BOOK REVIEW
Competency for Safe Patient Care During Operative and Invasive Procedures
Reviewed by J. Mower, RN MSN CNS CNOR
M. Phippen, B.C. Ulmer, and M.P. Wells, eds. Denver, CO: CCI, 2009. $95. ISBN 978-0-9787582-9-5. Hardcover, 1440 pages.
Competency for Safe Patient Care During Operative and Invasive Procedures provides an up-to-date resource for health care providers in the perioperative setting. This book will be appreciated by staff, educators, and managers for its in-depth coverage of patient care in a variety of specialties and procedures.
The book is divided into three sections: Conceptual fundamentals of practice, which includes a conceptual model on which to base patient care, competency assessment tools, performance improvement program development, and legal and ethical considerations; Competencies for safe patient care, divided into pre-, intra-, and postoperative assessments and skills typically performed; and Operative and invasive procedures, which describe the most frequently encountered cases based on specialty. Well-known experts in the field have contributed content and their expertise in the development of this book. A significant change from Phippen and Ulmer’s previous text is the inclusion of competency checklists, making this book especially appealing for staff new to the OR, nurse educators, and those preparing for certification exams.
Several chapters dedicated to first assisting and post-procedural care will help meet the needs of those nurses in expanded or advanced practice roles. This book addresses procedures that are performed in a variety of settings, including interventional radiology, cath lab, and outpatient/ambulatory surgery settings, contributing to its versatility and universal appeal to a wide audience.
The use of tables, full-color illustrations, and definitions of key terms called out in the margins combine to create an organized and very user-friendly book. The focus on patient safety reflects the current trend in healthcare, making this a timely and essential addition to the perioperative nurse’s library.
