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Hyperbaric Nursing - Book Review

AORN Journal, August, 2003 by CJ Welter

Valerie Larson-Lohr, Helen C. Norvell, eds 2002, 400 pp $73 hardback

This is a textbook for nurses about hyperbaric therapy. Numerous members of the Baromedical Nurses Association contributed to the book, which contains essential and practical information about this specialty.

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The book begins with a section on basic documentation. It is an excellent review of the importance of nursing documentation in describing the quality of patient care, outcomes of that care, and treatment or therapy still required. A review of nursing taxonomy is presented to help readers develop methods of documentation to demonstrate that care has been provided to satisfy the scrutiny of Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, Medicare, and Medicaid auditors; peer review organizations; and legal inquiries. This section continues with a detailed chapter on documentation of the nursing process as it relates to hyperbaric oxygen therapy. In 1998, the Baromedical Nurses Association adopted guidelines for hyperbaric nursing, which are presented in this chapter. Several examples of documentation forms specific to hyperbaric therapy have been included.

Many health care professionals are involved in the care of patients undergoing hyperbaric treatment. This book is a good reference for hyperbaric nurses and an excellent resource for clinical nurses caring for patients in hospitals or outpatient settings. The book includes discussions of the interactions between hyperbaric oxygen and patients' medications, both prescription and over-the-counter; preparing patients for treatment in the chamber; physical assessment and examination; forms used for documentation; and caring for patients throughout their experience in the chamber. The Joint Commission includes education as one of its standards for hospital accreditation, and this book devotes an entire chapter to patient education.

A description of the types of chambers, pressurization, use of gases, the role of staff members, and the role of nurses working in the pressurized chamber are written in language that is easy to understand. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is recommended for 13 disease categories, and each category is presented with an explanation of the action of hyperbaric oxygen.

The editors have included a chapter on regulatory agencies that affect the practice of hyperbaric nursing. This chapter is a must read for hospitals planning a hyperbaric program and nurses who will be practicing in this speciality.

I would recommend this textbook to nurses in all specialities. Patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy cross all ages and services. Nurses caring for patients who are candidates for or have undergone hyperbaric therapy must have an understanding of the treatment, and this book is an excellent resource for information. It is not written technically and is easy to read and understand. Both the text and references contain a wealth of information.

This book is available from Best Publishing Co, PO Box 30100, Flagstaff, AZ 86003-0100; http://www.bestpub.com

CJ WELTER

RN, BSN, CNOR, CRNFA

INDEPENDENT PRACTICE

BELFAIR, WASH

Health Care Industry

Hyperbaric Nursing - Book Review

AORN Journal, August, 2003 by CJ Welter

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