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The Story of a Nurse
Intensive Care * The Story Of A Nurse
Glossy cover has mild edge wear. Book and pages are all very clean and unmarked. Ships fast from Northern California.
372 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
September 10, 2021
I don't know why I was a bit wary of getting into this book because it was written in 1987, but I'm glad I picked it up anyway. A very well written memoir of a nurse in the 80's. I've been fascinated by people who chooses to pursue a work life in health and cares. It seems both in the past and today to be a very intense and sometimes though work that often dosen pay well, at least not for nurses and such. I enjoyed the book a lot and think she was very brave in writing this
September 15, 2011
Intensive Care: The Story of a Nurse by Echo Heron was the first book about nurses I read after becoming a Registered Nurse. At the time i found it daunting...a seemingly impossible job. Echo Heron told the story with warmth and compassion but also in complete candor. She had done it, not because it was easy or comfortable to do but because she was compelled to succeed in giving care and making a positive difference in the world around her.
Some twenty years later I have reread the book and I see it through completely different eyes. Acute hospital nursing is a calling, a mission, a way of life, not just a career. Anyone who would go into the field of nursing solely for making money or to have a prestigious career, I feel, should look for something else. As Echo Heron points out, it is life vs. death, It affects your lifestyle, your family, and takes over your body, mind, and soul. Not everyone can or should go into the field of nursing.
I recommend this book for those considering making nursing their life's work, those looking to make a difference in their world,and to those who have the gift of compassion. The stories in this book are true...they happen to nurses every day.
May 5, 2009
I read this a long time ago and, wow, was it ever deja vu! At times I felt Echo had been peeking thru my windows or following me as I went from nursing job to nursing job trying to get away from the sam ol', same ol' BS found in the bureaucratic hospital and medical systems. Unfortunately according to friends and my experiences, it all still reads too true and validates why I choose not to put up with it anymore.
I loved this book for its honesty, humor, pathos and became friends with the author as a result.
I loved this book for its honesty, humor, pathos and became friends with the author as a result.
September 18, 2011
As I am a professional nurse like the author, I can relate to her anecdotes especially her service in the ICU. Ms.Heron has the wit and humor in her writing, in her book I found the courage to assert myself in my patient's behalf. In this book I have realized the real role of a nurse of being a patient's advocate.
March 18, 2010
This was the first book I read by Echo Heron and it inspired me to persue my dream of becomming a nurse.
February 23, 2024
4.5 greaaaat book to really face the good, bad, and ugly of nursing. It helped me think deeper on what it truly means to be a nurse. I have a whole word doc of "to be a nurse is to ..." and echo heron really doesn't sugar coat how draining the profession is. I'm glad to get a sober look into nursing~ She's also a great writer and I hope to write a book one day too. I liked how the end of the book was more philosophical and vulnerably narrating her lowest points. I was worried that nursing books would make be less inclined to become a nurse but I'm happy to know what I'm signing up for. I'm curious also to know how being a Christian, finding deep purpose in my work because of God, will affect burnout. WAit alsoooo, her reflections about being a single mom raising a son at the end of the book was fyeeeee. Love how helpful her therapist was... also the book was loOoOOONG and written in 1987 so i'm curious how much more has changed. Also I'm NOT looking forward to clinic politics bruuuuuh
January 12, 2015
Time taken to read - 8 days on and off
Publisher - Ivy Books
Pages - 372
Blurb from Goodreads
This is a nurse's story unlike any other, because Echo Heron is a very special nurse. Dedicated to healing and helping in the harshest environments, she spent ten years in emergency rooms and intensive care units. Her story is unique, penetrating, and unforgettable. Her story is real.
My Review
Echo Heron takes us on her journey of becoming a student, training to be a nurse and then finally through her adventures and experiences as a staff nurse. Echo has a very strong personality and this comes through in her dealings with patients, friends and situations that at times I was more than a tad mortified. Some very graphic incidents are described and we follow her on an emotional, trying and sometimes upsetting scenarios.
Despite being very vocal and a strong character, nearer the end of the tale she, I felt, randomly added in a disasterous relationship where her previous strong willed character completely disappeared and it didn't add anything to the story.
