The Handbook of Hospice Care [Paperback]

Robert W. Buckingham (Author), Rosemary Johnson Hurzeler (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1996 | ISBN-10: 1573920606 | ISBN-13: 978-1573920605 | Edition: 1

This book offers a detailed look at the history of hospice, its philosophy of care, and the contemporary issues it faces. The role of each member of the hospice team is carefully explained in the hope that palliative care, based upon the needs and preferences of each patient and family, can be provided. Dr Buckingham describes a co-operative and compassionate approach that brings meaning, dignity, and autonomy to the dying process.

Product Details

• Paperback: 262 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books; 1 edition (January 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573920606
• ISBN-13: 978-1573920605
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #796,214 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Who was this book written for? No useful information at all, June 13, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Handbook of Hospice Care (Paperback)

As a hospice nurse, I am always looking for books that might be useful, if not for myself or coworkers, then for my patients and families that I work with. With the title "The Handbook of Hospice Care", I hoped that if the book was to much of a review for me and my coworkers, that I could use it for giving care tips to families of my patients. I could find very little useful information in this book, and it left me wondering who was the target audience for this book? It skimmed the surface under History of Hospice, so is of no use if you are studing for the Hospice Boards. It goes into Hospice Administration, but not in sufficient detail to be helpful to anyone needing this information, and for anyone not needing the information, it is very basic and boring. The section on Staff Stress is two paragraphs, which boil down to the sentence "staff stress and burnout are issues which need to be addressed by all of the helping professions" . At no point did this ever become a "Handbook of Hospice Care" There are no useful tips, in fact, it never does talk about providing care at all! Just rambles on about Hospice's needing nurses,volunteers and a medical director. 260 pages defining what Hospice is! But "care" is never the concern for this book. When I buy something called a "handbook" I expect a useful little book I might need to keep handy to reference.
This honestly, is the worst nursing book I have ever looked at, and I regret I did not immediatly send it back. I can't think of anyone, from student nurse to worried families, who might benefit from having this book.

Janice Andrew R.N. ([e-mail])

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is by far the best book on hospice care., April 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Handbook of Hospice Care (Paperback)

Dr. Buckingham has written the best general overview of hospice care in america. this book is perfct for the lay audience as well as the practicing health care professional.

If anyone is interested in volunteering for a hospice program than this book must be the bible of understanding the history and reasons for the existance of such a fine compassionate program.

Dr. Buckingham has written other books on hospice care. This is his best book yet.

A must read for all those considering hospice care for their loved one or friend.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book ever written on hospice care., April 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Handbook of Hospice Care (Paperback)

As a Medical Director of a hospice, i can honestly say that Dr.Buckinghams book is a maginicient addition ti the existing literature.

I am requesting that all our nurses and volunteers read this book.

This book is the best general overview of hopice in this country.

Colin Rollins MD