ER Days

by Nick Casto

“I can’t believe I did that! I only had two beers.” Yes, as improbable as it seems, someone actually did that—and much more. Such was the opening line to many patient encounters in the emergency departments and clinics where I spent my career as a physician. Shadow me back through the years in a series of vignettes that will give you a peek into a world of medicine that few on the outside ever see. Along the way you may laugh a little, tear up a bit or even learn something, but through it all you will experience the highs and lows of the day to day practice of emergency and urgent care medicine. Put on your scrubs and come join me your first shift working in the emergency department is about to begin.

Genres: Nonfiction, Medical, Medicine, Memoir, Autobiography

171 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 20, 2019

Reviews

[India M. Clamp · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Ich kann nicht glauben, dass ich das getan habe! Ich habe nur zwei bier getrunken.“ Ja, so unwahrscheinlich es scheint, das hat jemand tatsächlich getan – und noch viel mehr. Für dis arzt, Er schrieben ist langsam. Er benutzen ein andere methode für traineren.

Dies war der Auftakt zu vielen Patientengesprächen in den notaufnahmen und kliniken, in denen ich meine karriere als arzt verbrachte. Begleiten sie mich in einer reihe von vignetten durch die jahre zurück, die Ihnen einen einblick in eine welt der medizin geben, die nur wenige außenstehende jemals sehen.

Da Alkohol etwa die hälfte aller schweren und kleinen traumata ausmacht, die durch die durchschnittliche abteilungstür gehen oder rollen.
--- Dr. Nick Casto, MD

Unterwegs kann man ein bisschen lachen, ein bisschen weinen oder sogar etwas lernen, aber dabei erlebt man die Höhen und Tiefen des Alltags der Notfall- und Notfallmedizin. Legen Sie Ihre Kittel an und kommen Sie jetzt zu mir: Ihre erste Schicht in der Notaufnahme beginnt.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reality in The ER

A good read. The physician, along with many stories of the ER, includes exactly what we should do and not do to live a healthy life.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t Put It Down

I love any medical related book and found this one well written and intriguing. The short stories make for a quick read and I found myself constantly thinking just one more story and I will put it down. However, it was rarely just one more story that I read.

[Laur · Rating 4 out of 5]

ER Days is a collection of vignettes from the ER doc's view (Nick Castro) recalling conversations with patients and staff. The stories and situations were impressionable upon him. Many were humorous recollections which were portrayed from a compassionate point of view. Most often, his co-workers were involved and you got a wonderful feel for their personalities as they worked along together. A few of the stories were of challenging situations or a particularly memorable patient. There are no tearjerkers.

I was really enjoying the book in it's beginning, but story after story about 75% the way through, it did start to feel a little monotonous and drag. However, the humorous recollections made me laugh out loud and these I highlighted in my NOTES. There are life lessons to be learned; one can always learn something from the actions and/or observing the spirit of another.

[Ann Minor · Rating 5 out of 5]

True to life

I was an ED nurse for over twenty years and can truly relate to these stories and testify that they no doubt happened just as told . Actually made me nostalgic for those long ago years when card meant card for the patient as a whole not just as an isolated body part. Highly recommend for anyone interested in the practice of medicine and memoirs in general .

[jill silverman · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is the REAL THING!! ER medicine as i remember it, not how it is now! Great book! As an old ER nurse(35 yrs working all over the country), i can tell you that there are no doctors like this anymore or nurses! We did actually physically examine patients and listened to what they had to say or not say. Flying by the seat of our pants half of the time when the going got rough and, you never knew when that was gonna happen--that's the nature of ER medicine. Recently had occasion to take a family member to the local ER and wow, all the nurses AND doctors in between computer charting and the ever-so-quick non-physical exam(seriously, no touching, no listening to lungs, heart, abdomen, etc. WERE PRETTY MUCH ON THEIR CELL PHONES!! I asked the ER doc re "aren't you gonna listen to his lungs" as the complaint was difficulty breathing--he said," oh I am going to order a chest xray so don't worry about that". Wow! thats when i began to worry!! Especially nice was hearing how he communicated with the nursing staff and they with him. You go Doc! Anyone would be lucky to have this man as a caring, feeling, smart doctor. This book is a little gem!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

I find personal medical stories interesting because I almost always learn something. And who among us nowadays HASN'T found themselves in a busy Emergency Department with either a sick child, family member, close friend or as a patient ourselves? In times of tremendous stress, I would want a doctor like Nick Casto who showed expertise, professionalism, a sense of humor when appropriate and caring. Even those patients who REALLY didn't need immediate care or had a preventable (were it not for their own poor choices such as drinking and driving) were treated with caring.
The book had an occasional spelling error (two I think?) but it definitely held my attention.

[Flora · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fun and easy read about the stories in ER. I have always enjoyed reading medical-related books and have gained some interesting knowledge, e.g., logging is the most dangerous of all occupations in US; most common reason for ER visits is the alcohol overuse; etc. The author's tone is more like a friend rather than a technical instruction. "Arguing with those whose blood alcohol is higher than their IQ is always a bad path to take".
In addition, I really like how the book ends, where the author has worked in ER since a very long time ago, when the algorithms, flow charts and EMRs were not fully available. "Sometimes the best medicine happens when the practitioner listens to not the patient's heart, but his or her own."