This book evoked many responces from me, at times I cringed at some of her behaviour towards individuals in this book. I think it is a good story to give people an idea of some of the things people working in a healthcare environment experience everyday. I found this book really intersting although, in some parts, hard to read and did wonder about confidentiality and the protection of patients identities. For example, some of the more harrowing tales or one or two details, it seemed, it you lived in that country you make have been able to identy or have read about the person in the paper.
Overall it made for thought provoking reading, I do like how she engages the reader and draws you in. I would certainly read this author again and believe she has some fiction books out now also which I shall track down, 4/5 for me this time.
Publisher - Ivy Books
Pages - 372
Blurb from Goodreads
This is a nurse's story unlike any other, because Echo Heron is a very special nurse. Dedicated to healing and helping in the harshest environments, she spent ten years in emergency rooms and intensive care units. Her story is unique, penetrating, and unforgettable. Her story is real.
My Review
Echo Heron takes us on her journey of becoming a student, training to be a nurse and then finally through her adventures and experiences as a staff nurse. Echo has a very strong personality and this comes through in her dealings with patients, friends and situations that at times I was more than a tad mortified. Some very graphic incidents are described and we follow her on an emotional, trying and sometimes upsetting scenarios.
Despite being very vocal and a strong character, nearer the end of the tale she, I felt, randomly added in a disasterous relationship where her previous strong willed character completely disappeared and it didn't add anything to the story.
This book evoked many responces from me, at times I cringed at some of her behaviour towards individuals in this book. I think it is a good story to give people an idea of some of the things people working in a healthcare environment experience everyday. I found this book really intersting although, in some parts, hard to read and did wonder about confidentiality and the protection of patients identities. For example, some of the more harrowing tales or one or two details, it seemed, it you lived in that country you make have been able to identy or have read about the person in the paper.
Overall it made for thought provoking reading, I do like how she engages the reader and draws you in. I would certainly read this author again and believe she has some fiction books out now also which I shall track down, 4/5 for me this time.
August 3, 2010
This book is self-congratulatory swill. It's poorly written, and serves as a means of public self-stroking of the author's ego. Heron is rabidly determined to appear as "cute and plucky", always willing to stand up for herself against the overbearing doctors. This book consumed a day of my life that I will never get back, for which I am still resentful 6 years later.
April 12, 2009
This woman drive me nuts! Apparently she is the only person capable of anything if her story is to be believed. I found her personality interferred with the story, (I just wish she would shut up about her self and how wonderful she is).
February 11, 2010
If you ever wondered what its like to be a nurse read this book. She takes a very honest real look at nursing. I think it explains both why you would go into the profession and even why you could end up leaving it or just wanting to leave.
May 13, 2011
This book told of a girl's life in nursing school, as a nurse, through burn out. I really enjoyed this book. I would not recommend this book to just anyone. I am sorry to see from the posts that Ms. Heron got fired for writing this book! Too bad-what a great nurse.
November 25, 2011
Once again a medical non fiction. Plus the author has a neat name. Echo comes across as a real person with a real life so when I learned who she prayed to or should I say called on in an emergency I was very excited. This may not be your book if you feel the trinity has you covered.
March 8, 2016
Wonderful story about a nurse and how stressful and crazy life can be. Very well written as well.
April 15, 2010
I read this a long time ago, but I remember it and how timeless it was.
May 31, 2021
Worth reading if you are looking for a first-hand account of time on the front-lines of care. Enjoyable and fast, with a good cross section of real cases.
A nurse’s memoire, from SF/Oakland in the 80’s. Structured mostly as a series of patient stories from training and stretching into her time as a CCU (coronary care) and ED/ICU nurse. Particularly fun for me as my mom was a CCU nurse in the 80’s on the west coast as well.
Memorable:
1. Nursing is intense, high-pressure, and unforgiving work. Particularly in ICU/ED setting. Clear argument that they are the backbone of the larger delivery system, and tie the patient experience together from their position on the front-lines.
