[krisssy]

Hi ,

Can anyone recommend some good summer reading? I am looking for books about nursing which are not text books-easy relaxing reading for the summer-maybe some easy history of nursing and nursing education, biographies that are easily read and not too long, nursing fiction based on reality. I am tired, and I am just looking for nursing books that are relaxing to read and interesting sort of like the old Cherry Ames books (if you are old enough to remember) but on an adult level. Last year I ordered a Florence Nightingale book and had to look every other word up of approx. 1000 pages. That is not what I am looking for lol. I am just looking for some light reading about nursing, nursing school, history etc. Thanks.

Krisssy

[Kelly_the_Great]

Hi Krisssy,

This is a little different approach but have you tried looking through vintage nursing books?

I have all of my Mother's nursing books and I really enjoy reading her "Professional Nursing" book from 40 (+) years ago! I know others who collect these older books and they can be quite entertaining. I bet you'd really enjoy them. It's really interesting to see how much things have changed and remained the same.

Here are a few excerpts from Mom's book "Dimensions of Professional Nursing" in the 1st chapter "Off to a Good Start":

YOU AND YOUR ROOMATE:

"If both you and your roommate are neat and tidy, studious, energetic, fun-loving, friendly, honest, unselfish and cooperative, you will get along very well. But how often is this happy situation likely to occur? Not very often...Individual differences in professional nurses are highly desirable. Wouldn't it be unfortunate if all graduate nurses were so much alike that all would make ideal teachers, or supervisors, or general duty nurses, or researchers? Or if all were leaders and there were no followers? Or even if all were dazzling blondes with perfect figures?"

HOME TIES:

“If your home is nearby, you may be tempted to visit your family every spare minute you have. Pleasant as this may be, it cannot help interfering with your new life as a nursing student. You may not be around when a group decides to go for a swim or to a movie; you may not be available when a classmate wants someone to double-date with her; you may be relaxing or working at home when you really should be at school studying or otherwise furthering your education.”

THE NEIGHBORHOOD:

“The easiest and most natural place to start to become better acquainted is in the neighborhood of the hospital or school, or both. You will find the nearest coffee shops and soda fountains with little trouble; every student everywhere always does. There you will relax, talk shop, make dates, and carry on a considerable amount of social life. That is all to the good as long as you avoid the habit of spending all of your leisure time there.”

[cyb]

Originally Posted by krisssy

Hi ,

Can anyone recommend some good summer reading? I am looking for books about nursing which are not text books-easy relaxing reading for the summer-maybe some easy history of nursing and nursing education, biographies that are easily read and not too long, nursing fiction based on reality. I am tired, and I am just looking for nursing books that are relaxing to read and interesting sort of like the old Cherry Ames books (if you are old enough to remember) but on an adult level. Last year I ordered a Florence Nightingale book and had to look every other word up of approx. 1000 pages. That is not what I am looking for lol. I am just looking for some light reading about nursing, nursing school, history etc. Thanks.

Krisssy

Echo Heron is a nurse that have wrote books based on her own experiences. She have a home page www.echoheron.com
I want to let you know that I found so many books on nursing/biographies at barnes&noble on-line store, need to be patient though, because you'll have to read the "who bought these also bought these" suggestions, and the critics opinion section too. Good luck and let me know if you found what you are looking for. I'm into books also, you know!

[krisssy]

Hi Kelly_the_Great and Cyb.

Kelly-I went to nursing school 40 years ago like your mom. My mother threw out all my books, unfortunately. She never even wanted me to be a nurse-I did it anyway!! What type of school did you mom go to? I am in grad school, and I may do a paper on nursing school changes. I find the topic very interesting, and like all of us, I write the best when the topic is interesting to me. I also have many ideas about bettering nursing education by looking at its histroy. I just did a concept analysis on the word addiction. It is amazing how the definition went full circle and is now approaching something philosophy based-totally different. We can learn so much from nursing education in its infantile days to its modern days and then going back and taking some good things from its early days and using them in a different way. I wish my mom had kept my old antiquated books. I hope you save your mom's books. There may be lots of little family members that may find them amazing someday.

Cyb,

I read Echo Heron's books Intensive Care and Condition Critical. I wrote to her, and she answered me twice. She even wished me good fortune when I was in the hospital. I am in the middle of reading Tending Lives. I enjoyed her books very much. I wish I could find some books from an even earlier time that were written in an easy to read fashion like Echo's. In my time off, during the summer, I like to read relaxing books, where I don't have to look words up as I do during grad school. I loved my Theory Course, but some of the reading was quite time consuming looking words up and comprehending. I love doing it during the year, but we all need a rest. Thanks for the suggestions. My problem is that I want to read Cherry Ames for adults! (just in the summer)

Kelly, ask your mom if she read Cherry Ames. I grew up reading them.

Don't worry everyone. I am not living in the past. I just enjoy nursing history for summer reading.

Krisssy

Geez-lately I am even buying vintage summer clothing!