When
you call the doctor's office, who is the first person you talk to?
When you walk into the clinic with a sick baby in your arms, who
is it that takes temperatures, asks the questions and offers reassurance?
When you call a helpline at three in the morning with frantic questions
about how to get your seven-year-old's fever down, who is it that
talks you down off the ceiling and then through the procedure? It's
the nurse.In
so many medical situations, the nurse has the answers you need and
an abundance of common sense to share. She or he can give advice
on the practical matters of lowering fevers, dressing wounds and
treating everything from nausea to the sniffles. That advice can
come as a simple home remedy such as saltines by the bed for morning
sickness, to the correct way to wrap a sprained ankle. It's the
little things that the doctor's time doesn't allow but need to be
handled all the same.
The
new book "Ask A Nurse - From Home Remedies to Hospital Care" from
the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, is a practical,
no-nonsense guide to the basics of handling everything from cuts
and scrapes to what to do if someone is having a heart attack. The
book is sectioned to include symptoms, home treatments, tips and
warnings about potential hazards, as well as what tests to expect
and demand both at the doctor's office and in hospital. The layout
of the book is sensible and easy to reference. The information within
is presented in a wholly professional but not overly-medical style
which will be of great comfort to those having to access it at three
in the morning while dealing with a feverish child or a minor home
accident.
There
is an excellent and very comprehensive section on Women's Health
which includes complete and clear information regarding pregnancy,
menopause and general health issues specifically encountered by
women. The section on pregnancy describes what to do, what not to
do and what to be aware of in each stage. An example of the practical
and useful information is as follows: "If a woman doubts whether
she's experiencing premature rupture of membranes or leakage of
urine, she should empty her bladder, put on a pad or dry panties,
then walk around for about half an hour. Afterward, check to see
if the pad or panties are wet. If wet, the woman should contact
her practitioner immediately and be checked for leaking amniotic
fluid." - Barbara Morrison, Ph.D(c), RN, FNP, CNM, Millikin University,
Decatur, Illinois. (pg. 242) This kind of sensible and calming advice
could prevent a panicked flight to L&D.
The
children's health section is a wonderfully complete offering which
encompasses many of the common childhood conditions and some that
are less common but still require a fair amount of home care and
treatment. From something as simple as taking an accurate temperature
and clearing up diaper rash, to recognizing the signs of a potentially
life-threatening eating disorder in a teenage girl, this section
offers practical and safe home remedies along with advice on when
to call the doctor and seek professional assistance. "After receiving
vaccines, some children will have sore muscles and some may even
have a mild fever. Both may be treated with acetaminophen, and the
sore muscle may also be helped with a cold compress placed over
the injection site. If fever exceeds 100 degrees Fahrenheit or your
child becomes inconsolable, call your provider." Elizabeth Farren,
Ph.D, RN, FNP, Baylor University, School of Nursing. (pg. 269)
The
book also offers a generous index of health organizations, addresses,
phone numbers and email addresses of groups all over the US which
are available to help when health matters arise. This kind of information
can be invaluable to someone facing a health crisis and at a loss
as to where to start in getting help and resources. Examples of
organizations in the index are the La Leche League, the American
Red Cross and the American Association of Pediatrics.
The
last section in the book is particularly touching yet down to earth
in it's tone and content. It deals with terminal illness and death,
both for the person dying and the family who care for them. There
is information regarding living wills, do not resuscitate orders
and making sure your wishes as a patient are carried out by those
you trust when you are no longer able to self-determine. There are
descriptions of terminology which may be used regarding artificial
feeding, breathing and a section dealing with the rights of patients
who are in terminal care. For anyone facing such an ordeal it is
comforting to have this information so well laid out and complete.
"End-of-life care encompasses not only disease-specific treatment
and the life-sustaining measures discussed earlier but also pain
relief, counseling, and emotional support." (pg. 370)
I
would highly recommend adding this useful and practical book to
any home library. It offers comprehensive answers to common and
not so simple questions, concerns and issues which arise for many
of us every day. The book is easy to reference, reassuring in it's
practicality and useful in offering suggestions as to what questions
to ask in the doctor's office and what to expect when in hospital.
In an age when doctor's visits are expensive and sometimes hard
to come by, this book can be very useful in helping to decide when
professional help is really required and how to handle things correctly
and safely if it is not.
Book review by Nancy Gazzola
To Purchase:
• Ask A Nurse at Amazon U.S.
• Ask A Nurse at Amazon UK
• Ask A Nurse at Amazon Canada
