My New York Times Book Review 10-28-2008!
My most recent book, REFLECTIONS ON DOCTORS published September 2008 by Kaplan Publishing was reviewed by The New York Times. An essay from my book, Notes From the Mothership The Naked Invisibles is one of two dozen provocative essays. "In “Reflections on Doctors,” they have produced something quite extraordinary in recent medical writings: a compilation of 19 brief essays musing on the current relationship between the species." --Abigail Zuber, MD, Nurses Speak Out, About Doctors, The New York Times As REFLECTIONS ON DOCTORS' editor Terry Ratner, RN,MFA says, "The nurses of this anthology represent a spectrum of voices and perspectives, reflecting upon their work alongside physicians. The majority of these nurses have witnessed revolutionary changes in the nurse-physician relationship over time. They are our messengers, our heroes and our scribes." The intimate and at times shocking stories in REFLECTIONS ON DOCTORS abound with the honesty of each writer's respect of and concern for the nursing profession, and the care that patients receive from doctors and fellow nurses alike. For example, in her fascinating essay, A Truth about Cats and Dogs, Adrienne Zurub, RN, MA, CNOR says of the competitive environment within the cardiothoracic operating rooms where she has worked, "Arrogance, entitlement, outstanding talents (nurses and surgeons), and palpable confidence dominate the entire operating room suites. A nurse pushes herself or himself through this encompassing fog of testosterone. I say testosterone because the surgeons, the ones who are in charge, are all male. To work in this environment, one has to have the personality and the chutzpah--the balls--to think quickly and react perfectly. Weakness or hesitation is normally not considered an option." Many of the essays in REFLECTIONS ON DOCTORS provide readers with clear-cut explanations of various medical terminologies, interesting history of the nursing profession and glimpses into its future. The diversity of all the essays is appealing to both new and seasoned nurses, as well as to someone simply interested in understanding the importance and ever-changing relationship between nurses and phyicians. Further topping off this collection of engaging essays is a reader's guide designed to, says Ratner, "stimulate meetings of the minds and begin crucial conversations in hopes of understanding the nurse-physician relationship." REFLECTIONS ON DOCTORS Nurses' Stories about Physicians and Surgeons Terry Ratner, RN, MFA, Editor Kaplan Publishing September 2008 $14.95 Paperback/ $16.95 Canad ISBN: 978-I-4277-9825-I/ Nursing http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/28/health/28book.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/28/health/28book.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin Adrienne Zurub Author/Speaker/RN WAIT THERE'S MORE1 10 Blog Posts You Must Read Before You Go Into a Voting Booth in November Where can you get a real, unvarnished perspective on our healthcare system, and fast? The 10 Blog Posts—A Pre-November 4 Reading List Warning: The following posts are innovative, unflinchingly realistic and even outrageous. Read them as if your life depended upon it. Bookmark or email them to a friend. Herein lies grassroots politics, real dialog and idea exchange too easily buried under our current hollow Healthcare rhetoric: CLEVELAND'S OWN: 6. 9 months to birthing my bestseller…, posted by Adrienne Zurub in September 2008. Here is a slightly outrageous and totally irreverent article that rolls together current healthcare reform and the nursing crisis. THE OTHER NINE: http://www.onlinenursingdegrees.org/nursingfacts/politics-of-healthcare.htm BOOKS Nurses Speak Out, About Doctors In our transparency-seeking, report-card-issuing, memoir-happy climate, not much about medicine goes unexamined these days. One exception, oddly, is an aspect that used to be at the center of attention: the ever-titillating relationship between doctors and nurses. Reflections on Doctors From Cherry Ames to Dr. Kildare, the folks in the stiff, white uniforms once waltzed around providing vicarious fun for all. A few serious academic analyses from those days confirmed the intensely stereotypic sexual gamesmanship and complicated power plays underlying even trivial doctor/nurse interactions. Now, of course, all that has changed, with nursing established as a powerful and educated profession, with gender stereotypes erased, salary disparities shrinking and job descriptions overlapping. But has it really changed? Do we know for sure? In theory, doctors and nurses are now heading for a happy paradise of equality, collaboration and mutual respect. Human nature being what it is, though, one wonders if we are not first condemned to weather a Reconstruction-type era of confusion and ongoing mutual abuse, as all parties struggle to regain their footing. In the meantime, not many bulletins are coming in from the field. You can bet that no doctor out there is planning to publish a manuscript entitled “Reflections on Nurses” any time soon. I am assuming my colleagues concur that such a project would be best left for retirement incommunicado somewhere on a distant Pacific atoll, where the mailman never calls. ...continued at the NYT link. And, ISBN: 978-0-9792863-0-8 Available on http://amazon.com Reviews for 'Notes': "Unique, Unconventional, and unorthodox." "May I say how much I admire you! I have been a nurse for 16 years, and in that time was also married to a doc....ACK! What I learned from 'behind the scenes' was simply amazing. I write a blog about my life in chronic pain. I also am working on my Memoir, which revolves around my life events. I find I must be very careful if I write a post about a 'work day'. I can't imagine what you have been through just for being courageous and honest. The medical world has always enticed me, yet if I knew now..... " Shauna " I read your book and feel like we're friends. I might have been in the OR with you. I spent some months at CCF when I was a pharmacy student. I stood on a stool and observed a CABG. I am from Cleveland, although I'm from the West Side.Your book makes me want to take myself less seriously and figure out how/when I lost my creativity. I am an oncology pharmacist. But I don't want that to define me. I have artistic interests which I never make time for. I'm only 30 but I am much older. I'm hosting a book club and suggested your book after hearing you on NPR. I'm so glad I did." --Jenni Baltimore, MD “I have the upmost respect for this nurse having the courage to speak out. I am also a nurse at the "mothership" and people have no idea how the nursing staff is treated. There is a constant "nursing shortage." As a nurse, we are viewed as the "pee-ons" We are the front runners who do the majority or patient care and we are undermined, unappreciated, disrespected and overworked. I give this nurse much respect, as there are MANY nurses who are feeling the same way. Many don't have the courage to speak out due to the Clinics strong influences and reputation. They are an amazing place to receive medical care. Yet how much more effective would the health care process flow if there was less animosity and a greater respect among ALL hospital staff? “Your honesty is unbelievable. Your writings have caused me to view my life, my career and my person in a whole new way. Writing ‘Notes’ took courage.” --BG,RN “I just want to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for taking a stand. We experienced nurses out here are dying!! You GO GIRL! God Bless You, Adrienne!! I have never met you Adrienne, but I am so proud of you. I will be praying for you daily. I wish you could come down here and sit on my porch and drink some sweet tea.” --Rhonda, South Carolina
Nurses' Stories About Physicians and Surgeons. Edited by Terry Ratner, R.N. Kaplan Publishing. 195 pages. $14.95
Each member of the health care team is an important piece. In a perfect world...the Clinic would realize that. Maybe this will open there eyes.
I wish this nurse all the best of luck. You go girl!” --adgrlrccc
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