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The Courage to Care: A Call for Compassion
A vital and timely book about inspirational nurses, and the bravery of patients and families, from the bestselling author of The Language of Kindness
Nurses have never been more important. We benefit from their expertise in our hospitals and beyond: in our schools, on our streets, in prisons, hospices and care homes. When we feel most alone, nurses remind us that we are not alone at all.
In The Courage to Care bestselling author Christie Watson reveals the remarkable extent of nurses’ work. A community mental-health nurse choreographs support for a man suffering from severe depression. A teen with stab wounds is treated by the critical-care team; his school nurse visits and he drops the bravado. A pregnant woman loses frightening amounts of blood following a car accident; it is a military nurse who synchronises the emergency department into immaculate order and focus.
Christie makes a further discovery: that, time and again, it is patients and their families – including her own – who show exceptional strength in the most challenging times. We are all deserving of compassion, and as we share in each other’s suffering, Christie Watson shows us how we can find courage too. The courage to care.
Praise for Christie Watson:
‘Let's be thankful for wonderful nurses – and writers – like Christie Watson’ Jacqueline Wilson
‘Christie Watson is a remarkable writer turning her attention to a crucially important conversation’ Nathan Filer
‘Christie Watson writes with the fullness of her heart to give us insight into the world of patients and nursing, inspiring us to recognise it is how we treat people, how we speak and respond to them, as well as what we do, that heals’ Julia Samuel
Nurses have never been more important. We benefit from their expertise in our hospitals and beyond: in our schools, on our streets, in prisons, hospices and care homes. When we feel most alone, nurses remind us that we are not alone at all.
In The Courage to Care bestselling author Christie Watson reveals the remarkable extent of nurses’ work. A community mental-health nurse choreographs support for a man suffering from severe depression. A teen with stab wounds is treated by the critical-care team; his school nurse visits and he drops the bravado. A pregnant woman loses frightening amounts of blood following a car accident; it is a military nurse who synchronises the emergency department into immaculate order and focus.
Christie makes a further discovery: that, time and again, it is patients and their families – including her own – who show exceptional strength in the most challenging times. We are all deserving of compassion, and as we share in each other’s suffering, Christie Watson shows us how we can find courage too. The courage to care.
Praise for Christie Watson:
‘Let's be thankful for wonderful nurses – and writers – like Christie Watson’ Jacqueline Wilson
‘Christie Watson is a remarkable writer turning her attention to a crucially important conversation’ Nathan Filer
‘Christie Watson writes with the fullness of her heart to give us insight into the world of patients and nursing, inspiring us to recognise it is how we treat people, how we speak and respond to them, as well as what we do, that heals’ Julia Samuel
272 pages, Hardcover
First published September 17, 2020
68 people are currently reading
1233 people want to read
About the author
Christie Watson
19 books415 followersChristie Watson is a professor of medical humanities at UEA, and worked as an NHS nurse for over twenty years. She has written six books, including her first novel, Tiny Sunbirds Far Away, which won the Costa First Novel Award, and the memoir, The Language of Kindness, which was a number one Sunday Times bestseller. Christie is a contributor to the Times, the Sunday Times, the Guardian, the Telegraph, and TEDx, and her work has been translated into twenty-three languages and adapted for theatre. Moral Injuries, her latest novel, is publishing March 14th (UK) and June (US).
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June 7, 2022
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I was part of the Instagram Readalong of The Courage To Care: A Call For Compassion by Christie Watson, thanks to the TandemCollectiveUK team. They sent me the book, together with the discussion prompts, and me and an amazing group of bookstagrammers have been reading it and discussing it for the duration of five days. The Courage To Care is published by Vintage Books.
I chose to read The Courage to Care because both my auntie and mum are nurses. I also used to be a carer in a Care Home for people suffering from Dementia. The work nurses do, the hours they put into saving lives and the compassion and courage they have is incredible. I felt an obligation to read this book, and use my platform to emphasise how important nurses are.
In The Courage to Care, Christie Watson writes about the importance of nurses, not only in the hospitals, but just everywhere. The schools, on the streets, hospices, care homes, in prisons. And in Covid-19 times, when people need them the most, nurses are there, sacrificing their own health and families in order to help others. Their courage and bravery is something I have always admired, but especially in these hard times, it is something we shouldn’t forget.