2. Nursing as a key step on the social/economic ladder for Echo and most of her peers
3. 80’s hospital setting had, unsurprising, strong gender dynamic between clinicians and nurses. A lot of sexual harassment, and a lot of women having to work around the system to get their insights heard. One memorable example of Echo noticing a bad doctor was stitching up a boy’s arm wrong, in a way that would certainly lead to gangrene, and she had to go to great political lengths to get another doctor to come and intervene.
4. If there was a broader theme to the book it is the question of death-with-dignity (do not resuscitate, overload of morphine, etc). And a nurses unspoken job in making that process easier to navigate.
We all knew the feeling of being forced to keep a patient alive long after it was determined the situation was hopeless. It was a futile battle that was more emotionally draining than almost any other nursing situation.
--
His wife opened her purse and took out an embroidered pink handkerchief and wet a tip of it with her saliva. With that she wiped away a smear of orange germicide from his chin. She picked up his cool, limp hand and put it softly to her cheek. “We were married forty-two years and loved each other every single day. He was my gift from God.” She stared down at him and kissed the palm of his hand. “I love you, my darling. Good-bye for now.” She put his hand down, closed her purse, and walked out of the room without saying another word. Forty-two years of loving, and in one instant it was history.
--
There were major changes in life-styles, too. For example, the women who were divorced and had families to care for had daily nervous breakdowns in the closet. Our children rarely saw us (Mommy? Mommy who?), and friends and relatives eventually gave us up for missing in action or dead. If we played with the idea of taking a day off for ourselves, there was always the cattle-prod thought that if we failed one test, or missed a clinical day at the hospital, or didn’t hand in one care plan, we were out of the program with no chance for readmission; there wasn’t one of us who was willing to chance that.
--
Like all good rumors, news of his numerous amorous adventures made the rounds of the hospital staff from housekeeping to pathology like wildfire. When they finally reached administration’s ears, several of the nurses involved were privately reprimanded by their head nurses while Dr. Van Buren was invited to become a member of the Professional Ethics Committee.
--
I remembered how it felt when death was still new to me. Then I had not known about its two faces. I saw death only as the ultimate thief; I’d been too insecure to know him as the kind rescuer. Miss Telmack had been right: Freeing people of the pain from which there was no other release but death was another part of nursing.
A nurse’s memoire, from SF/Oakland in the 80’s. Structured mostly as a series of patient stories from training and stretching into her time as a CCU (coronary care) and ED/ICU nurse. Particularly fun for me as my mom was a CCU nurse in the 80’s on the west coast as well.
Memorable:
1. Nursing is intense, high-pressure, and unforgiving work. Particularly in ICU/ED setting. Clear argument that they are the backbone of the larger delivery system, and tie the patient experience together from their position on the front-lines.
2. Nursing as a key step on the social/economic ladder for Echo and most of her peers
3. 80’s hospital setting had, unsurprising, strong gender dynamic between clinicians and nurses. A lot of sexual harassment, and a lot of women having to work around the system to get their insights heard. One memorable example of Echo noticing a bad doctor was stitching up a boy’s arm wrong, in a way that would certainly lead to gangrene, and she had to go to great political lengths to get another doctor to come and intervene.
4. If there was a broader theme to the book it is the question of death-with-dignity (do not resuscitate, overload of morphine, etc). And a nurses unspoken job in making that process easier to navigate.
We all knew the feeling of being forced to keep a patient alive long after it was determined the situation was hopeless. It was a futile battle that was more emotionally draining than almost any other nursing situation.
--
His wife opened her purse and took out an embroidered pink handkerchief and wet a tip of it with her saliva. With that she wiped away a smear of orange germicide from his chin. She picked up his cool, limp hand and put it softly to her cheek. “We were married forty-two years and loved each other every single day. He was my gift from God.” She stared down at him and kissed the palm of his hand. “I love you, my darling. Good-bye for now.” She put his hand down, closed her purse, and walked out of the room without saying another word. Forty-two years of loving, and in one instant it was history.
--
There were major changes in life-styles, too. For example, the women who were divorced and had families to care for had daily nervous breakdowns in the closet. Our children rarely saw us (Mommy? Mommy who?), and friends and relatives eventually gave us up for missing in action or dead. If we played with the idea of taking a day off for ourselves, there was always the cattle-prod thought that if we failed one test, or missed a clinical day at the hospital, or didn’t hand in one care plan, we were out of the program with no chance for readmission; there wasn’t one of us who was willing to chance that.
