Hurry up Nurse 2: London Calling

by Dawn Brookes

This sequel to Hurry up Nurse: memoirs of nurse training in the 1970s, follows the author to London in 1980. Here she takes up further nurse training at a hospital in the heart of the capital's East End. The author moves into a nurses' home so expect some antics as she and her new found friends settle in. Hurry up Nurse 2: London Calling is another charming medical biography that includes humour and compassion as you would expect from this author. There is a lot of nursing and medical history to pack in as the experiences are set in a hospital specialising in heart and chest surgery. Cancer chemotherapy is in its infancy, open heart surgery is fast becoming routine and tuberculosis is ever present in the east end so there's a lot to learn. Added to all of this is the enquiring mind of a young nurse who, having been told to avoid the hospital God squad does the exact opposite. There are some lovable characters in this book, from the charming Mr Robinson who sees potential in this lively young woman, now aged twenty-one, to the energetic Mrs Chang, the girls in the nurses' home, the night porter and of course the patients' who touch all of their lives. If you liked the first book in this series, you will love this one.

Genres: Nonfiction

254 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2017

About the author

Dawn Brookes is an award winning cosy mystery and crime writer who also writes memoirs and children's books.
She has an MA in Creative Writing with Distinction.

Dawn writes most days and publishes regularly, to keep up to date visit her website.

Rachel Prince Mysteries:

#1 A Cruise to Murder set during a Mediterranean cruise
#2 Deadly Cruise set during a transatlantic crossing to New York.
#3 Killer Cruise set during a Baltic cruise.
#4 Dying to Cruise set during a cruise around Australia and New Zealand.
#5 A Christmas Cruise Murder set on a Canary Island cruise.
#6 Murderous Cruise Habit set on a Caribbean cruise.
#7 Honeymoon Cruise Murder set on a Mediterranean cruise.
#8 A Murder Mystery Cruise set on a cruise to the Norwegian Ffords.
#9 Hazardous Cruise set on a Mediterranean and Adriatic cruise.
#10 Captain's Dinner Cruise Murder
#11 Corporate Cruise Murder set in India.
#12 Treacherous Cruise Flirtation set in Hawaii.
#13 Toxic Cruise Cocktail set on a SE Asia cruise.
#14 Cruise into Darkness

The Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe Mysteries

#Prequel Novella Death of a Blogger
#1 Murder at the Opera House
#2 Murder in the Highlands
#3 Murder at the Christmas Market
#4 Murder at a Wimbledon Mansion
#5 Murder in a Care Home
#6 Murder at the Regatta
#7 Murder on a Bus Tour

Carlos Jacobi PI

#1 Body in the Woods Award winning novel.
#2 The Bradgate Park Murders
#3 The Museum Murders

Nursing Memoirs

#1 Hurry up Nurse: memoirs of nurse training in the 1970s

#2 Hurry up Nurse 2: London calling
#3 Hurry up Nurse 3: More adventures in the life of a student nurse

Books are available in paperback, hardback, large print, kindle ebook, and audiobook.

Dawn grew up in Leicester, England and trained as a nurse. She later moved to London to undertake further training in the East End. Dawn worked in the NHS in England for the best part of thirty-nine years and during that time gained a wide range of experience as well as academic and professional qualifications. She also holds an MA in Creative Writing.

Dawn's website can be found at: https://www.dawnbrookespublishing.com

Children's Books

Dawn has written a number of children's books including:

Suki Seal and the Plastic Ring

Gerry the One-Eared Cat

Danny the Caterpillar

Ava & Oliver's Bonfire Night Adventure

Ava & Oliver's Christmas Nativity Adventure

Jesus Feeds a Big Crowd

Jesus Heals a Man on a Stretcher

Dawn founded a literature festival in her locality which aims to engage readers and authors with all things literature.

Reviews

[Janine Pestel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hurry Up Nurse 2 was a well written and charming little walk down memory lane. Not for me - I was never a nurse. For the author. Ms. Brookes gave some funny insight into what nursing training was like in the 1970 ' and 1980's. My sister, now a retired nurse, was trained in the late 1960's and early 1970's so in a way, I can relate. I would recommend this book to anyone who just wants to relax, and enjoy a good read.

