ELSEVIER SCIENCE B.V.
Sara Burgerhartstraat 25
P.O. Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
ISBN: 0-444-82470-7
© 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
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Author's Preface of Appreciation
This effort is the culmination of my lifelong attraction to medical terminology - that
which continues to be a source of fulfillment for me. Throughout, I have been impacted by
the enhanced efficiency and clarity which is inherent in medical nomenclature.
How do nurses view charting? Too often, it is the last load of the shift, in which haste and
other demands cloud a precise recall of details. When kept up to date with vividly accurate
terminology, we can take pride in our documentation of that which only we might know that
which
bears
real
significance
on
the
many
critical
cases
we
manage.
As each of us knows, the chart is a legal document. Ours is the responsibility to make concise,
pertinent,
and
accurate
entries
in
this
record.
This
actually
becomes
easier
when
we
have
a
comfortable,
working
knowledge
of
terminology,
which
is
ever
growing.
This
endless
opportunity
allows
nurses
(and
others)
to
learn
and
recall
vocabulary
and
concepts
in
whatever
field
-
even
by
oneself.
The most difficult feature of this work was bringing my treasured accumulation to "completion".
My
entire
career,
I
have
been
blessed
with
opportunities
in
which
medical
expertise
was
graciously
shared
and
demonstrated
by
teaching-model
MDs.
It
is
difficult
to
declare
finished
such
an
accumulation
of
guidance
and
study,
because
medical
terminology
never
stands
still.
The
present
work
includes
the
most
recent
terminology
I
came
across.
I
will
continue
collecting
updated
material
for
possible
future
editions.
My devoted husband of 37 years, the Rev. Calvin W. Vanderwerf, has uplifted me at every
obstacle, and cheered me at each milestone of progress. With loving gratitude, it is to him
that I dedicate this work.
Joyce E. Lee, M.D., my mentor, challenged my love of medicine in nursing, by her
exquisite empathy for each patient and each caregiver. It was she who introduced me to my
favorite indoor sport - medical lectures.
The elegance with which physicians present, challenge, and debate their concerns is as
impressive as the scholarly content of their lectures/seminars. (Many are expensive, but
some are also free - including registration, meals, syllabus, et al.) RNs are welcomed, and
will be awarded CMEs (Continuing Medical Education credits), even though some United
States' boards of nursing will not accept these toward their CEU (Continuing Education
Unit) requirements. As is well known, the latter can also be expensive, unless offered by
one's own hospital.
Since MDs' presentations are on a high, well-defined level, their medical oratory and style
(with appropriate humorous moments) are as fascinating as they are enjoyable. Many of my
900+ hours of CMEs/CEUs represent "vacations with a purpose", and a great many have
been free.
From coast to coast, physicians have built into my medical concepts, principles, and
ethics. They know who they are, and of my gratitude and commitment to what they taught
and lived. It is a distinct privilege to be published, and an honor to have a readership beyond
the United States. I welcome any comments, and will answer these. Thank you for caring
enough to be in touch.
I continue to hold in highest esteem the dedicated Sisters of Mercy at St. Mary's Medical
Center, San Francisco, who devoted their careers to sharing their superior education and
nursing goals with their students. We went through graduation in mourning. A month earlier,
we had buried 5 of our senior classmates of 3 years. St. Mary's motto, "The patient comes first!",
remains a vital priority in this era of compromised values.
Sally F. Vanderwerf, RN, BS
4418 Longhorn Trail
Temple, Texas 76502
USA
e-mail: vanderwerf@earthlink.net
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