--
Like all good rumors, news of his numerous amorous adventures made the rounds of the hospital staff from housekeeping to pathology like wildfire. When they finally reached administration’s ears, several of the nurses involved were privately reprimanded by their head nurses while Dr. Van Buren was invited to become a member of the Professional Ethics Committee.
--
I remembered how it felt when death was still new to me. Then I had not known about its two faces. I saw death only as the ultimate thief; I’d been too insecure to know him as the kind rescuer. Miss Telmack had been right: Freeing people of the pain from which there was no other release but death was another part of nursing.
May 31, 2019
3.5 stars.
I'm a pharmacist, which means that I am the natural enemy of every nurse out there (Even my mother). Pharmacy figured very little into this book, for which I was grateful!
The parts of the book that rang truest to me were the parts about nursing school, and the complete and total dedication it takes to get through. Pharmacy school was the same way. Pretty much nothing else in the world existed for those years, and Herron did a good job of describing that.
Her nursing stories were more of a mixed bag. Too many of them felt contrived, or fictionalized to some degree.( The author notes some stories are composites, but that's as far as she goes). The ones that were good were really good. There isn't a health care worker anywhere who hasn't dealt with the "do everything possible" mentality of a dying patient's relative, and there is no situation more agonizing. Herron also did a good job of capturing the chaos of a busy emergency room. But as the book went on, her personal life became cloudier, with no lead ins, reasons why, or explanations. I sensed very little accepting of personal responsibility, and a lot more of "nursing did this to me". Nursing is a very demanding profession; burnout is real. So is taking charge of your life.
The book was copyrighted in 1987, and to my non-nursing eye, not a lot has changed in terms of pay, responsibility, pressure and professional respect. That might be the most important part of the book. This is still a book worth reading, even with the less-than-satisfactory final few chapters.
I'm a pharmacist, which means that I am the natural enemy of every nurse out there (Even my mother). Pharmacy figured very little into this book, for which I was grateful!
The parts of the book that rang truest to me were the parts about nursing school, and the complete and total dedication it takes to get through. Pharmacy school was the same way. Pretty much nothing else in the world existed for those years, and Herron did a good job of describing that.
Her nursing stories were more of a mixed bag. Too many of them felt contrived, or fictionalized to some degree.( The author notes some stories are composites, but that's as far as she goes). The ones that were good were really good. There isn't a health care worker anywhere who hasn't dealt with the "do everything possible" mentality of a dying patient's relative, and there is no situation more agonizing. Herron also did a good job of capturing the chaos of a busy emergency room. But as the book went on, her personal life became cloudier, with no lead ins, reasons why, or explanations. I sensed very little accepting of personal responsibility, and a lot more of "nursing did this to me". Nursing is a very demanding profession; burnout is real. So is taking charge of your life.
The book was copyrighted in 1987, and to my non-nursing eye, not a lot has changed in terms of pay, responsibility, pressure and professional respect. That might be the most important part of the book. This is still a book worth reading, even with the less-than-satisfactory final few chapters.
January 10, 2018
This book was a great read. Being a veterinary technician (the nurse for animals), it was fascinating in the common grounds and the differences within the two fields. The author suffered through some of the most difficult and harshest environments--ten years in the ER as well as intensive care, as well as the night shift. She spent a short time on the "med" floors and found it didn't provide the stimulation and adrenaline rush that occurs in an ER and was able to find a day shift in the CCU (cardiac care unit)
I can completely understand--from working in the field of veterinary medicine--in both general practice as well as the 24 hr ER/ICU. Although I am not a doctor, I am a "vet tech" (or certified veterinary nurse). Some in the medical field prefer the the slow routine pace of general practice while others like the author (and myself) thrive on the hurried, sometimes chaotic, but always challenging pace. For me, it was the ER (and often the nighttime shift) while, for her it was the CCU, the cardiac care unit of the hospital (a daytime shift because she couldn't handle the night shift)
Whether you are in the medical field of not, this book is definitely worth reading as it gives you a glimpse into the life of a true intensive care nurse--and all the hurdles she had to jump to get there.
