Book Review
Pain management: nursing perspective
Judith H. Watt-Watson, Marilee Ivers Donovan
ISBN: 1556642512; 1992; 558 pages; Mosby- Williams & Wilkins;
Debra K Creedy
Research Centre for Clinical Practice Innovation, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport QLD
Poor pain control for both adults and children has been well documented in practice and research. This handy spiral-bound book examines issues in relation to pain management that may present challenges for nurses working in a variety of settings. Three sections present a general understanding of pain, developmental differences in pain management, and specific pain issues for client groups. The book, while being concise, presents information in sufficient detail to be invaluable to nurses in a wide range of settings, and educators.
A strong feature of the book is the presence of practitioners writing for practitioners in discussing current research, literature, and experience as a rationale for care. There is a strong orientation toward helping clients manage their pain, as each chapter outlines specific practical approaches to pain assessment and/or management and carefully analyses the implications of research for 66 Contemporary Nurse 3(2) June 1994 practice.
The case studies used as illustrations highlight common areas of difficulty, present new knowledge and stimulate the reader's own thinking toward possible solutions. Unfortunately this book is not specific to the Australian context. However, while the chapter on ethical decision making refers to the ANA Code for Nurses, and the section on pharmacological management refers to some equipment not commonly used here, the principles of management and suggested practical strategies far outweigh this minor shortcoming.
For example, the pharmacological management chapter presents the basic information required to understand the pharmacokinetics of analgesic agents, their mechanism of action, side effects, and the nursing care involved in administering these drugs. This text is informative, easy to read and provides an excellent overview of the principles of pain management. While not providing the depth of information required for clinical specialists, the book is an excellent reference for nurses caring for people in pain.
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