What's a good book to read about the realities of nursing

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm enrolled in school now, and taking my prereqs to become a nurse. I'm just starting out and really intrigued with the whole nursing field. If anyone knows of a really good book to read about nursing please recommend!

Thanks in advance:D

The Nurse's Story by Carol Gino is an oldie that I have; although I don't think it really portrays nursing today, it is a good book just for reading's sake.

One of the docs on staff at my hospital is one of the characters in The House of God. I would never have guessed unless a fellow nurse had told me!! Listened to it on book on tape--it's the only book on tape so far that I've forced my hubby to listen to that he's enjoyed. Whenever I talk about work, he always quotes from it.

Specializes in Oncology/MedSurg.

the only reason i have time to read is because i havent even started school yet....i am just starting, so i am starting my pre-reqs monday and will be done in 10 months, then i go to the nursing part (then of course the waiting list) then i start the real deal.....i cant wait!! reading these books truly inspires more every day! im sure my free time will cease whats i get into the nitty gritty, but for now i guess i am lucky! take a break and get one of them!! good luck, amie

I read 2 books a long time ago by a nurse named Joan Brady(I think that's right). The books were called "Fluff my Pillow, Bend my Straw" and "Band-aids, Bullets, and Booze". She's telling about her first few years in nursing. Very good reading. Some funny stuff. Some scary stuff about the realities of nursing. She was working in an inner city hospital.

Welcome to nursing! Yes, it is a fascinating and interesting field of study. Nursing is a learned discipline and something to be studied seriously. Romanticism in the popular literature that has been suggested by others documents and fuels the fires of stupidity. Harlequin romance novels are appriate for 14 year old schoolgirls (Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames). At the university level, and especially once enrolled in a formal nursing education program, you should be reading legitimate stuff:

Notes on Nursing, by Florence Nightengale

Hospitals, Paternalism and the Role of the Nurse, by Joanne Ashley

Any of the readers (anthologies) edited by Norma Chaska

She has published one every 5-10 years since the 1970's

and each gives an excellent overview of what is going on in the profession during each decade. Read sections from each one, even if you can't get through the whole thing to get an idea of the trends of change in education, policy, nursing research, nursing theory development, expanding practice.

Every nursing student today should have copies of the following

at home on their shelf and use them each time they research patient information and write care plans:

Nursing Diagnosis: 2002-2003 Current taxonomy *

Nursing Interventions Classification, Bulecheck and McCloskey *

Nursing Outcomes Classifications, Meridean Maas *

Nursing Diagnosis Handbook, Marjory Gordon (Actually, you * should read anything and everything written by Gordan)

Nursing Diagnosis Links, Martha Craft-Rosenberg *

* These should be available at your university bookstore, or ordered from C.V.Mosby (the Ashley book is currently out of print but used copies are available from internet retailers.

Your time in nursing school is valuable. What you read shapes your thinking as you move through your clinical rotations. Choose

and critique the literature wisely.

Good Luck, Edward

"I Knew a Woman" by Cortney Davis and

"Life Support" by Suzanne Gordon

I've read them both twice, and think that I will keep going back to them while I'm in school and even after I graduate...both are wonderfully insightful and inspiring, as well as painting the realistic and grim sides of nursing. I think they should be required reading for nursing students! :)

Yes yes, Echo Herron

I can't remember who wrote it, but "Bend my straw, fluff my pillow" is a very good, informative and entertaining book. This is another nurse documenting how she developed and changed during her nursing career. Heeee heeeee

Love

Dennie

"Romantism in the popular literature that has been suggested documents and fuels the fires of stupidity"

Edward.IL did you just insults ALL the suggestions we just made? Or am I just to stupid to even ask?

The books you suggested are nursing school books that will have to be read and referenced to in typical patient care. They do not actually "capture" nursing. Nursing is more than just tasks. It is so much more...

:D I would also recommend, "Majoring In Nursing" by Janet R. Katz and "Stressed Out About Nursing School!" by Stephanie Thibeault. Both of these books are excellent!:cool:

Molly Mo - I wrote my reply here at the bottom of the first page - ooops - missed your post about "bend my straw, fluff my pillow" I didn't even know there was another one! I'm going to look for it! Thanks for letting me know.

And EdwardIL - Welcome to the board, but don't be dissing Cherry Ames. If they started publishing those books again, I'll bet people would be flocking to nursing school! =)

Love

Dennie

I'm bookmarking this thread, alot of great suggestions. !

Just Wondering....You can find Echo Herron's books on Amazon starting at .30 cents. I bought every last one I could get my hands on. (I am a SN and can't afford the luxury of a newly crisp book to read).

Her books are awesome and I cried with her when she graduated at the top of her class. I rarely ever show emotion, but that got to me.

Edward,IL

Lol bet your the life of the party =P

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