Advanced practice in mental health nursing

Mental Health Nursing,  Nov/Dec 2000  by Miller, Ian G

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Advanced practice in mental health nursing Michael Clinton and Siobhan Nelson (eds) (1999) Blackwell Science ISBN: 0632 04892 1 Price: L24.99 pp 288

Given the title of this book, the reader might expect to be made more aware of what exactly constitutes `advanced practice'. Not so. Engaging as it is, the editors consider it to be no more (or less) than the day-to-day CPN interventions that non-advanced practitioners would be familiar with.

The book is impressive and thought provoking and postulates that mental health nursing practice is advancing in order to meet the demands of policy initiatives. Nurses need to redefine their roles accordingly In this volume, the editors examine current challenges, and develop realistic proposals to meet the demands facing mental health care workers, and care delivery, both now and in the future.

Refreshingly, the book is original in that it accepts there is no universally accepted model of mental illness. Different writers therefore approach the concept from a variety of differing theoretical standpoints. Mental health is also considered from an international perspective, not merely for comparative purposes but also to enable a sharing of models of management, clinical intervention and of ways of meeting the needs of consumers.

This book is well laid out and easy to read. The contributions demonstrate a richness of breadth and depth. It is thoroughly researched and has relevance to all disciplines of mental health care workers, advanced or otherwise.

Ian G Miller

Copyright Community Psychiatric Nurses Association Nov/Dec 2000
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