Family Nursing: Research, Theory, and Practice, 5th Edition

ISBN: 9780130608246
ISBN-10: 0130608246
Copyright: 2003
Edition: 5th
Authors: Friedman, Marilyn M., Bowden, Vicky R., Jones, Elaine G.,
Doody's Expert Review    Score: 95
Reviewer: Penny Moore,  RNC, PhD  (Southwestern Adventist University)
Description
As theory and practice in family nursing have grown and changed, this book has been updated to remain current. This 714 page, fifth edition is packed full of the basics of family nursing. There are no pictures or illustrations in this black-and-white book, but there are some tables and other organizational features. The first edition appeared in 1980.
Purpose
"The text's focus . . . includes nursing diagnoses and interventions. . . The family assessment model is based primarily on three theoretical perspectives: a systems perspective, a structural-functional perspective, and a family developmental perspective. A multicultural perspective is also integrated throughout." Further, "We hope this text is able. . .[will] give you the foundations to practice more comfortably and effectively with families." The content reflects the authors' objectives and purposes well.
Audience
"This text is intended for undergraduate and graduate family nursing students and practitioners who are not practicing advance family therapy or family systems nursing . . . [the interventions] are insufficient for working with the very complex family in which more sophisticated, indirect interviewing and advanced counseling skills are required." I agree that additional information might be needed for some family intervention scenarios. However, this book is very complete and would be most useful in a situation where intervening on the family level was a serious goal. The authors are well qualified by education and practice.
Features
The book is divided into four parts: introduction, basic theoretical foundations, family nursing process and cultural differences. Chapter 17 on family stress, coping, and adaptation is particularly well done, as is the section on cultural diversity among families. The assessment tools, study questions, and glossary of terms all add learning value to this text. Each chapter has learning objectives but most are written on the lower cognitive level.
Assessment
This is an excellent resource. I use it to augment the couple of classes on family nursing in the community nursing course I teach. If I were to teach a whole course on just family nursing; this would be my choice of textbooks. It should be in every library where nursing students or nurses go for information.
Review Questionnaire
Range Question Score
1-10 Are the author's objectives met? 10
1-10 Rate the worthiness of those objectives. 10
1-5 Is this written at an appropriate level? 5
1-5 Is there significant duplication? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 4
1-5 Are there significant omissions? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 5
1-5 Rate the authority of the authors. 5
1-5 Are there sufficient illustrations? N/A
1-5 Rate the pedagogic value of the illustrations. N/A
1-5 Rate the print quality of the illustrations. N/A
1-5 Are there sufficient references? 5
1-5 Rate the currency of the references. 4
1-5 Rate the pertinence of the references. 5
1-5 Rate the helpfulness of the index. 4
1-5 If important in this specialty, rate the physical appearance of the book 4
1-10 Is this a worthwhile contribution to the field? 10
1-10 If this is a 2nd or later edition, is this new edition needed? 10