Condition Critical

The Story of a Nurse

by Echo Heron

True Medicine

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Medical, Nursing, Medicine, Biography

432 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Betsy Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

I love Echo's books. I hope she keeps writing and another one comes soon. I'm envious of her life. She has guts.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very informative and intresting read. I hope hospital management has improved since the publication of this book. Most managers in any business are idiots, so probably not.

I liked reading about how Echo handled stressful situations. She really let you into her mind and heart.

[Katherina Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an RN who has worked cardiac care and the Emergency Department I really enjoyed this book. I have not worked in the hospital for the past 7 years, feeling burnout I became a Public Health Nurse. This book ran true to life and was accurate in patient portrayals. It made me miss the ED but also made me glad that I had done my time and left before it sucked me dry. This book reminded me of my stories. I also love that Echo was also able to write about her life outside of the hospital. It read like a good novel rather than a memoir. Some things have changed. California has implemented a nurse-patient ratio depending on patient acuity. Unfortunately, like in the book, if you don’t have enough nurses to meet the ratio—well, you can hardly throw patients out the door. Like Echo, you can fill out a patient safety form—but not sure if that does any good. You can’t refuse an assignment; that is a firing offense. As Echo pointed out there is a lot wrong with the hospital system still. It is all still pushed under the rug. And now with CoVID I can’t imagine things have approved. Thank you to hospital staff that keep on, keeping on.

[Meloney Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a nurse I can so relate to the author. Echo's compassion for her patients shines through to her writing, and is spot on in discussing one of the biggest fears healthcare providers face even today in the 21st century (This book is based on 80s nursing), and that is our own happiness. How Echo talks about burn out in her profession and her realization that she has to put herself first before she can be of use to others, was extremely taboo back in the 8ps and 90s and only slightly less taboo today. I normally can't make it through a non-fiction medical subjected book......I read this one quite a few times.

[Kelly Sapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost like you're there

Echo Heron puts you right there in the CCU with her and the other nurses. If you enjoy reading about the true stories of the people, whom nurses encounter on a daily basis plus the politics that take up as much time as the patients, you'll enjoy this book.

[Judyspadoni · Rating 3 out of 5]

really enjoyed it. Portrayal of nurses life in the hospital, pretty close to reality although no words can actually capture the life. It's a little bit like trying to describe the most beautiful sunset-no words. It kept my interest.

[Faith Rahm · Rating 4 out of 5]

True to life the struggles nurses face every day. This book takes place more than 15 years ago but some of the struggles are still present and new ones have arisen. A MUST READ for ALL nurses and healthcare providers

[Val Wilkerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read. Echo this book broke my heart, the way nurses are treated by the administration. Its so wrong. I once hired a file clerk through a temp agency and the woman who came had been a nurse, she also quit for many of the reasons you explained in this book. Its a sin. Lets hope conditions can be improved in the future. You nurses are the best.
I recommend this book to my friends so they can see what is going on behind the hospital doors.

[Koren · Rating 4 out of 5]

What its like to be a critical care nurse. This was written in the late 80's so I found a few things that were dated, but I don't think things have changed a whole lot as far as staffing shortages, demanding bosses, and crazy patients and even staff members. If you like medical profession memoirs this is pretty interesting. Most of it tended to be on the negative side and made me wonder why anyone would go into nursing after reading this.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In the prologue of this book, Echo Heron, RN, states: Nurses are able to do what they do because they are rich in the gifts of healing, compassion and love. She then goes on to illustrate that statement with 18 chapters of amusing and moving true stories of her career in critical care and in the emergency room."

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved to read this book about a wonderful sensitive nurse. She really cared about her patients, and managed to reassure them, comfort them and speak to the management for them. In spite of the long hours, most shifts with no brakes for meals, then to the locker to change for another 4 hrs on a typical short shifted nurses. Its a wonder she found time to write a book.

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this - but her personal life and relationship became a muddled confusion and very dark. I will have to go back and re-read as an adult (I read this in my teens) and see if I have a different impression.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sequel, so to speak, of her first book "Intensive Care" and is an honest description of life as a nurse in CCU and the ER, but with less of the medical info and more of her personal story than the first book.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The same feel and attitude of Intesive Care(the first one) except she talks about her being and writer and also being a nurse. I also liked this one a lot!

[Vikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

More stories on nursing by Echo Heron. I really enjoyed them. I think a pretty realistic view of being a nurse. The author leaves a takes a permanent home in the West Indies.

[Brenda Kowinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the first one, but still funny. I'd read it again.

[Jackie Simons]

Read 8/96

[Kyle Wendy Skultety (gimmethatbook.com) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great medical stuff, annoying personal stuff....and it's amazing what goes on behind the scenes at a hospital. I would really hate to have her job.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nurses all have great stories to tell, and I enjoy reading Heron's.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second story by a nurse who is dedicated to her patients but overwhelmed by the bureaucracy of the hospital.
Many stories about patients.
Good.

[Chantal Kelliher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love everything Echo writes!

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book as a teenager, and could not get in to it. Perhaps, now that I am older now, and understand more things I will get in to it. Hope to reread it some day.

[Annissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes you appreciate nurses.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this one! Could hardly put it down.

[Joy Landers · Rating 4 out of 5]

inciteful book about the struggles of RNs. I'm thankful for the pioneers of my profession who battled against injustices of not being respected as professionals to where we are today. there is still a long, long way to go, but because of people like Echo, at least the pay is better, with grudging respect from other professions