[nancy pollard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh the memories

I am an old time RN from a diploma school of nursing. I was a few years before Dawn but so much of what she wrote brought back memories of my time there. It's incredible how many things have changed. I am glad I got to have my nursing career when I did.Things are so hectic now you rarely get a chance to get to know your patients like you did in 'the good old days'

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hurry Up Nurse 2: London Calling
By: Dawn Brookes


I listened to Dawn Brooks first book "Hurry Up Nurse." I found it quite entertaining, so I knew I wanted to listen to this second book about her nursing career. This picks up where the first one left off, with the continuing of her training. This book had laugh out loud moments, tear jerking, and just plain entertaining moments. I felt like I learned a thing or two as well. Thanks for sharing your story!!!




The narration was well done. Emma Jordan did an excellent job of telling Dawn's story.



I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Tricia Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love books which highlight a true to life experience. I grew up around the same time as the author and many of her experiences seem to mirror those that I had in an altogether different field. I guess it was the era. You could feel her trepidation as she made the trek to London. I'm from the U.S., so it was interesting to read about her experiences in the U.K. I have sister-in-law who were nurse during this same period, and they tell some of the same experiences from a U.S. perspective. The authors sense of humor shines through in the telling of her memoir. The style of this books makes for a very enjoyable read. Makes me wish I had kept a journal when I started my career.

[Asimah Akhtar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the sequel to Hurry up Nurse by Dawn Brookes. I enjoyed the first book, so looked forward to reading this and seeing where Dawn's nursing career lead from the 1970s to the 1980s.

Nurse Brookes has now moved to London and works in a specialist hospital for chest and lungs. I very much enjoyed reading about the history of TB, cancer and chemotherapy drugs and how far these treatments have come. As well as reading about her profession, the author talks a lot about her personal life which also showed a lot of her personality. This added a very personal perspective in the book which further made this memoir enjoyable. Another interesting read.

[Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt a little different from the first - there was a clearer structure, and it included more of the life of a trainee nurse (by this time training for a specialism) and less of actual life on the wards. Nevertheless, it was entertaining and enjoyable, and a fascinating glimpse into the life of a young nurse training in London.
One message that came across was that words are important - whether it's a tutor believing in their student, a nurse's words to her patient or the harsh words of a doctor not thinking about the impact their message carries.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really does carry on from the first one in the series but can be read as a stand alone with ease. I loved the first one as it stuck mainly to Dawn Brookes nursing career without too much of her social life getting in the way. This one however does have more of her social life in it. This is in context but I would have preferred it to have had more nursing and less of her life in London outside the hospital. Just my view as it doesn't detract from the book. A very enjoyable read, (apart from the graphic section about testing of bodily fluids).

[Ursula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This can be read standalone but I recommend reading the first part of Dawn Brookes' memoirs first to get to know her personality and background. Dawn, the qualified nurse, is much more reflective and mature than Dawn the teenager. This change of tone is quite an accomplishment as both volumes were written retrospectively.

We do learn a lot about thoracic medicine but also much about being a young adult in London. The honesty of these memoirs will strike a chord with many people now finding their path in life, or remembering their own experiences.

[Sue Dundon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book Very funny in places Brought back a lot of memories of living in nurses home and reliving different patient experiences This was all told in an easy to read open and honest way Loved the bits about living in London which was obviously an exciting experience. I love Dawn's writing style that brings a story to life.

[eileen rideout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

As I had very much enjoyed book1 I was looking forward to this account of Dawns developing career. I was a nurse for over 40 years and was about the same age as the author and am familiar with many aspects of Dawns professional stories. I would recommend this book to any reader interested in the development of health care

[Chris Tunnicliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book we follow Dawn as she leaves home for London to study at the chest hospital. Dawn makes new friends with fellow nurses and learns to love living in the city. Amusing in places, shows how medicine has changed since the late 1970's- early 1980's. This could be read as a stand alone book but more enjoyable if you have read the first book.

