Fluids & Electrolytes: An Incredibly Easy! Pocket Guide
Prepared by Springhouse
First Edition, 2005
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
323 Norristown Rd., Suite 200
Ambler, PA 19002-2756
www.lww.com
ISBN: 1-58255-433-1
Soft cover, 256 pages, U.S. $29.95

This book is a hand-sized paperback designed to be carried easily and used practically. The title identifies its purpose. It provides a concise review of the basics of fluids and electrolytes, disorders related to fluid and electrolyte problems, and treatment of those problems. It has six chapters that are topically arranged: review of basics, fluids, electrolytes, acid-base problems, disorders causing problems, and treatments. The appendices provide test questions and references. Simplistic cartoons are generously scattered throughout the pages and are a helpful aid in remembering facts by providing variety in presentation and a bit of levity to subjects that can be difficult. There are plenty of easy-to-follow charts. The writing is direct with most of the items being bulleted or listed.

One of its major strengths is its easy and helpful design. A basic organizational structure to dealing with each applicable problem – factual information, explanatory material, causes, signs and symptoms, test data, age-related considerations, medical treatment with nursing interventions, and memory aids – make it easy to follow. It includes helpful and handy information on blood transfusions, intravenous (IV) fluids, problems with IVs, blood pressure troubleshooting considerations, assessment of burn extent, edema assessment, and interpreting arterial blood gases (ABGs).

This book would be helpful as a quick-to-the-point reference for medical problems to hospital nurses, especially new nurses.

Robin Brittain, MSN, RN
Staff Nurse
RAI Care Center – Summerville
Summerville, SC
Member, ANNA’s Palmetto Chapter

Measurement in Nursing and Health Research
Carolyn Feher Waltz, Ora Lee Strickland and Elizabeth R. Lenz
Third Edition, 2005
Springer Publishing Company, Inc.
11 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
www.springerpub.com
ISBN: 0-8261-2635-9
Hardbound, 448 pages, U.S. $89.95 

The authors’ intention in writing the Third Edition of Measurement in Nursing and Health Research is to provide readers with information essential in “designing, testing and selecting instruments, methods and procedures for measuring variables in clinical, educational and research settings” (p. ix). Whereas previous editions targeted nurses as the primary audience, this latest edition has been expanded to “accommodate the needs and interests of a broader audience” of health care providers in a variety of roles, including “student, educator, clinician, researcher, administrator and consultant” (p. ix). Each chapter begins with a review of basic concepts, which progress to include a more indepth review of material that creates a text useful for both the novice and those with more advanced understanding. Updates, in keeping with changes in the field of nursing and health research, have been added to include an expanded discussion of qualitative methods, physiologic measures, nonclassical measurement, HIPAA requirements, use of databases and secondary data analysis, internet data collection and multiple measures.

The book is well organized and easily read, providing a thorough review of principles of measurement, design, and data collection with examples included to increase the reader’s understanding in applying key concepts. Tables and figures are appropriately used to illustrate key points in each chapter and appendices provide measurement resources. A detailed reference section is included at the end of each chapter to guide the reader interested in further study. Measurement in Nursing and Health Research should be a companion for everyone interested in advancing their understanding of measurement in nursing and health.