Book recommendation for nurses-to-be

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I just finished a wonderful book on nursing: Life Support: Three Nurses on the Front Lines by Suzanne Gordon, and I wanted to share it with any of you looking for a good (non-academic) read over winter break. :)

Gordon profiles three nurses in different roles (a nurse practitioner in home care, clinical nurse specialist on a general medical unit, & RN in an oncology clinic) at a Boston hospital.

Since the book is written for the average reader, it does a good job of discussing various nursing roles and the evolution of American nursing without being too technical. I thought the best sections dealt with nurse-physician relationships and how the rise of HMOs is affecting patient care and nurses' practices (at least up until 1997, when the book was published).

Life Support definitely gave me a lot to think about in terms of my goals in a nursing career. I am more excited than ever to enter this occupation! Check out this book, and please share your recommendations for other books you have found helpful and interesting!

Cheers,

Katulka

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I'm a big reader and try to read books on a variety of subjects (both fiction and non-fiction). I'll definitely take a look into your suggestion!

I've currently got Nursing Against the Odds by Suzanne Gordon (same author!!!) on my wishlist at paperbackswap.com. I haven't read it yet but it's come highly recommended to me. It covers problems of the nursing profession.

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

We were given How to Survive & Maybe even Love Nursing School by Dunham....it was enjoyable, but I do have to say that a lot of the info in it can be found on this website if you spend enough time here!!

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Specializes in ER, CCU.

i'm a simple girl, but i read Chicken Soup for the Nurses Soul my junior year in high school. I had already known i wanted to be a nurse, and i love those book.

I don't remember crying much while reading that book, but since i've started nursing school, and have 3 semesters left. I picked it up one day just to read a little bit of it and i cried through like the first 3 or 4 stories and put it back on the shelf...lol!! i don't know if i've gotten more emotional during nursing school but it tore me up. I love it though, and really it's what nursing is all about!!!

Oh and a really crazy book that i love that i learned about at the NSNA convention in Nashville tenn. was Silenced Screams by Jeanette M. Liska i think. I bought it off amazon, AMAZING!! not so much about nursing but about anesthesia and if you want to be a CRNA it's a must read!!

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Specializes in Critical care, Pediatris & Geriatrics.

Amazon.com: Training Wheels for Nurses: What I Wish I Had Known My First 100 Days on the Job: Wisdom, Tips, and Warnings from Experienced Nurses (Training Wheels): Books: Barbara Arnoldussen

Training Wheels for Nurses: What I Wish I Had Known My First 100 Days on the Job: Wisdom, Tips, and Warnings from Experienced Nurses (Training Wheels) (Paperback)

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Specializes in LTC, Assisted Living, Surgical Clinic.

I read Life Support a couple of months ago and have to agree it is an interesting book, though it tends to be a little "dry" at times. Also enjoyed Echo Herron's books Intensive Care: Story of a Nurse and Tending Lives: Nurses on the Medical Front.

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Specializes in RN, Cardiac Step Down/Tele Unit.
Amazon.com: Training Wheels for Nurses: What I Wish I Had Known My First 100 Days on the Job: Wisdom, Tips, and Warnings from Experienced Nurses (Training Wheels): Books: Barbara Arnoldussen

Training Wheels for Nurses: What I Wish I Had Known My First 100 Days on the Job: Wisdom, Tips, and Warnings from Experienced Nurses (Training Wheels) (Paperback)

I have that one too, love it!

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i read life support a couple of months ago and have to agree it is an interesting book, though it tends to be a little "dry" at times. also enjoyed echo herron's books intensive care: story of a nurse and tending lives: nurses on the medical front.

i second the echo heron. i love all three of her books. they're all so, so good.

[color=#003399]nursing america: one year behind the nursing stations of an inner-city hospitalby sandy balfour is also a great book.

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