AORN JOURNAL
44, NO 2
in-depth data.
As ECG monitoring becomes more frequent,
this book could be an excellent reference for
students, staff nurses, or nurse educators. Its basic
information would also make an excellent
ediicational format for the community.
CHARLOTTE H. OWEN,RN, BSN
TAMPA,FLA
Te..rtbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing, 5th ed.
Lillian S. Brunner and Doris S. Suddath. J B
Lippincott Co, E Washington Square, Philadel-
phia, PA 19105, 1984, 1,638 pp, $43.95
clcthbound.
Nming is expanding to include health mainte-
nance and strategies for self-care. This edition has
been expanded to give a balanced presentation
of the growing numbers of diagnostic and
trwtment modalities and nursing options.
‘Thisbook was written for the nursing student.
It provides principles of medical and surgical
nursing to help the student understand physio-
logical and psychological effects of disease on the
whole person. “Developmental concepts of the
adult life cycle” is a new chapter that portrays
the differences between, and changes within,
individuals during a lifetime.The patient education
sections have also been expanded.
:Included in this book are an appendix and many
helpful diagrams and charts. It would be a good
resource book for nurses.
EDNAW. Scon, RN, CNOR
LAKELAND, FLA
Study Guide to Brunner/Suddarthk Textbook of
Medical-Surgical Nursing, 5th ed. Mary Jo Boyer,
J B Lippincott Co, E Washington Square,
Philadelphia, PA 19105, 1984, 346 pp, $9.50
paperback.
This study guide was developed as a tool to help
students focus on content areas considered essential
for understanding the concepts, techniques, and
disease processes in the textbook. Practical
application is tested by exercises for developing
nursing care plans and patient teaching guides.
Questions, suggestions for discussion,and activities
316
AUGUST 1986. VOL.
are offered. Answers are keyed by page number
to the text for easy reference. It is a useful adjunct
to the text.
EDNAW. Scorn, RN, CNOR
LAKELAND, FLA
Quality Control Circles
Focus on Problem-Solving
Hospitals are starting to use quality control cir-
cles like their counterparts in industry have done
for several years, according to MarchIApril
Orthopaedic Nursing. Quality control circles are
a participatory management technique in which
eight to 10 employees from one work area meet
regularly to define, analyze, and solve work-
related problems. Circles use techniques such as
brainstorming, cause-effect diagrams, and charts
to develop solutions.
Benefits of a quality control circle are better
rapport and communication among the staff and
with other departments, and more trust in the
nursing administration. Employees who are
involved in a circle usually offer more creative
and in-depth solutions.
To begin a quality control circle, the head
nurse (or supervisor of the work area) acts as the
leader and obtains the support of the nursing
administration. This is necessary because changes
in current policies are often suggested, and with-
out administration’s support to implement them,
staff morale could decrease.
The leader should receive proper training in
quality control circle techniques, according to the
report. The International Association of Quality
Control Circles (801-B W 8th St, Suite 301, Cin-
cinnati, OH 45203) is a resource for locating a
training program.
According to the report, a person from outside
the work unit is needed to o k r v c the grsup prs-
cess,assist the leader in teaching concepts, and
serve as a resource and support person for the
leader and the circle. The leader should be flexi-
ble and allow the staff to define and solve prob-
lems; the circle process should not be rushed.