Great book by Suzanne Gordon:Nursing Against The Odds

Published

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thanks so much HN, I all buying this book off of amazon now! recommendations are always appreciated.

Melinda

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

Are you reading it now or are you finished? How is it? What is it like? I know there is another thread on it but I really don't care. I want to hear what your opinion is of it and why. It's one book I've been thinking about purchasing as I browse the nursing section at Barnes and Noble :)

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I've just started reading it. I've read three of Suzanne Gordon's books so far.

It's a great book. It gets behind the real reasons for the nursing "shortage":

An exodus of nurses. The reasons behind the exodus? The way we are treated, expected to make bricks without straw and flat wages.

She also talks about how unions have improved things for nurses in many instances, and why she does not consider it unprofessional to join a union.

She has some great thoughts on solututions for these issues, as well.

Anyhow, I think Gordon is a genius.

Gordon's book and others like it should be brought to the attention of as many nurses, nursing students, and the general public is possible.

I would love to see more threads and discussion of writings concerning issues in nursing.

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Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

It's a great book. I took a while to get through it; slow start and kinda depressing. But I couldn't put it down about halfway through. I recommend it to every nurse.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I have a dissenting viewpoint and wanted to bring up that though Suzanne Gordon tries to portray an impartial attitude, she is truly down on anyone BUT nurses. I felt that her info on advanced practice nurses was downright rude and condescending.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I'll put that on my "wish list". I only wish people other than nurses will read it.

Thanks for the dissenting viewpoint TRU

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I liked the book: it was an engrossing read.

I think it explains the problems of nursing and how we got here quite well.

But her solutions are all wrong. Nationalizing healthcare would make us no better off than teachers: our salaries would be artificially kept low because the gov't would have a monopoly on those salaries.

~faith,

Timothy.

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I have a dissenting viewpoint and wanted to bring up that though Suzanne Gordon tries to portray an impartial attitude, she is truly down on anyone BUT nurses. I felt that her info on advanced practice nurses was downright rude and condescending.

I'm curious now. What does she say about advanced practice nurses?

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

But her solutions are all wrong. Nationalizing healthcare would make us no better off than teachers: our salaries would be artificially kept low because the gov't would have a monopoly on those salaries.

~faith,

Timothy.

I absolutely agree. We've lost control of our profession; giving it to the government won't solve anything.

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