Now that I have some down time, what nursing stories book would you recommend?

Testa Rosa, RN · Sep 28, 2012

I really liked "Critical Care: A New Nurse Faces Death, Life and Everything in Between" by Theresa Brown. As a second career nurse first starting out in Oncology I felt like she totally nailed it.

I also liked "A Nurse's Story: Life, Death and in Beteween in an ICU" by Tilda Shalof--some of the stories were out there but it was a good read.

I also liked "When Chicken Soup ISN'T ENOUGH" by Susan Gordon far more than the one you read, but I'm a rebel that way.

While not nurse related, the Henrietta Lacks story (scientific and personal biography) makes for an amazing read, as does Cutting for Stone (fiction). And "The Spirit Catches you and Then you Fall Down" (biography) is an amazing story of Hmong immigrants with a sick child caught up in the modern health care system.

There was also a good one I wish I could find again about a LTC nurse who documents the life stories of her long term patients as she shares her life as a single mom with struggles--It was an older book my mom had up at our cabin probably published in the 80's. Anyone know what this might be? There was also a good book about the first year of nursing I read but forgot the title.

audreysmagic, RN · Sep 29, 2012

I second anything written by Tilda Shalof. I like her style a lot, and while she's Canadian, so a lot of her tales seem strange in light of the US health system, it's good reading. Her Camp Nurse book is great.

IdianaCNA1993 · Sep 29, 2012

I found this book at a take one leave one bassket at the dentists that was called "The Night Nurse" but it was more smutt than actuall nursing after I read like the first page I put it down because when I was readining my sensual voice was reading it to me in my mind if that makes sense I kept laughing... I know thats not the answer to your question but I thought Id share incase you felt like reading some erotica :whistling:

JacquieRN · Sep 29, 2012

One of my favorite books is "Josie's Story: A Mother's Inspiring Crusade to Make Medical Care Safe" by Sorrel King. It's not written by a nurse but by a mother whose daughter died due to a medical error. As a medical professional, it was a very moving read.

loriangel14, RN · Oct 5, 2012

Tilda Shalof also has written a book called "Opening my Heart" It is her own story of being a patient. Very interesting.

RNJill · Oct 5, 2012

I really liked both of Echo Heron's books-I hope they aren't out of print now. Her stories (insane as some of them were!) were key contributors to my decision to become a nurse :-)

Elladora · Oct 10, 2012

I also liked "A Nurse's Story: Life, Death and in Beteween in an ICU" by Tilda Shalof--some of the stories were out there but it was a good read.

Agreed! One story in particular I can think of from that book that gave me the willys. She's a great author though.

I liked "First Year Nurse" by Barbara Arnoldussen.

An interesting psych read is "January First" by Michael Schofield. While I pretty much wanted to choke the dad, it was a very interesting insight into childhood mental illness.

Testa Rosa, RN · Oct 10, 2012

Just finished reading "Trauma Junkie : Memoirs of an Emergency Flight Nurse" by Janice Hudson and enjoyed it even tho I harbor no desire to be a trauma or flight nurse. I found the short stories very interesting especially since I am Bay Area based and she mentions several local tragedies like the '89 earthquake.

Also just ordered "I'm a Registered Nurse Not a Whore" by Anne Perdue based on the title alone.

Elladora · Oct 11, 2012

Also just ordered "I'm a Registered Nurse Not a Whore" by Anne Perdue based on the title alone.

Now I think I might have to too.

Testa Rosa, RN · Oct 29, 2012

Planning to add "Blood Medicine" to my reading list too. Anyone read this one yet?