[Steven J Kawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful book!

It's a real talent to be able to write something, especially in "short story" form that keeps the readers interest, for more often then not some of the stories are very good but others tend to get boring in comparison. But this book was different. Not only were Nick Castos experiences in the ER fascinating but also very emotional at times. I'm not a fast reader and do my reading in the morning. I actually looked forward to each morning just to see what was going to happen next. I now have a new appreciation for the medical people in our country's ERs.

[Andrew Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book that was a collection anecdotes rather than short stories, which were interesting and great to read before bed. The writing was easy to understand and well constructed and gives you a sense of what life is like for a doctor in a rural emergency department.

The experience was more like listening to your grandfather talk about the good old days in medicine than watching ER on TV.

[Bruce Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keeping it real

I enjoyed the stories as told by Dr. Casto. The humor that we in healthcare use to protect ourselves shines through here. I know without humor, it would be hard to get through many days. Thanks for appreciating the nurses and techs you work with! It truly does take a village.

[Susan Swiderski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Presented as a bunch of short anecdotal recollections of one man's experiences as an ER doctor, this is a fast-reading, somewhat entertaining book with little depth. I guess you could say it's more like snorkeling than SCUBA diving. :)

At the end of the book, the author offers some rather obvious doctorly advise. All in all, it's an okay book. Beats watching TV.

[Alanna Scanlon · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are looking for excitement you might want to pass on this one. A very basic look at a potentially exciting world. It definitely speaks to the compassion of the writer, but doesn’t do much as a picture into the face-paced, sometimes frightening world of emergency medicine...I know because I worked there. Overall....disappointing.

[Carianne Carleo-Evangelist · Rating 4 out of 5]

The recollections of a country ER doc working in a time of medicine (and technology) long gone. This is a collection of his memorable cases, sometimes organized by theme and others not. A quick, interesting read. My only wish is that he'd have separated them by his time in the ER vs. in the clinic, as I was sometimes confused.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was just barely okay. It wasn't well written and seemed contrived in many of the stories. He also spoke poorly of the child protection workers that have a very difficult job to do. Overall there are much better books to read if your interests lies in reading about ER stories. Wouldn't recommend this book.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and very interesting

A great read. The author gives the read an peak behind the ER curtain with this well written and thoughtful book. I hope there is a sequel. Highly recommended.

[Nancy Jessula-Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lackluster ED/ER memoir.

3 stars because it drags along....but the occasional excitement kept me reading. Too bad it was short-lived. It is like talking to someone who asks for your help but replies with "yes, but" to every suggestion you offer--nothing will work!

[Suzanne E. Chisum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read

Good medical book. One section on violence towards the DR or ED was not a usual find in a medical stories book. That part made me feel uncomfortable in a way. This book added some health tips which are so helpful. He seems like a caring doctor to have.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read

Well written...short views into daily life on the ER. The author has a way of letting you in to view on a human level. He doesn’t make it about him but about the story.

[Mary Gadd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nurse Mary

As an old nurse ( graduated nursing school I. 1979) I felt like I was right there beside Dr . Nick. I wish we could have worked together. Thanks for your years of caregiving and the ability to put it on paper for all of us.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

ER Days

This book consists of a group of interesting snippets of a Doctor's adventures in the ER of a rural hospital. Some were good. Others hardly worth reading. Actually as an RN it was boring. Hopefully a layman would like it.

[Dali Smolsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!

I really enjoyed this book. It was funny in a weird way, though the stories were sad. The only thing I would have liked is a happier story in the end about how working in the er was inspirational or something, but maybe that’s just my naivety.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trip back in time.

Fascinating reading about the events and care provided in the ER in times passed. The same problems still exist. Tobacco, obesity, sedentary lifestyles, ignoring the laws, and alcohol and drug use still kill people daily.

[Paul King · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I've ever read by an ER physician

I've probably read 20 books by ER physicians. This is the best. The author mixes the medical and the emotional part of most of the encounters described in this book. A great book.

[Jack P. Webster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best ER book I have read. The author is a pro...in a very good way.....concise, graphic, and entertaining at the same time. Highly recommend!!!!

And amazingly erudite with the English language, unlike many of the authors I have previously read.

Highly recommend!!!!

[Donna McDermott · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyable

Quite hard to read in places as clearly not been properly or thoroughly proof read which means some stories feel like they are missing info or are incomplete. It certainly all seems to happen in the ER though.

[Barbara C Goldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining stories. Real medical situations about real people with real problems. Not just the facts, but the underlying emotions and situations. I like Dr. Casto and enjoyed reading his book. I wish it was longer, or maybe a second book from him.

[Kathy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching

This author is honest and caring and the kind of person that I would wish to see if I ever end up in an ER fighting for my life. Recommended.

[Sina Homayooni · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting and finely written. Made me think to start writing my own medical memoir.

[Stephanie Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Heartfelt Stories

The stories were more then just stories, they were the heart and sold of a great doctor who truly loved his patients. Wonderful!