BOOKS
JCN reviews books and other media resources as a service to our readers. We do not sell or profit financially from these books. If you cannot find a book in your local bookstore, either ask the bookstore to order it for you or contact the publisher directly. Most publishers have websites through which you can order their books.
ON CALL
DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT FOR NURSES: By Lois Rowe 240 pp., Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2003, $12.99, paperback.
Forty years ago, as a beginning student, I discovered Rowe's devotional book On Call. It changed my life. Struggling with how my faith made any difference at all in my nursing practice, I found thoughtful answers and challenging questions in each daily reading. They forced me to think and pray about my relationships with colleagues, attitudes toward difficult assignments and compassion for those in my care, balanced with an eye on God's broader purposes for us in his world. I began to see clearly that I am here to serve God and what I do makes a difference, regardless of how insignificant it may seem at the time.
Each brief devotional reading gives practical insight into nursing life, providing a five-minute retreat at the start of your day. The Bible verse at the beginning provides an excellent focus for the day-something to reflect on when everything seems to be falling apart. The suggested Bible readings and memory verses at the end of each reading will challenge you to go beyond the brief thought, perhaps at a more leisurely pace after work. The suggested readings cover the whole New Testament and Psalms in one year.
Nursing has changed considerably in forty years, yet the heart of nursing continues to be offering those in need "a cup of cold water" in the name of Jesus (Mt 10:42). As nurses, we are truly On Call for God every day. In this updated edition of On Call, Rowe once again helps us to discern our calling and examine what it means in practical terms.-JAS
COMMITMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY IN NURSING
A FAITH-BASED APPROACH Edited by Bart Cusveller, Agnetta Sutton and Donal O'Mathuna 200 pp., Sioux Center, IA: Dordt College Press, 2003, $16.00, paperback.
This book brings together an impressive international panel of nursing scholars to explore what it means to be a Christian in nursing today. They focus on nursing ethics with the perspective of professional responsibility. While their approach begins with a firm philosophical and theological base, it is also delightfully practical. The authors seek to make us more confident about our Christian values and more articulate in defending them in our work settings.
Divided into three parts, the book seeks to answer three basic questions from a Christian perspective. What is our professional responsibility in regard to the relationships and situations we encounter in nursing? What kind of ethical issues might weface in seeking to fulfill these responsibilities? How can we effectively deal with these situations?The answers form a thread in each chapter.
Part one looks at the Christian origins of nursing and the beliefs that shaped it. Dutch nurse-philosopher Cusveller defines the nurse's professional responsibility as moral accountability to both God and the professional nursing community to provide optimal care for every patient. British nurse-historian Ann Bradshaw examines the history of nursing in the United Kingdom, asserting that modern nursing has forgotten its Christian moorings and subsequently lost much of its sense of purpose. Finally, American nurse-theologian Arlene B. Miller presents the ethics of spiritual care, arguing that restoring a person's relationship with God is the ultimate spiritual need.
Part two looks at our professional relationships with patients, nursing colleagues and other health care professionals. Theologian Kees Kleingeld suggests three basic responsibilities of nurses toward patients: practical nursing care (nurturing), accompaniment (emotional support) and representation (advocacy).Taiwanese nursing leader Fu-Jin Shih presents several nursing situations where nurses disagree and suggests appropriate ways that Christians can be peacemakers through demonstrating respect and seeking to understand the views of others. Dutch pastor Jan Van der Wolf offers practical suggestions for fostering good collegial relationships with other health care professionals.
Part three examines the moral tensions in three controversial issues. Dutch nurse Ada van de Scheur addresses the issues surrounding euthanasia and palliative care. Irish-American ethicist O'Mathuna provides a critique of alternative therapies, and then joins with Cusveller to examine the issues surrounding intimacy and sexuality in patient care.
Overall, this book presents significant new material that will challenge readers to view nursing as a moral pursuit. It clarifies our responsibilities to God, our patients and our colleagues in fresh and compelling terms. In the words of the editors, "This book articulates an understanding of nursing as a profession and practice shaped by the tradition of Christian values. The authors' goal is to promote patient care that respects the dignity and life of each and every patient. In so doing, we encourage Christian nurses to remain true to their Christian tradition by bearing witness to it in both word and action[horizontal ellipsis]. But above all, we are seeking to provide the tools and attitudes that Christian nurses need to engage in debate and dialogue with the world around them" (p. 11). They have done their job well.-JAS
BOOK BRIEFS
JCN receives more books than we have space to review. Book Briefs are short synopses based on the publishers' descriptions. JCN staff have not read or evaluated these books.
NURSING IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
ISSUES, TRENDS AND TRANSITIONS TO PRACTICE By Linda Haynes, Teresa Boese and Howard Butcher 591 pp., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2004, $40.00, paperback.
This text takes a comprehensive and critical look at current issues and trends in nursing, with a vision of future health care and market place consumer demands. Its practical approach builds a foundation for success and continued learning; discusses the evolution of nursing and its continual economic, political and legal changes; and features a broad spectrum of topics that highlight the importance of accountability, responsibility and critical decision making for future nurses of the twenty-first century.
