Book Review: Nursing Now! Today’s Issues, Tomorrow’s Trends
Catalano, J. T. (2003). Nursing Now! Today’s Issues, Tomorrow’s Trends.
Philadelphia: F. A. Davis. ISBN: 0-8036-1040-8, 452 pages,
$39.95.
Review by: Carol L. White, RN, BSN, CRRN
Nursing Now! Today’s Issues, Tomorrow’s Trends presents important issues and trends that are needed in the development of professional nurses as they face the challenges of nursing today and tomorrow. It is intended, primarily, for nursing students, but practicing nurses will also benefit from the wide range of issues and trends covered.
Joseph Catalano, PhD, RN, has first-hand knowledge of the nursing profession and as a nursing professor; he presents the ever-changing challenges in health care.
The book is organized into four units taking the reader from “The Growth of Nursing,” to “Making the Transition to Professional,” to “Leading and Managing,” then to “Issues in Delivering Care.” Each unit includes chapters, which begin with objectives and have an interactive format with a journal layout. Included are tables, current issue boxes, integrated questions, and critical thinking exercises. A brief summary of each chapter is found at the end. A glossary, index, and appendixes are also included to further cover the issues and trends of nursing in today’s health care.
The author’s expertise is evident as he focuses on the many issues that a nursing student needs to be aware of, the need to learn more, be more, and do more. Today’s nurse needs to have more education, more technical skills, and more leadership ability. As a textbook, the author discusses the theories and models of nursing, the importance of critical thinking and ethical decision-making, all as part of daily nursing care. He also stresses that nurses need to be aware of the implications of their actions, related to nursing law and liabilities. He also helps the student understand the tests and test-taking strategies. There is reality shock in the workplace as the book explains the process from student to the working nurse. Some other areas covered in the book are leadership and management, delegation, and supervision in nursing, the health care delivery system, being politically active as a nurse, spirituality and cultural diversity in nursing.
This book is not only helpful for the nursing student, but also for the seasoned nurse. The nursing profession is evolving every day, and all nurses must be aware of the issues and trends.
Carol L. White, RN, BSN, CRRN is admission liaison nurse at the Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital, Greenville, South Carolina.
Denise Lemke, MSN, CS-RN, ANP, CNRN, is the editor of Book Reviews and welcomes questions, comments. and suggestions. Please contact her at dlemke@mcw.edu