[E.M. McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this look into a nurses's experience in 1980 London. As an American, it was interesting to read about nurse training in a different country and era, and I got a kick out of the chapters Sputnum, Cabbages, and Smelly Shoes. Overall a good memoir that was worth my time.

[Simon Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series and follows Dawn as she moves to the East End of London in the 80s to continue her nursing. Just like book 1 this is funny and thought provoking in equal measures.

[Suzanne E. Chisum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greatly Enjoyed

I just finished Dawn's second book and want more! I would love to hear of her midwife training and her life as a Sister! Please write another book or two. Thanks!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series & I enjoyed this as much as the first one, maybe more in fact. Very entertaining & enjoyable.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hurry up Nurse book 2 by Dawn Brooke's.
This was a brilliant read. We see dawn move to London to carry on with her training. I do hope there is more to come. I love reading what dawn got up to. 5*.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book just like the first one. Enjoyed it alot.

[Cassandra MADEUP BookBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved both of these books, the story is true to the situation thats being recreated within the pages. Having spent years working in care and a family if people working within nursing, we often talk about how things have changed and how they need to continue changing, but also about our own experiences.

It was wonderful to read books that took these situations and looked at them in an honest and often humorous way, we sat reading and giggling, and chattering about our own experienced that were similar.

There aren’t many books that so wonderfully recreate the health care arena from a nursing perspective, but I adored how these books have been honest while also remaining light hearted.

These weren’t the first books I had read from the author, but the more I read from her the more I am hooked by her individual flair! Honest and open humour about very real scenarios, written in a way that hooks you in and warms your heart, i doubt i will ever get bored of reading her work!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable nursing memoir and medical biography filled with humour, compassion, laughter and friendships.
I loved Dawn’s first autobiography, Hurry up Nurse: memoirs of nurse training in the 1970s, and this sequel, ‘London Calling’ follows Dawn to London in the 1980’s where she continues her nursing career. Dawn takes up further training at a hospital in the heart of the capital’s East End and moves into a nurses’ home, meting new friends.
I was looking forward to reading about Dawn’s next stage in her life and nursing career following on from her first, ‘Hurry Up Nurse’, book and I wasn’t disappointed, this sequel is filled with stories from both her nursing career and her life in general.

[Ellie Shepherd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another very relaxing, easy to read memoir of nursing in the 70's, a pleasant walk down memory lane and still triggered memories from my training in the 90's. Easy reading, no need to overly concentrate to remember complex plots of many characters. An all round feel good book.

[Alison Tull · Rating 5 out of 5]

The old days!

As with the first book this is probably more of a light read for nurses who trained in the late 70s,or like me in the 80s! Even a current university student nurse to see how different their jobs are now! Brought back some great memories for me 😊!

[Kamini Mehta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read full of interesting characters and situations. I am fascinated by all things medical and there is plenty here. The situations run the gamut from painful to hysterical.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 4 out of 5]

More fun

Just as enjoyable as the first book. Kept me interested and I loved getting to know her friends as well as her experiences.

[Mrs Nicole M Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most entertaining

Loved this book, just like the first one. Will now read the third one.
Very talented lady, informative but fun books.

[Shiralee Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starts to get a bit religious.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second of the autobiographical books, detailing Dawn's nursing training. Well written and very entertaining. I’m off to download the 3rd!

[Carole · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a nurse myself I was interested in reading these novels as I commenced my training in the 1980s. There were some of the reminiscences that definitely struck a cord from my nursing past but on the whole I unfortunately found this novel disjointed and lacking in flow.
The explanation of procedures and terminology for none medical readers is useful but I cannot say I found the novels easy yo read. Sorry.
Thank you to TBC Reviewer group for my copy of this novel and the previous novel.

[jhanami · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series of three books chronicles the memories of Dawn Brookes' nurse training in the 70s and 80s. It's an interesting insight into the past of the profession and the different chapters vary from amusing snippets to quite serious topics.
It was an entertaining read, easy to dip in and out - I'm not a nurse, but I bet anyone in the medical field would enjoy this even more.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed all of the books in the hurry up nurse series. They were great.