AORN JOURNAL NOVEMBER 1984, VOL 40, NO 5

Book Reviews Financial know-how for nurses makes the transition from useful to essential

Financial Management for Nurse Managers. Frances M Hoffman. Appleton-Century-Crofts, 25 Van Zandt St, East Norwalk, Conn 06855, 1984, 252 pp, $18.

Previously, the information in this book would have been nice for a nurse manager to have. With the new prospective reimbursement system, it has become essential.

Basic accounting principles and definitions are introduced early on to serve as references throughout the book. Hoffman identifies factors affecting a supply budget as well as various sup- ply reports available. She demonstrates how to analyze your budget from these supply reports and by interpreting variables. The chapter on patient classification and staff-

ing is probably less helpful for operating mom nurses, but has implications for recovery mom staffing. How to develop a personnel bud- get accompanies this information. Recruit- ment, turnover, and retention costs are also ex-

The chapter on capital budget forecasting is succinct and incorporates the nursing process, data collection and analysis, implementation, and evaluation.

Other practical aspects of the book include a sample completed budget, examples of budget printouts with detailed explanations of each transaction, illustrations, and charts. Many of these examples will be familiar to experienced managers.

The author’s general discussion of prospective payment will be redundant to most readers, but

plained.

the section linking it to nursing is critical infor- mation for nurse managers.

Many institutions are concerned about how they will exist under the new reimbursement systems. Nursing managers can be of great as- sistance by applying the concepts discussed in this book.

FRAN KOCH, RN DIRECTOR OF SURGICAL SERVICES

SCOTX’ AND W m M E M O W HOSPrrAL TEMPLE. TEX

Administrative Theory and Practices: lssues in Higher Education. Mary E Conway, Olga An- druskiw . Appleton-Century-Crofts, 25 Van Zant St, East Norwalk, Corm 06855, 1983, 4-09 pp.

This book is a comprehensive analysis of major issues faced by administrators of nursing in col- leges and universities. It includes contributions by several well-known practicing nurse adminis- trators in higher education. The work is divided into four parts: “Theoretical and Pragmatic Dimensions,’’ “Role of the Administrator,” “Power and Authority,” and “Mission and the Future.” Chapters in cach section provided de- tailed explanations of single issues that are faced regularly by deans and faculty. The authors have succeeded in providing a balanced presentation of theory and practice of administration and have developed a conceptual model, which they call a sociohumanistic model of administration. The model is intended to provide the dynamics of educational administration in our socially- oriented profession. Chapters cover topics such

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as understanding the relationship of a profes- sional school to other schools and departments of the university, the sociohumanistic model as a theoretical framework for administration in a school of nursing, evaluation of administrative performance, the pitfalls of self-evaluation, per- formance approval, and funding problems.

Several chapters are devoted to the role of dean of a school of nursing. Theoretical and practical applications to administration are dem- onstrated through situations in nursing.

In addition, the book contains an interesting and timely discussion of the issue of the female administrator in higher education. The social, cultural, and organizational barriers women face are described via literahue review and research done in the areas of personality and personal and professional career patterns of women. Some of the challenges women face in administration and creative ways to solve them are also included.

Perhaps one of the best features of this com- prehensive new work is in the form of one uni- versity’s approach to evaluation. The content of this chapter offers the dean, whether new or seasoned, valuable information about the evalua- tion of academic administrators. The criteria and standards used in administrative evaluation in- clude discussions of values clarification, and somes and types of criteria necessary for admin- istrative evaluation. The book has a concise summary at the end of

almost every chapter that provides clarity and synthesis. The extensive reference lists at the end of each chapter further add to the overall value and usefulness of this new work.

MARCUS WALKER, RN ASSOClATE PROFESSOR

UNIVERSITY OF MARY LAND BALTIMORE, MD

Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests with Nursing Implications. Joyce LeFever Kee, Appleton- Century-Crofts, 25 Van Zant St, East Norwalk, Conn 06855, 1983, 368 pp, $16.50 paperback.

This book is well organized with valuable infor- mation presented concisely. The introduction, by Helen L Tang, covers specimen collection

and handling, including definitions, patient con- siderations and collection techniques. The intro- duction concludes with a discussion of qualita- tive, semiquantitative, and quantitative mea- surements in laboratory reports.

The book’s division into laboratory tests and diagnostic tests makes reference simple. The tests are arranged in alphabetical order and cross-indexed. Each test addresses seven areas + h e name(s) of the test, normal ranges, test description, clinical problems, procedm, fac- tors affecting the test, and nursing implications. This is an excellent reference and resource book which can improve or expand data gathering during interviews, serve as a resource for plan- ning client education, update nursing care plans, and help to obtain accurate test results. Three appendices cover abbreviation of measurements used for normal values, abbreviations for labora- tory and diagnostic tests, and laboratory test val- ues for adults and children. Kee’s book has sub- stantial value for students, instructors, and prac- ticing nurses.

CHARLOTIE OWEN. RN OR SUPERVISOR

NORMAN REGIONAL HOSPITAL NORMAN. OKLA

The Nursing Process: Assessing, Planning, Im- plementing, Evaluating. 4th ed. Helen Yura, Mary B Walsh. Appleton-Century-Crofts, 25 Van Zant St, East Norwalk, Conn 06855, 1983, 364 pp, $14.95 paperback.

This fourth edition of The Nursing Process: As- sessing, Planning, Implementing, Evaluating would be suitable for basic nursing or hospital inservice programs.

The components of the nursing process are explained in understandable detail. The assess- ment section includes these critical frameworks upon which the nurse can make nursing diag- noses. The planning portion uses nursing diag- noses to assign priority, specify outcomes, and write nursing care plans. The authors explain nursing actions as the implementing phase and the assessment of patient outcomes as the evalua- tion phase. Quality assurance programs, profes-

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