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

ams02 · Aug 4, 2003

we all buy the same book, (well whoever wants to of course) and we can talk about it on here! i think thats sounds like a fun idea! i posted here months and months ago about this very subject and im just now going to go buy a few....how bout "fluff my pillow, bend my straw" that sounds like a good one..anyway, anyone who's interested let me know! hope to hear from someone, if not, ill let you know how i liked the book.....amie

dreamon · Aug 4, 2003

I love "Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife" by Peggy Vincent. Just incredible....its compelling, reading all those different women and the different ways they give birth and how Peggy's life is changed.

It made me want to become a midwife...lol

73 reviews on amazon.com- ALL gave it 5 stars!! I checked it out of the library, but after reading it I put it on my wishlist to be bought at a later date. I know so many of those stories I will never forget.

A book for nursing students: "How to survive and Maybe even love nursing school" by Kelli S. Dunham

It had great advice about school and life, study tips, websites, and it is very humorous. It is also raved about on amazon.com

I have bought other nursing books that I plan to sell on ebay...but that one I am keeping!!

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Aug 4, 2003

"25 Things That Nurses Do to Self - Destruct" was good, also.

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Aug 4, 2003

Originally posted by NurseGirlKaren
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.

Excellent book. It is one of my favorites, and I still have the paperback edition which I purchased 20 years ago:)

glassam · Aug 4, 2003

A couple more...

"From Silence to Voice: What nurses know and must communicate to the public" by Bernice Buresh & Suzanne Gordon (ISBN #1-55119-974-2).

-and-

"Chicken Soup for the Nurses Soul", by LeAnn Thieman.

bergren · Aug 4, 2003

Life Support by Suzanne Gordon Real life stories of three Boston Beth Israel nurses: an outpatient nurse, a nurse practitioner who provides home care, and a medical clinical nurse specialist.

On Duty: A Nurse's Notes on Life and Death by Carolyn Parnall . A memoir.

TV shows:

PBS "On Our Own Terms: Bill Moyers on Dying," showed hospice and home care nurses

ABC "Hopkins 24/7" six-part documentary series filmed during shifts at John Hopkins aired in 2000. There are web editions of the show: http://abcnews.go.com/onair/hopkins/

Other good, can't put down, books that would benefit you if you pursue nursing that address disease or the health care culture and are written for lay people are:

"And the Band Played On" by Randy Stilts about how the AIDS pandemic started. (Movie video available also)

"The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" by Ann Fadimen about the clash between a Hmong family who had a chuild with epilepsy and the western health care culture.

Defying the Gods: Inside the New Frontiers of Organ Transplants

by Scott McCartney .

Other old books to read are "From Novice to Expert" by Patricia Benner. It tells of the "reality shock" nurses experience when tranistioning from school to the reality of acute care. Another is "Coping With Reality Shock: The Voices of Experience",

by Claudia. Schmalenberg, another 70's book. "Hospitals, Paternalism and the Role of the Nurse", by Joanne Ashley

All above are available through Amazon.

AmAnRN · Aug 4, 2003

I really enjoyed Chicken Soup for the nurse's soul. i am hoping they will come out with a second edition (and third...and fourth...etc). anyone know if they are? thanks!

nurse1day · Aug 4, 2003

Another good book is Midwifery. I can't rmember who wrote it but it was on Oprah's Book List.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Aug 4, 2003

Originally posted by K O'Malley
Read "Nurse Abuse" by Gasparis and Swirsky. Also read the threads on this bulletin board under "would you recommend nursing as a profession," particularly "nursing is pathetic" as well as the more positive threads. You will definitely get a wide variety of opinions and experiences.

I agree: Nurse Abuse Impact and Resolution is a great book.

Also by Gasparis-Vonfrolio is: 25 Stupid Things Nurses Do to Self- Destruct

ams02 · Aug 4, 2003

okay book club members (me?) i just ordered Nurse by Peggy Anderson and, Nurses the human touch. I am going to start Nurse first, just in case anyone wants to read along with me. This thread has given soooo many choices and i cant wait to get started, good luck to all fellow nursing students! amie

nurse2be in ny · Aug 5, 2003

I don't have anything original to add about Echo Heron's books; I'm reading "Condition Critical" right now and really like it. "How to Survive and Maybe Even Love Nursing School" is also on my list of books to read; I've skimmed it and it looks pretty good.

healingtouchRN · Aug 5, 2003

Echo's books are great. Right on!! so is anything Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio writes.