NURSING TODAY, 4TH ED.
TRANSITION AND TRENDS Edited by JoAnn Zerwekh and Jo Carol Claborn 619 pp., St. Louis: Saunders, 2003, $37.95, paperback.
Reflecting rapid changes in the field, this fully updated edition of this text focuses on the information students need to make a successful transition from the classroom to practice. It provides a solid understanding of the problems and opportunities professional nurses face, and it details the practical skills essential for success.
New and expanded coverage is included on nursing management, the delegation of nursing care, community-based care and alternative/complementary health care. Specific career management tools give readers the practical advice they need to succeed. Lively cartoons, student objectives and exercises, boxed information, and thought-provoking questions keep readers alert and focused on essential information.
A new chapter on Nursing Informatics focuses on the importance of utilizing and integrating computers and technology in health care. New Faculty and Learning Resources provide web-based, interactive tools that include teaching tips, lecture outlines and illustration PowerPoint slides, test questions in the latest NCLEX format, suggestions for students, activities and content updates with teaching suggestions.
ASSESSING SPIRITUAL NEEDS
A GUIDE FOR CAREGIVERS By George Fitchett 134 pp., Lima, Ohio: Academic Renewal Press, 2000, $15.95, paperback.
In this revised edition, Fitchett, associate professor and director of research and spiritual assessment in the department of religion, health and human values at Rush-Presbyter-ian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, presents his "7 X 7" model for spiritual assessment and illustrates it with several case studies. The model was developed in cooperation with several colleagues, including JCN author Julia Emblen. Although aimed primarily at hospital chaplains, nurses and nursing concerns figure prominently in the book. The author sees spiritual care as an interdisciplinary responsibility. His approach is a functional, multidisciplinary model, which includes holistic and spiritual dimensions. The book also reviews three other models for spiritual assessment, including NANDA, and provides a framework for evaluating them.
NURSING DIAGNOSIS HANDBOOK
WITH NIC INTERVENTIONS AND NOC OUTCOMES By Judith M. Wilkinson 664 pp., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000, $29.95, spiral bound.
This easy-to-use guide provides quick access to information needed to write thorough, individualized care plans based on the most recent NANDA-approved nursing diagnoses. Nursing Interventions Classifications (NIC) and Nursing Outcome Classifications (NOC) are incorporated throughout. The guide presents diagnoses associated with medical, surgical, psychiatric, perinatal and pediatric patient populations. Each Plan of Care includes: definition of nursing diagnosis, defining characteristics, related factors, suggestions for use, suggested alternative diagnoses, expected outcomes and evaluation criteria, NIC/NOC taxonomy, and suggested nursing actions. Models for care plans include spiritual distress, risk for spiritual distress and potential for spiritual well-being.
PARISH NURSING
A HANDBOOK FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM Edited by Sybil D. Smith 226 pp., New York: Haworth Pastoral Press, 2003, $29.95, paperback.
This book is a guide to designing programs that can complement a congregation's ministry priorities for senior adults, identifying strengths to reinforce and weaknesses to avoid. Stories from the fields of service capture the sweat equity and history of the re-emergence of nursing in churches.
The guide will be helpful to parish nurses and congregational committee members with limited experience in program development. It demonstrates how to take responsibility for health ministries without leaning on direction from local hospitals. It presents multiple practice models, intervention strategies and methods of program evaluation, including conceptual frameworks, program design options, outlines from field-tested training modules and program evaluation options and challenges. The multiple-authored text contains chapters by several JCN authors.
MEASUREMENT OF NURSING OUTCOMES, 2ND ED.
VOLUME 3: SELF CARE AND COPING Edited by Ora Lea Strickland and Colleen Dilorio 304 pp., New York: Springer Publishing Company, 2003, $49.95, hardcover.
The latest in a three-volume series, this book presents tested instruments for assessing nursing outcomes. Each tool is accompanied by a descriptive essay that includes information on purpose, administration, scoring, reliability and http://validity.The tools in this volume are related to client self-care, social support, quality of life and health promoting behaviors. Several tools could be adapted to measure spiritual outcomes.
WHAT DYING PEOPLE WANT
PRACTICAL WISDOM FOR THE END OF LIFE By David Kuhl 317 pp., New York: Publications in Paper, 2003, $14.00, paperback.
Kuhl, a physician who specializes in palliative care, addresses end-of-life realities through his own experiences and through the words and experiences of dying people. He presents ways of addressing the pain, of finding new life in the process of dying and of understanding the inner reality of living with a terminal illness. He acknowledges the despair and recognizes the desire for hope and meaning. Kuhl makes the provocative case that insensitive communication by doctors creates more suffering for patients than either the actual illness or the knowledge of impending death and offers guidance on preventing painful interactions.
This is a book about what the day-to-day experience of living with a terminal illness is like over a long period of time. Although for most Christians it will feel uncomfortable, the book offers guidance, solace and helpful strategies for terminally ill people, their families and their caregivers. Although Kuhl comes from an eclectic spiritual perspective, he allows the dying to speak for themselves.
