Edited by Wendy Nehring, R.N., Ph.D., FAAN, FAAMR. Sudbury, Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2005, 400 pages. ISBN 0-7637-4765-3, Price: $53.95 USA (paperback)

Core Curriculum for Specializing in Intellectual and Developmental Disability: A Resource for Nurses and Other Health Care Professionals is written by leaders in the field of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD). This comprehensive and authoritative text, edited by Wendy Nearing (nationally recognized in the United States for her leadership and scholarly contributions to Developmental Disabilities Nursing),addresses important aspects and issues in health care for persons of all ages with I/DD.

Written in outline format for self-study, Core Curriculum for Specializing in Intellectual and Developmental Disability: A Resource for Nurses and Other Health Care focuses on all the essentials without long readings from a huge textbook. As such, it delivers "hands on" quick access to key information needed by the busy health care provider. With its concise, easy-to-use format, distilled information can be easily understood and applied to everyday practice. The extensive resources and references provide an excellent reference base for all health professionals and students who may work in this field. The interdisciplinary focus of this core curriculum offers a unique perspective and appreciation for the trans-disciplinary contributions made to this field of study.

Core Curriculum for Specializing in Intellectual and Developmental Disability: A Resource for Nurses and Other Health Care Professionals is organized into six sections, with twenty-seven chapters covering the following topics: History of Nursing and Health Professionals in I/DD; Etiology; Epidemiologist; Genetics; Health Promotion; Health Care across the Lifespan; Mental Health; Sexuality; Eating and Swallowing Disorders; Oral Health; Nutrition; Seizure Disorders; Quality of Life & Outcomes; Ethical/Legal Issues; Economic and Policy Issues; Family and Cultural/Ethnic Perspectives; Roles and Responsibilities of Nurses and Health Professionals Specializing in I/DD.

Each chapter is heralded by objectives and key points to assist the learner. The authors have accomplished the difficult task of converting substantive, often complex, information into a pleasing, easy-to-follow format. The book starts with an overview of the historical underpinnings of the field. Expertly researched, this first chapter provides an enlightening perspective of the historical progression of attitudes towards persons with I/DD. The section on basic concepts, with its variations on definitions of mental retardation, highlights the importance of understanding the history and influence of terminology and classification.

An entire section is allocated to delineating the roles and responsibilities of the nurse and other health care professionals specializing in I/DD as administrators, consultants, educators and researchers. It is disappointing that the role of the advanced practice nurse, such as a nurse practitioner, is not discussed in this section; however, nurse practitioners are mentioned in the chapters on early intervention and transition. The chapter on eating and swallowing disorders provides a wonderful blueprint for dysphasia identification and clinical assessment by the interdisciplinary team, and describes the role and responsibilities for each member of the team. This chapter also offers useful nursing strategies in the management of dysphasia as does the chapter on seizure disorders.

Chapters addressing early intervention, family and school issues, transition to adulthood, aging, ethical/cultural concerns, financial resources and public law, offer knowledge which is not necessarily condition specific, but which forms the framework for delivery of care for all persons with I/DD across the lifespan. Condition-specific information, covering etiology and clinical manifestations, is incorporated throughout the text. Comprehensive in scope, today's nurses will find much to use in this text whether they are seeking concise and authoritative guidance or just reliable counsel through the complex web of etiologies and treatments inherent to our field. The chapter on genetics is a good example of this.

Knowledge of genetics and its disorders is especially crucial to the practice of nurses and health care professionals in the field of I/DD. This chapter introduces general principles of genetics and dysmorphology, enabling nurses to apply this knowledge to their routine clinical practice. Natvig expertly synthesizes this complex subject and makes it understandable. The reader will find a valuable physical assessment tool in this chapter (Table 5.1 Abnormal Physical Finding).

The emphasis on quality and outcomes, attention to family perspectives and health care policy issues are just a few examples of the extensive scope of this book. This is a "must-have" resource for nurses and health professionals specializing in I/DD, as well as for students with an interest in this field. Certified DD nurses or those preparing for certification now have an invaluable text that will become an integral part of their library. Get this book...it will make you proud to be a nurse specializing in I/D!

Jan Schlaier, FNP, EdD (c)
Jan has worked the field of I/DD for over 30 years. She teaches in the Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of Tampa, provides primary care to children with I/DD and consults for the State of Florida.