A Nurse's Story

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Binding: Paperback Dewey Decimal Number: 617 EAN: 9780771080876 ISBN: 0771080875 Label: McClelland & Stewart Manufacturer: McClelland & Stewart Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 352 Publication Date: 2005-02-22 Publisher: McClelland & Stewart Release Date: 2005-02-22 Studio: McClelland & Stewart
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Editorial Reviews: The team of nurses that Tilda Shalof found herself working with in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a big-city hospital was known as “Laura’s Line.” They were a bit wild: smart, funny, disrespectful of authority, but also caring and incredibly committed to their jobs. Laura set the tone with her quick remarks. Frances, from Newfoundland, was famous for her improvised recipes. Justine, the union rep, wore t-shirts emblazoned with defiant slogans, like “Nurses Care But It’s Not in the Budget.” Shalof was the one who had been to university. The others accused her of being “sooo sensitive.” They depended upon one another. Working in the ICU was both emotionally grueling and physically exhausting. Many patients, quite simply, were dying, and the staff strove mightily to prolong their lives. With their skill, dedication, and the resources of modern science, they sometimes were almost too successful. Doctors and nurses alike wondered if what they did for terminally-ill patients was not, in some cases, too extreme. A number of patients were admitted when it was too late even for heroic measures. A boy struck down by a cerebral aneurysm in the middle of a little-league hockey game. A woman rescued – too late – from a burning house. It all took its toll on the staff. And yet, on good days, they thrived on what they did. Shalof describes a colleague who is managing a “crashing” patient: “I looked at her. Nicky was flushed with excitement. She was doing five different things at the same time, planning ahead for another five. She was totally focused, in her element, in control, completely at home with the chaos. There was a huge smile on her face. Nurses like to fix things. If they can.” Shalof, a veteran ICU nurse, reveals what it is really like to work behind the closed hospital curtains. The drama, the sardonic humour, the grinding workload, the cheerful camaraderie, the big issues and the small, all are brought vividly to life in this remarkable book. From the Hardcover edition.
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Loved it! Comment: As a critical nurse, I can definately relate to the stories portrayed in this book. I understand all too well the frustration with short staffing, ways of cutting money at the expense of patients and the burnout nurses come to experience. But, I can also relate to the relationships developed between nurses, patients and families. It is almost impossible to become connected in some way. There are some patients and families you just do not forget. One thing that sticks out is how well Ms. Shalof points out the lack of appreciation nurses receive by the MD's as well as administration and sometimes the general public. Doctor's are always given the praise when a patient is healed, nurses are praised for their attitude. However, it is the nurse who actually has the job of providing the care that heals patients, as Ms. Shalof has shown. I also found great humor in some of the stories and found myself laughing out loud! Overall, I feel Ms. Shalof has done an excellent job at portraying life as a critical care nurse. I will definately be telling my friends about this book! Customer Rating: Summary: A Nurse's Story Comment: This is a very insightful look into the life of a nurse. It provokes discussion about dignity vs. technology and what people really expect of hospitals and medicine. Customer Rating: Summary: Harps too much Comment: As a nurse, I have some understanding of this nurse's concerns and tribulations because I share them. To someone who is not a nurse, or who doesn't work with critically ill patients, this book may have a lot of informational value - however, being familiar with the setting, I found it more repetitive than anything else. I think I was hoping to gain more positive insights and to be introduced to some kind of unique perspective. For me, the book fell short. Customer Rating: Summary: Just what I needed Comment: I'm 7mo into my nursing career in a Pediatric Cardiac ICU. I'm at the point where the "honeymoon" is over. The charge nurse is giving me more difficult assignments and the senior nurses are expecting more from me. Most days its great, its nice knowing that the senior staff has the confidence in you to assign challenging pts. Other days... well its nice to read a book reminding you that this is our profession and even with the bad days, its wonderful. I loved this book, couldn't put it down. Several times when reading I just had to laugh out loud and say, "I've done that." or "I've felt that way." After reading it, I bought six more copies and gave them away as gifts to some co-workers. Do yourself the favor and read this book... Customer Rating: Summary: Thank You for telling my story too!! Comment: If you want to know what it's like to be a nurse in the ICU, this book is a MUST read!! As an RN in the States with 23 years experience in the ICU, this could have been my story too! I always imagined writing a book about my experience, now I don't have to! Thank You Tilda!! You are my Hero! More Reviews