of what cancer is and how it is perceived not just by themselves but also by a wider society. Within the first few pages students are encouraged to consider their anxieties and concerns about this placement and to work out a coping strategy, thereby ensuring a support network is in place if it is required. 

There is a refresher section for students who have already covered the biology of cancer, while at the same time providing a good grounding for those who are learning the biology of cancer for the first time. Progressing from this the multimodality treatment options are explained in a reader friendly manner supporting students learning and development, using breast cancer as its focal point. Moving forward, students are pointed to the specialist elements of care involved for their patient’s dependent upon the stage of treatment embarked upon. The care and treatment options discussed within this book present the students with the skills and knowledge to look holistically at their patient’s needs. Using the acronym APIE they can learn how to Assess, Plan, Implement and Evaluate the care and treatment being offered and/or being received by patients in their care.

The later sections of this book deal with supporting patients and their families in the last few days of life. This may be a new experience for some students and the authors use good case studies to enable their readers to gain some theoretical knowledge of what they may encounter, while being aware that each individual person approaches end of life in a different way whether they are a patient, relative or health care professional.

As with other books within this series, this book is a resource for mentors to be aware of, especially when supporting and mentoring students in their care. The layout provides points for practice and placement specific reading lists enabling further study to be embarked upon to consolidate learning beyond knowing just the basics of cancer and palliative care nursing.

What were the highlights? 

The highlights of this book are the use of case studies to aid student learning in conjunction with points for practice. Reference is made to the end of life care strategy and the importance of maintaining holistic care and support, encompassing any spiritual needs.   Howard and Chady also provide guidance in regards to transferable skills that can be taken from this specialised field of nursing into other fields of nursing.to allow learning.

Strengths & weaknesses:

While reading this book no weaknesses are evident.  As with any specialist field it touches the surface and allows the reader opportunity to research further into areas of specific interest. The layout is methodical and clear in its presentation with clear guidance and current referencing. 

Who should read it?

This book should be considered by students of nursing who are going to embark on placements within cancer wards and palliative care. I would suggest also that it should be read by any student of nursing since, as nurses we can encounter patients with a diagnosis of cancer in any field of nursing and at some point we are likely to encounter patients who are approaching the end of life. Mentors should also read this book since it acts as a reminder of the needs of this patient group but also of the physical and emotional needs that their students may need during their placement.

The Student Guide to Counselling and Psychotherapy Approaches

16 May, 2013 Posted by: Ibadete Fetahu -

What was it like?

This is an accessible guide book about the different psychotherapy approaches and how they can be used to counsel patients. It simplifies what could a challenging subject as some of the techniques such as “existential counselling” can be quite hard to explain. Adrian Pennington, a counselling psychologist, takes us through 12 of the most well-known and most used methods and explains exactly what they are and how to use them in practice. I think for a guide it contains just enough detail. If you want to learn more in depth about a particular approach I would suggest you read other books to widen your knowledge, however I felt the example scenarios used for each were comprehensive and gave me a good idea of how I would set about using them. Pennington also goes through the strengths and limitations of each method, which gives you an informed and rounded overview.

What were the highlights? 

I liked that it was written by someone with a lot of experience who is currently involved in counselling and psychotherapy and therefore knowledgeable on the subject. Often practitioners can be biased to one particular approach but this did not come across in this book as Pennington talks us through each of the concepts and finds limitations in all of them as well as strengths. He states that there is no perfect way and this is a good way of looking at psychotherapy as not all patients are the same and it is good to realise this. I liked the examples he uses for each method and also the fact that he gives the student extra reading on each approach so if you are particularly interested in an approach you have recommended texts to explore.

Strengths & weaknesses:

I liked the way the book was set out with a brief history of psychotherapy at the beginning. Each chapter on the concept is set out the same and so the book is easy to navigate. As I mentioned before, this is not an in-depth guide and this should not be the only reading you do about approaches before using them in practice. 

Who should read it?

Kidney Disease From Advanced Disease to Bereavement, second edition

14 May, 2013 Posted by: Ibadete Fetahu -

What was it like?

This is one of a series of specialist handbooks from Oxford University. This book is an excellent handbook on a complex group of patients. It gives guidance to renal and palliative specialists who care for patients with advanced kidney disease. In the end stages of the disease this would be a good tool to utilise alongside the Liverpool Care Pathway. 

What were the highlights? 

As this is pocket sized it is a must for nephrologists, renal nurses, student nurses and doctors and palliative care staff. It is impressive that this is written by a consultant nephrologist, a clinical nephrologist, with a special interest in patient outcomes and in particular the elderly on dialysis, and a GP with a doctorate and interests in palliative and end of life care needs of renal patients. This has been revised and updated.

The text is in bullet points making the salient points easy to identify so a practitioner can find the exact details they need.

There are good case histories and advises on the use of effective communication with the patient and their family.

Strengths & weaknesses:

It gives the appropriate doses of medication, which can be difficult in patients with renal failure and includes the WHO Analgesic ladder.

It also advises the practitioner on recognising when someone is dying and there is good advice on preparing a patient for a good death.

The only weakness is the font size, but to enable this to be pocket sized, it is understandable. The chapter contain up to date references for further reading and the book is easy to pick up and find what you are looking for in well-written language.

Who should read it?

This would include nephrologists, renal nurses, student nurses and doctors and palliative care staff. It would also be invaluable to the physician where a patient may not have yet been diagnosed with this disease and at any stage.

Nurses with Disabilities Professional Issues and Job Retention

13 May, 2013 Posted by: Ibadete Fetahu -

What was it like?

This book will help nurses to gain a full understanding of how the issue of disability is affecting workforce supply in nursing. It states “this is the first research-based book to confront workplace issues facing nurses who have disabilities.” It sets about exploring the barriers nurses may experience in securing employment, the misconceptions surrounding disability in the workplace and the discrimination they often face. Instead of taking nursing away from the bedside it explores how we can take care of our own and ensure the right nurses are nursing patients.

The book looks at accommodating staff, which is something that can be overlooked, such as shift patterns, looking beyond the disability and perceived problems at interview and how much physical tasks might there be in the job applied for and can that person do the job.

What were the highlights? 

The recognition that nurses with disabilities will not compromise patient care or safety.(???)* The author acknowledges the fact that everyone has the potential to be unsafe. This demystifies the myth that nurses with a disablement cannot look after patients. The author also explores the ever increasing problem of staff with obesity problems and looking at the perceived ideas that for instance cancer is a disease, which is unavoidable whereas obesity could be perceived as self-induced. The author quite rightly asks the question does the nurse who is obese lose his or her ability to think clearly and critically. 

The author is an associate dean of an American school of nursing among other professional titles and interests. She is also  a member of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses.

There are real-life examples throughout the book, and this helps in the further understanding of disabilities and shockingly that people will go to lengths to hide their disability due to fear of being found out.

Strengths & weaknesses:

The author recognises that nurses with physical and sensory disabilities have a difficult time finding and keeping a job, but states there are ways and means of securing a job that is patient focused. There is a place for all nurses who want to care for patients and that patient seek comfort from one who understands.

Although the book is intended for nurses working in US, some of the terminology is different to that in the UK such as the family and medical leave act. This must not put potential readers off as this is a well-written informative book and extremely valuable in this day and age.

Who should read it?

This book is a must for all healthcare managers, recruitment, occupational health, human resources and for all nurses working within the healthcare setting to gain a full understanding and dispel the myths and misconceptions surrounding disability. It should be on all student nurses reading lists.