Ruth Elder
RN, BA (Hons), PhD
Katie Evans
RN, BA<, MLitSt, PhD
Debra Nizettelt
RN, Creditialed NHM, Dip App Sc (Nursing Ed), BA App Sc (Nursing), MNur Studies, FRCNA, FACMHN
Mosby Elsevier 2013
Sydney
ISBN:978-0-7295-8098-4
Type and scope of book
This 3rd edition book offers the broad range of the topics in psychaitric nursing. The book provides deep theoretical knowledge to the reader. The books uses original and modern theories and puts it in context of clinical assessment and practice. It is a Australian and New Zealand focused text with current statistics, national practice standards and guidelines.
Contents
Part 1 Preparing for psychiatric and mental health nursing
1 The effective nurse
2 Recovery as the context for practice
3 Historical foundations
4 The Australian and New Zealand politico-legal context
5 Professional and ethical issues
Part 2 Mental Health and wellness
6 Mental health and wellness in Australia and New Zealand
7 Indigenous mental health in Australia and New Zealand
8 Beyond theory: understanding mental health and illness
9 Mental health across the lifespan
10 Crisis and loss
11 Assessment and diagnosis
Part 3 Understanding mental illness
12 Intellectual disabilities
13 Disorders childhood and adolescence
14 Mental disorders of old age
15 Schizophrenic disorders
16 Mood disorders
17 Personality disorders
18 Anxiety disorders
19 Eating disorders
20 Substance-related disorders
21 Somatoform and dissociative disorders
22 Forensic mental health nursing
Part 4 Developing skills for mental health nursing
23 Settings for mental healthcare
24 Working with consumers
25 Theraputic inteventions
26 Psychopharmacology
Strengths
Great book with so many strengths. Clear writing and editing styles for the reader translates clear messages taken from all parts of the book. The book is comprehensive and examines the vast field of psychiatry and mental health.
The book has great theoretical content. It acknowledges the development of the theories from its historical influences. It uses current theories from its place in modern society. The reader becomes immersed in the intertwined theories and there relations in assessment and treatment.
There is a use of ‘Nurses Story’ and ‘Case Study’ throughout the book. These examples of theory and clinical practice were very appropriate and reinforce the knowledge to the reader. The authors use of critical thinking for the reader makes the reader stop and reflect on the text is a nice approach.
Part 2 and 3 provide the best parts of the book. The knowledge contained in the parts are invaluable building on and clarified existing knowledge. These sections provided the best learning opportunities for the reader in relation the ED mental health nursing.
The use of Australian and New Zealand indigenous references to statistics, practice models and guidelines to best practice is a positive for the textbook. The reader is able to gain insights to indigenous culture and damaging impacts of mental health.
Chapter 9 was a highlight chapter of the book. The application of human development theories of Freud, Erikson, Piaget enlightened this reviewers understanding of this complex subject. The chapter moves to include current theroists to examine this in a modern context.
Chapter 11 provides the ED triage assessment guidelines. This is written using the current Australian guidelines to best practice. This is excellent reading for emergency nurses and gives clarity to the assessment of risk for the vulnerable client group. The chapter continues with the classification of major diagnostic categories. This is valuable knowledge for ED nurses.
Deficiencies
It was with surprise that Midazolam did not rate a mention in chapter 26 pyschopharmacology. Midazolam is widely used in ED to have the chemical sedation effect on actively violent and self harming patients. There are no guidelines for security and restraint of violent and self harming patients. The de-escalation techniques paint a very rosy picture.
More Nurse Stories could have been included to colour the text and theories. The stories used were interesting told with critical thinking attached were challenging and left this reviewer wanting more.
Recommended readership
This is a must have text for any student of psychiatry and mental health nursing. Emergency nurses will greatly benefit from reading this text. The knowledge can be applied to many ED patient groups. The book provides a base that many ED nurses should have. I recommend this book to all ED nurses.
Overall rating
A very nice textbook. The 3rd edition is a very well written piece. The content covers a range current best practices in mental health in Australia and New Zealand. The text book certain is a catalyst for further reading. The text serves as a excellent reference piece for both student and clinician. A 4 1/2 star read.