How to Treat People: A Nurse's Notes
-
- $19.99
-
- $19.99
Publisher Description
“Deserves a place in the rich contemporary canon of medical memoirs.” —Guardian
Weaving together medical history, art, memoir, and science, How to Treat People is a poignant memoir that beautifully explores the intricacies of the human condition. As a trainee nurse, Molly Case learns to care for her patients, sharing not only their pain, but also life-affirming moments of hope. In doing so, she offers a compelling account of the processes that keep them alive, from respiratory examinations to surgical prep, and of the extraordinary moments of human connection that sustain both nurse and patient.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"Respect the nurse" is the theme of this reverential memoir from London nurse Case. "It is the nurses," Case writes, "who, despite racking up thousands of steps on their pedometers, are in fact a static constant for the person lying in extremis in the hospital bed." Case began working in hospitals as a student nurse in 2012, and her book documents her time learning her craft as she delves into medical history (Greeks and Egyptians factor heavily) and explains surgical procedures. At its core, though, it's a lucidly written narrative about patient care: Case points out that a nurse must treat patients' ailments and try to sooth their souls, even when patients are combative as was the case with Sidney, who refused treatment for his maggot-infested legs or insulting, as with Shirley, a heart-attack victim who called Case a slut. Case's writing is efficient and never too emotional, but there are amusing moments, including the time she couldn't remove a 70-year-old patient's penis piercing and had to call for assistance. Case writes of feeling especially thankful for her training, noting one evening in particular when she aided her father as he had a stroke. This book is a thank you note to hospital caregivers and will appeal to those interested in nursing and the intricacies of patient care.
