Nurse

Rating:
Summary: Great book, much still applicable to modern times.
Review: I bought this book at a local store not knowing anything about it, I had went there to look for something else and it caught my eye since I would be starting my first semester of nursing school in a few months. I started to read it but soon had to stop when I got into the hustle and bustle of nursing school. My favorite thing about this book is that it is from a very deeply personal point of view. I didn't buy it for technical knowledge or even the hopes it would give me an inside look at the life of a nurse. It's too old for that, but I have to admit the cover lines, "Doctor's don't keep you alive, I do." caught my attention more than anything. It is finals time now at the end of my first semester of nursing school, and I have just finished the book on my thanksgiving break. I'm glad I did because I felt very inspired and comforted by reading it. Especially now that I too have begun to feel the stress, anger, fear, and lack of confidence that can accompany being new to nursing. My favorite parts of the book were when she got really specific about her opinions on nurse-client relationships, especially relating to death. It's also encouraging to know that since the mid seventies there has been a push to bring more respect to nursing as a profession, and not just a servitude position for weak women to get close to doctors as possible husbands. That of course doesn't apply to me since I am one of few men to go into nursing. I loved reading about how someone in there mid to late twenties enjoys being tested by her job and life, and is still able to grow and change into a better person. I definitely would suggest this as a good book to read for all nursing students, and all nurses, no matter what job title, age, or specialization.

Rating:
Summary: Worth reading
Review: I would recommend this book to any nursing student or new graduate. It deals with nurse-doctor as well as nurse-patient relationships in great detail with descriptions of actual individuals and case histories. While certain things have changed in the 25 years since the book was published, it still makes for informative and entertaining reading.

Rating:
Summary: Worth reading
Review: I would recommend this book to any nursing student or new graduate. It deals with nurse-doctor as well as nurse-patient relationships in great detail with descriptions of actual individuals and case histories. While certain things have changed in the 25 years since the book was published, it still makes for informative and entertaining reading.

Rating:
Summary: A Nurse With A Personal Opinion
Review: This book is about a head nurse on a medical-surgical floor in a hospital.Some of the information would give someone a good idea about the hussle and bustle of the nursing field and it's stresses.
A lot of this was the woman's 'personal' feelings about nursing and not all nurses feel the way she does or would or would not do some of the things she did.
She is also 29 y.o. and this was written in 1978. A WHOLE LOT has changed since then. Don't believe this book is the gospel on nursing because it's not. It does give a good basic over-all view but is more a journal of a 'new' nurses experience.

Rating:
Summary: Personal Experience of One Nurse
Review: This book records the personal experiences and history of one nurse at a large urban hospital. She is the head nurse in charge of one floor. It recounts her experiences and her personal life. I wonder what she would now say thirty years later? TV dramas show intense activity; they skip the mundane daily events. "Drama is real life without the dull spots." This nurse often talks about death and dying; that seems like a sign of unhappiness or depression. Happy people never think about dying; the very idea is obscene, like asking someone if they've been dewormed lately. (An unfrisky puppy may suffer from this ailment.)

This book concentrates on those with incurable illnesses, or with illnesses from poor eating (diabetes). I once read a claim that diabetes is unknown among those who do not eat refined foods. (That may be true, but they may suffer from other illnesses.) But diabetes was described in the time of Hippocrates; it may be as old as civilization. Those who die of TB or cholera at 30 will never live long enough to suffer from diabetes, heart disease, or cancer. You just can't win! The book mentions the problems of untreated diabetes and other illnesses. Is this a plea for National Health Care? I think NHC should be available for all until age 19. We can't guarantee proper eating, healthy living, etc. The pursuit of happiness may not always be a healthful activity.