Book Reviews

Abstract

Heath D. Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster; 2020. Hardback; 320 pages.This title could not have been more timely given the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis we are dealing with in health care. Heath puts forward the premise that certain processes can help mitigate the development of problems; that is, rather than being reactive once a problem occurs, we should be looking “upstream” for solutions. This thinking focuses on determining factors that contribute to the problem and addressing those issues. One example from health care is the use of infant car seats. A pediatrician noticed that car accidents frequently resulted in infant deaths. He founded the movement to implement and require the use of car seats for infants and children, with the outcome of decreased pediatric deaths from this cause. Rather than focusing his actions on managing the trauma care for infants and children, his goal was to implement a solution upstream to prevent the injuries. Because of this pediatrician’s early and ongoing efforts, use of car seats became the law.According to Heath, circumstances should be studied and considered when developing solutions. We do not have to accept common outcomes as normal. Another example in the book is the acceptance that sports injuries are inevitable as an outcome of playing sports. But if the mechanics of movement are studied and analyzed, athletes can be trained in specific ways to mitigate potential injury. This way of thinking will promote individualized training according to the particular weaknesses identified. Similarly, when we are faced with a problematic situation in our lives, we can avoid the one-size-fits-all approach and accept ownership for helping to develop upstream solutions.Upstream is divided into 3 sections: The Three Barriers to Upstream Thinking, Seven Questions for Upstream Leaders, and Far Upstream. This book is a quick read, even for those who underline and annotate. Heath offers real-world examples to illustrate salient points, helping the reader to understand the connections and context.Upstream is a must read for every leader in the health care setting. Consider the COVID-19 crisis and critical problems for both patient care and health care worker safety. For example, how might upstream thinking for supply chain management ensure everyone has the equipment they need in the future?Lundsberg JW. Elsevier; 2018. Paperback; 384 pages.Small enough to fit in a laboratory coat pocket, Manual for Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine is a reference for health care providers, but could also be valuable for advanced bedside clinicians. This book does not cover content on neurological or cardiac emergencies. Lundsberg provides the pathophysiology, case studies, and algorithms for patient management and decision-making. Purchase of this book includes access to the Elsevier ExpertConsult online portal.Polit DF, Beck CT. Wolters Kluwer; 2017. Hardback; 814 pages.Nursing Research is a textbook and is not likely of interest to the casual reader. However, this book is a valuable reference on processes and tools for development and analysis of research to support evidence-based practice. Those who have not recently taken research or statistics classes may want to consider this book as an addition to their library as a resource on updated research methods and analysis.McBride AB. Springer Publishing; 2020. Paperback; 314 pages.The Growth and Development of Nurse Leaders is appropriate for any nurse who wants to develop or hone leadership skills. McBride focuses on the areas of personal, organizational, and transformational leadership development. The text is dense, without many figures or tables; however, the content topics are important for any current or prospective leader. Purchase of this book includes access to the Springer Publishing Digital Access online additional content.