Christopher Thomas, BMedsc, MBBS, FANZCA
Consultant Visiting Medical Officer (Anaesthesia), The Ipswich Hospital; Specialist Anaesthetist, St Andrews Ipswich Hospital & Ipswich Day Hospital; Clinical Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane
Christopher Butler, MBBS FANZCA
MPH & TM CertDHM PGDipEcho, Senior Staff Specialist, Department of Anaesthesia, The Townsville Hospital; Clinical Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville
Churchill Livingstone Elsevier 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7295-3947-0
Type and scope of book
This book is a study guide specifically for doctors who are planning on taking the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetics fellowship exams. As this is a study guide it is structured in similar fashion to how study would be undertaken for these exams.
Contents
This book has 7 chapters with an abbreviation list included.
Chapter 1 and 2 – There is an overview on the final examination format and the training scheme that is undertaken. Useful tips on preparation for the exams with resources, past paper availability and professional standards are found in the preparation guide. A comprehensive textbook list is also included and separated into specific groups like airway management, crisis management and pain management.
Chapters 3 through 5 – Specific to the components of the exams with written and viva topics outlined. These chapters are broken into specific conditions that are encountered, how the studier should structure their assessment and the types of investigations that are required.
Chapter 6 – is by far the most useful for the emergency nurse. This chapter is data interpretation that is useful for the final exam and can be adapted and applied for nursing practice. This chapter includes ECG interpretation and practice ECG’s, X-ray and CT interpretation and examples of typical presentations. Arterial blood gas and chemistry is also discussed. There are topics in this chapter that may be beyond the requirements of emergency nursing but as this book is not aimed at this group its application is relevant.
Chapter 7 – A chapter dedicated entirely to resource material and articles for review in preparation for the exams. There are resources’ of interest for nursing but again more anaesthetic exam relevant.
Strengths
This book has a great structured approach to study with lots of useful information for not only those undertaking the FANZCA but also the emergency nurse. The use of pictures helps with visual recognition when describing X-ray, CT and MRI imaging. The compact nature would be an advantage for those wanting to do revision on the run. Quotes are at the start of each chapter and help refresh the mind between topics.
Deficiencies
The book is specific for those studying for exams and so not an ideal resource for the emergency nurse. While there is lots of useful bits of information it is in a format suited more to the student and would not be a reference book that could be flicked through when looking for a specific answer.
Recommended readership
The book is marketed as a study guide and so is suited for this purpose. A small scope of readers would find this an invaluable resource and it may be of use out of interest for those not targeted.
Overall Rating
This is a compact, comprehensive study resource that is well structured and easy to read. An interesting read that stimulates thought around assessing patients and presentations. While not a book I foresee on my shelf, one I would not pass by without having a flick through.