A Nurse on the Edge of the Desert: From Birdsville to Kandahar: The art of extreme nursing

by Andrew Cameron

International humanitarian-aid nurse and New Zealander Andrew Cameron is the winner of the coveted Florence Nightingale Medal. In this gripping book he recounts his remarkable life nursing in some of the world's most dangerous and challenging locations, including South Sudan, Yemen, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan. He also details his nursing career in some of Australia's most remote settlements, where anything can be waiting at the end of a long and dusty outback a major road accident, a suicide, a broken arm, a stabbing. With mordant humour, wisdom and insight, he recounts the challenges, excitements, and huge rewards of a nursing life.

Genres: Nonfiction, War

357 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2017

Reviews

[Scarlett Vowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Go Andrew!!!!!

[Simon Armitage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated 9/10 An interesting read following a Kiwi who drifted from job to job, country to country, war to war. From his early days growing up in NZ through to his final posting in a far away part of the world his story looks at a rather unusual life as a male nurse with an obvious talent judging from the awards he received for his work. His lifestyle would certainly fall into the "different" category but makes for an interesting read as he struggles between the joys of officialdom and red tape and the desire amongst him and his fellow workers to improve the lot of groups trapped in a world of poverty or disaster, or surrounded by the scourge of nationalistic wars that rage throughout the world at any given time in far away and somewhat obscure parts of the world. Well worth taking the time to read this one, especially if you are a Kiwi or an Aussie (where he spent a lot of time working with the indigenous population).

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read, this (kiwi!) dude has nursed in some of the most dangerous and exciting places on the earth. From the outback, to warzone middle eastern locations. I especially liked the rural and remote Australia parts, I know I will never be a war nurse, but I hope to experience some of the outback nursing like he did!

[Amy Hitchman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing life!! Very hard working nurse and sounds like he has earned every award well!! He reminds me of Fred Hollow’s when he spoke of his struggles with school and his outreach to the indigenous community of outback Australia, what a great gift he is for society!! The Red Cross do some amazing work!! Really recommend this book! Really interesting if you’re in the medical field too ☺️

[Cygnet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very inspiring book! Hats off to you and to all your colleagues. It has been truly a pleasure knowing about your life and knowing that you have saved so many lives. You are inspiration to all of us.

[Time_for_a_cuppa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An account of a very interesting life, from childhood to nursing in outback Australia and for the Red Cross all over the world. The writing style is a bit dry and factual, but that is more than made up for by the interesting and moving story.

[Josie Murrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so well written. It is just as though the author is sitting beside you and recounting his memories and all the travel, his family and the amazing experiences he has had. It is so good I really did not want it to finish.

Well worth reading!

[Jacquie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring. Humble NZ boy doing a lot of good in the world.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story of an interesting guy!