I can completely understand--from working in the field of veterinary medicine--in both general practice as well as the 24 hr ER/ICU. Although I am not a doctor, I am a "vet tech" (or certified veterinary nurse). Some in the medical field prefer the the slow routine pace of general practice while others like the author (and myself) thrive on the hurried, sometimes chaotic, but always challenging pace. For me, it was the ER (and often the nighttime shift) while, for her it was the CCU, the cardiac care unit of the hospital (a daytime shift because she couldn't handle the night shift)
Whether you are in the medical field of not, this book is definitely worth reading as it gives you a glimpse into the life of a true intensive care nurse--and all the hurdles she had to jump to get there.
August 3, 2021
I can't say my takeaway from this book is objective, as I had much to relate to the author on. Read during my first week hunting for my first RN role. I've got the bug of wishing I could be a fly on the wall of the rooms I'll be working in. This book scratched that itch.
I appreciate the detail she goes into about nursing and medical approaches to cases she saw. I was her sons age when my mom became a nurse- I enjoyed the details of their timeline as it intertwined with her career.
I read several reviews about her being self congratulatory, etc. I can't say the story would have been better if she forced a less subjective narrative. It's her story. Prob wouldn't be an issue if she were a he. *shrug*
I wanted to give it 5 stars, but there was a fair amount of yt lady cringe. It was written in the 80's and perhaps it would've felt less honest if that had been censored.
I appreciate the detail she goes into about nursing and medical approaches to cases she saw. I was her sons age when my mom became a nurse- I enjoyed the details of their timeline as it intertwined with her career.
I read several reviews about her being self congratulatory, etc. I can't say the story would have been better if she forced a less subjective narrative. It's her story. Prob wouldn't be an issue if she were a he. *shrug*
I wanted to give it 5 stars, but there was a fair amount of yt lady cringe. It was written in the 80's and perhaps it would've felt less honest if that had been censored.
June 15, 2017
oh my goodness, am I having flashbacks! Echo Heron did a wonderful job describing everything: from getting into the nursing program, to being the wide eyed eager student, to the idealic beginning career, to the burn out from bureaucratic bull crap and being so short staffed it's dangerous. I don't think anyone could have expressed nursing better.
August 7, 2017
I am interested in medical stories, so I found this to be quite interesting. The author shares the trajectory of her career in nursing, from nursing school to being a dually placed Cardiac Care Nurse and ER Nurse. The patient stories were very interesting and gave much insight into the author's emotional response to various situations. Not bad.
April 19, 2024
Great read all-around even if you aren't in healthcare! Nursing is hard, and often I feel, as nurses, we are always expected to shove everything down and put on a brave face. This book made me cry lots of times, mostly because it was just comforting hearing someone speak truthfully about it. I felt seen.
September 12, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book. It took me back to my own days of nurses training & early work years.
The author did a lot of extra shifts, working in ER & coronary care.
Eventually she worked herself into a physical & mental breakdown.
The author did a lot of extra shifts, working in ER & coronary care.
Eventually she worked herself into a physical & mental breakdown.
March 27, 2020
I read this book shortly after it came out. Truly what is was like to be a critical care nurse at that time. Felt a sisterhood with the author. A lot has changed, but her story was spot on. Enjoyed it a lot.
February 28, 2017
Reread and fell in love with nursing again. A nurse's tale of discovery, learning, stress and burnout and how to overcome.
January 21, 2018
Read this a long time ago and remember really enjoying it. Was just reminded of it and went to look for it on GR
January 17, 2020
Rambling
Parts of this book are good but it just goes off into so many tangents I lost track of what it was even about at times.
Parts of this book are good but it just goes off into so many tangents I lost track of what it was even about at times.
April 13, 2020
A Story that brings you intensively into a nurse's life. Their courage, service and dedication are amazing.
May 25, 2024
A really detailed and profound look into nursing and the struggles that come with the profession and life, as a whole.
Want to read
September 15, 2017I discuss the book here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vdw_...