CHARACTER WITNESS
HOW OUR LIVES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN EVANGELISM By Christine Wood 229 pp., Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003, $12.00, paperback.
When most Christians think about evangelism, they assume it means knowing the right thing to say to an unbeliever. They look for a formal outline of the gospel with basic points and supporting Scripture passages to drive it home.
Wood acknowledges that, while it is important to be able to express the truth of Christ, we also must live a life that demonstrates the character of Christ. Character Witness is about personal integrity in evangelism. It will help you develop qualities like graciousness, purity, wisdom and patience. And it will show you how to extend yourself to others in ways that express the fullness of the grace of Christ. Wood explains that your character is your most valuable evangelism resource. She shares her story of coming to know Christ, as well as the stories of others. The book is designed to read and digest slowly-perhaps one short chapter a week. Each chapter is followed by thought-provoking discussion questions. An appendix gives further suggestions for leading a small group through the book.
JESUS WITH DIRTY FEET
A DOWN-TO-EARTH LOOK AT CHRISTIANITY FOR THE CURIOUS AND SKEPTICAL By Don Everts 125 pp., Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999, $5.00, paperback.
JESUS WITH DIRTY FEET DISCUSSION GUIDE
10 SESSIONS FOR THE CURIOUS AND SKEPTICAL By Don Everts with Douglas Scott 125 pp., Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003, $6.00, paperback.
According to Everts, "Most folks think of Jesus as the man who started Christianity. But it turns out he wasn't just a man, and he wasn't interested in religion. He had dirty feet, partied, cooked breakfast and got himself killed. Who was this guy? Why did people hate him so much? And why should you care?"
Everts believes that bad experiences with Christians and the church shouldn't stop anyone from finding out more about Jesus, whom he sees as the most compelling, audacious, wild-eyed, radical, revolutionary person that ever lived.
In the discussion guide, Everts and Scott offer ten sessions of candid inquiries into who Jesus was, what he was like and whether or not it matters. Drawing on excerpts from his book Jesus with Dirty Feet as a jumping-off point, they also use each session to explore the big differences between institutional Christianity and the reality of following Jesus.
TALKING ABOUT JESUS WITHOUT SOUNDING RELIGIOUS
By Rebecca Manley Pippert 61 pp., Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003, $6.00, paperback.
Rebecca Manley Pip-pert has spent over twenty-five years introducing people to Jesus. In this guide she draws from her experience to show you how you can overcome your fears and speak confidently to others about the love of Christ. This book offers readers help in finding a witnessing style that is comfortable, appropriate and effective. Talking About Jesus Without Sounding Religious is part of Saltshaker Resources, which also include, The Way of Jesus (a book to give away to seekers), How to Lead a Seeker Bible Discussion (a step-by-step guide for leaders) and Looking at the Life of Jesus (a seeker-oriented Bible discussion guide).
BASIC CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP
BIBLICAL MODELS OF CHURCH, GOSPEL AND MINISTRY By John Stott 127pp., Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002, $13.00, paperback.
Stott believes that too many Christian leaders have uncritically adopted secular models of leadership. The antidote, he contends, is a biblical approach to servant leadership, exemplified by the apostle Paul in his ministry to the church in Corinth. The book provides a clear articulation of the nature of leadership, as well as the thoughtful study of Scripture we have come to expect from Stott.
Considered by many to be the elder statesman of evangelical Christianity, Stott is an outstanding example of Paul's vision of humility and grace in Christian leadership. His insights here will encourage younger generations to follow in his steps, serving the church and the world with the love of Christ.
LEADING WITH PASSION AND GRACE
ENCOURAGING AND MENTORING WOMEN IN THE BODY OF CHRIST By Joyce Strong 218 pp., Fairfax, VA: Xulon Press, 2003, $13.99, paperback. Seehttp://www.xulonpress.com to order.
Based on her experience and the leadership-training workshop she leads, Strong offers a treasure chest of resources for Christian women in leadership. She helps us recognize and answer God's call to leadership. Chapters address topics such as maturing in our gifts, sharing influence, learning from role models, developing others, accountability and intercession, balance and focus, maintaining community, managing conflict, navigating the minefield of friendship and growing through failure. Many concepts are distilled into charts and checklists for quick reference. Discussion questions follow each chapter.
A NURSE'S HANDBOOK OF SPIRITUAL CARE
STANDING ON HOLY GROUND By Mary Elizabeth O'Brien 224 pp., Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2004, $24.95, paperback
This handy pocket guide provides quick access to information that will help you address the spiritual needs of patients. Designed for use in health care settings, from hospital to community, it includes an assessment tool for measuring the spiritual needs of patients and an overview of the nurse's role in spiritual care. The unique spiritual needs of the acutely ill, chronically ill, children, families, elderly and the grieving are covered. The author explores approaches to persons of various religious traditions but writes primarily from a Christian perspective. She includes helpful meditations and prayers that can be used in clinical situations or personal devotions. The book includes an index of subjects and biblical references.
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