Jennie King
BA(Hons), RN, Clinical Nurse Consultant (Research), Central Coast Local Health District; and Clinical Senior Lecturer, Sydney Nursing School, University of Sydney
Rhonda Hawley
PhD, RN, RMN, Cardio-Thoracic Cert, DipNursEd, BA, MEd, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine (NSW & ACT), Australian Catholic University
Bailliere Tindall Elsevier 2012
Sydney
ISBN:9780729540841(pbk)
Type and scope of book
This 5th Edition of the Australian Nurses’ Dictionary is highly successful book that many Australasian nurses to assist in spelling and medical word meanings. It has been adapted from the long running Bailliere’s Nurses Dictionary that has been on the market for 25 editions being first published in England in 1912. This is quick reference, easy to use pocket dictionary that is designed to be used in the clinical area or for home referencing.
Contents
A-Z referencing of words
A pronunciation guide
Commonly used prefixes, suffixes and combining forms
Commonly used nursing abbreviations
Units of measure / Table of normal values
Drug control / Drug calculations
Resuscitation
Nutrition / Immunisation
Code of ethics and Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses and Midwives in Australia
Aspects of nursing and the law
Infection control guidelines
National registration for nurses and midwives
2010 ARC Resuscitation guidelines
Strengths
This dictionary provides and quick fire reference guide. This style of the books makes referencing quick and easy to find information. The books style lends itself to be excellent reference material in the clinical area and in constant use.
This book is easy to read and the simple explanations of the meaning the words makes is simple for the reader to digest. This is a highlight of the book. This allow the practitioner to be able understand word meanings and concepts quickly.
This book will help emergency nurses to be able to document accurately with correct spelling. This in a Australian content in relation to our use of the English language. This is of value in enhancing the communication tool of nursing documentation.
The appendices contain useful information to meaning of medical words with the prefix and and suffix section. The abbreviation section is excellent for emergency nurses attempting to decipher specialist medical and nursing notes.
This book has a durable plastic cover that will allow it the take the knocks on the ward or clinical area. The dictionary is small in size that can be carried. This books small size also allows it to easily stored in the clinical area for constant use.
Weakness
The book has random use of diagrams. Many of these drawings are a good adjunct to word meaning and explanation. This book uses these in a random fashion so most words have no diagrams associated. Unsure to why some words have them and most do not.
The Dictionary has only a small reference list. This is surprising given the wide knowledge base it covers. 2 of these are large long established medical and nursing dictionaries which may account for this short list.
Recommended readership
This is a book that would be recommended to be at every triage nurses area. This is be very useful in triage documentation when assessing patients with unusual presentations with unfamiliar diagnostics and spelling of same words.
This book is an accompaniment to any under graduate and post graduate studies. This book with Australian English correct spelling will enhance assignment writing.
The dictionary is very useful aid when reading literature. This information allows for adaption for other mainly American or sometimes British words in literature and publications.
Overall rating
The 5th Edition of the Australian Nurses Dictionary is a success. The books knowledge is proven over time. It has adapted and evolved itself to be relevant to contemporary nursing practice. The book variety of uses, makes it a versatile and valuable asset to emergency departments.