This is a great book on the memories of a nurse, starting from nursing school. The world of nursing is portrayed as heavy in personal connections with patients, something I have yet to experience or see nurses doing, but the reason for some distance between nurses and patients is dramatized in the book near the end. Eco (yes its an odd first name, I cant imagine what it must have been like in grade school with such a name) later joins an intensive care unit (ICU) where patients die frequently, causing her to begin shutting down her patient contact. Heron also works in the ER, and cardiac care. Personal relationships are also shown and her nursing career impacts these relationships (her son, and friends). Other nurses and doctors are shown as human; some are good honest people, some are jerks and cheats. Administration is shown as negative, uncompassionate, and petty.
One particular theme which was nicely overviewed with a patient example is the ethics of allowing terminal suffering patients to end their own life. A particular elderly patient, Duke, is made to suffer because his sons would not consent to his request to be DNR (do not resuscitate), and before his death, Heron describes all the invasive procedures, including tubes in every orifice, undergone to keep him alive. The question is, is quality of life high enough to justify invasive procedures that prolong only quantity of life? Another question is, what capacity do we respect the will of a patient to wish to end his life? Are immediate family or professional medical personnel best in a position to judge whether a patient's quality of life is so low as to authorize assisted suicide?
Overall its a worth while read.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vdw_...
This is a great book on the memories of a nurse, starting from nursing school. The world of nursing is portrayed as heavy in personal connections with patients, something I have yet to experience or see nurses doing, but the reason for some distance between nurses and patients is dramatized in the book near the end. Eco (yes its an odd first name, I cant imagine what it must have been like in grade school with such a name) later joins an intensive care unit (ICU) where patients die frequently, causing her to begin shutting down her patient contact. Heron also works in the ER, and cardiac care. Personal relationships are also shown and her nursing career impacts these relationships (her son, and friends). Other nurses and doctors are shown as human; some are good honest people, some are jerks and cheats. Administration is shown as negative, uncompassionate, and petty.
One particular theme which was nicely overviewed with a patient example is the ethics of allowing terminal suffering patients to end their own life. A particular elderly patient, Duke, is made to suffer because his sons would not consent to his request to be DNR (do not resuscitate), and before his death, Heron describes all the invasive procedures, including tubes in every orifice, undergone to keep him alive. The question is, is quality of life high enough to justify invasive procedures that prolong only quantity of life? Another question is, what capacity do we respect the will of a patient to wish to end his life? Are immediate family or professional medical personnel best in a position to judge whether a patient's quality of life is so low as to authorize assisted suicide?
Overall its a worth while read.
July 30, 2014
Echo Heron writes a memoir about her nursing career, from her earliest days as a nursing student to the early years with her experience as a registered nurse. She has a very distinct "nurse" sense of humor (if you are a nurse, you'll get it, if you're not.. Well, find a nurse somewhere and you'll pick up on it), and it comes through in her writing.
I didn't completely enjoy this book as much as I thought. I could relate to much of it, having gone through the terrors of nursing school and being an nurse myself, but her writing seemed very superficial at times, and even condescending or, dare I say it, snobby. She seems like a great, caring, and very intelligent nurse overall, but her storytelling skills went from fast-paced and interesting to slow and death marching at times, and she didn't have a great ability to keep the pace even and engaging. Were I not a nurse myself and didn't relate, I might not have even bothered to continue.
Still, it wasn't a terrible read. It's readable, she does have a way with words for the most part, and I'd generally recommend it for fun reading. But maybe it was my own expectations being too high, I just couldn't give it more than an average rating for a memoir.
I didn't completely enjoy this book as much as I thought. I could relate to much of it, having gone through the terrors of nursing school and being an nurse myself, but her writing seemed very superficial at times, and even condescending or, dare I say it, snobby. She seems like a great, caring, and very intelligent nurse overall, but her storytelling skills went from fast-paced and interesting to slow and death marching at times, and she didn't have a great ability to keep the pace even and engaging. Were I not a nurse myself and didn't relate, I might not have even bothered to continue.
Still, it wasn't a terrible read. It's readable, she does have a way with words for the most part, and I'd generally recommend it for fun reading. But maybe it was my own expectations being too high, I just couldn't give it more than an average rating for a memoir.
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