This book is filled with different stories, showing nurses in different environments.
It is also filled with Christie’s personal stories and struggles, managing her nursing career, whilst also ongoing an adoption process and being a single parent.
It is very hard for me to write a detailed review of this book, without spoiling the stories for you, and I will do my best, because these stories are something that you should experience first-hand, for yourself.
With every story, we get close not just with the nurses, but with the patients and their families as well. We get to feel how they feel. And sometimes nurses are able to help them and bring happiness and hope to their lives. Other times, there is nothing else a nurse can do to help, except to just show compassion and make the patient feel comfortable. And during Covid-19 times, the nurses share the last moments with the people that couldn’t be with their loved ones.
This book made me cry more times than I could count, but it also made me giggle at times too.
Among all the sadness that comes with illnesses and hospitals, nurses are also there to make lives better for people. Give them hope. And for a moment, help patients forget that they are ill, even just for a moment.
I am so grateful to be able to read the Courage To Care.
And I am so grateful to be healthy at this very moment. This book made me appreciate the present. It reminded me to be kind and to show courage where needed, and help others who might need help. I cannot recommend this book enough!
I was part of the Instagram Readalong of The Courage To Care: A Call For Compassion by Christie Watson, thanks to the TandemCollectiveUK team. They sent me the book, together with the discussion prompts, and me and an amazing group of bookstagrammers have been reading it and discussing it for the duration of five days. The Courage To Care is published by Vintage Books.
I chose to read The Courage to Care because both my auntie and mum are nurses. I also used to be a carer in a Care Home for people suffering from Dementia. The work nurses do, the hours they put into saving lives and the compassion and courage they have is incredible. I felt an obligation to read this book, and use my platform to emphasise how important nurses are.
In The Courage to Care, Christie Watson writes about the importance of nurses, not only in the hospitals, but just everywhere. The schools, on the streets, hospices, care homes, in prisons. And in Covid-19 times, when people need them the most, nurses are there, sacrificing their own health and families in order to help others. Their courage and bravery is something I have always admired, but especially in these hard times, it is something we shouldn’t forget.
This book is filled with different stories, showing nurses in different environments.
It is also filled with Christie’s personal stories and struggles, managing her nursing career, whilst also ongoing an adoption process and being a single parent.
It is very hard for me to write a detailed review of this book, without spoiling the stories for you, and I will do my best, because these stories are something that you should experience first-hand, for yourself.
With every story, we get close not just with the nurses, but with the patients and their families as well. We get to feel how they feel. And sometimes nurses are able to help them and bring happiness and hope to their lives. Other times, there is nothing else a nurse can do to help, except to just show compassion and make the patient feel comfortable. And during Covid-19 times, the nurses share the last moments with the people that couldn’t be with their loved ones.
This book made me cry more times than I could count, but it also made me giggle at times too.
Among all the sadness that comes with illnesses and hospitals, nurses are also there to make lives better for people. Give them hope. And for a moment, help patients forget that they are ill, even just for a moment.
I am so grateful to be able to read the Courage To Care.
And I am so grateful to be healthy at this very moment. This book made me appreciate the present. It reminded me to be kind and to show courage where needed, and help others who might need help. I cannot recommend this book enough!
September 11, 2020
Nurses have never been more important. Christie Watson reveals the extent of work nurses have to do on a daily basis.
Christie Watson is a Critical Care nurse. This is a beautifully written story that will pull at your heartstrings but there is some humour too. She talks about some difficult and tragic events. She also touches on Covid19. The devotion these men and women have is phenomenal. This book reads well as a standalone.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #RandomHouseUK #VintagePublishing and the author #ChristineWatson for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Christie Watson is a Critical Care nurse. This is a beautifully written story that will pull at your heartstrings but there is some humour too. She talks about some difficult and tragic events. She also touches on Covid19. The devotion these men and women have is phenomenal. This book reads well as a standalone.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #RandomHouseUK #VintagePublishing and the author #ChristineWatson for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2020
****Now available****
I absolutely loved The Language of Kindness: A Nurse's Story when I listened to the audiobook version via my library's mobile app. I was so happy when I was approved to read an advanced copy of The Courage to Care: A Call for Compassion that I hastily sat down and completed the book I was currently reading so I could read it. Christie Watson has such a beautiful way of writing; she includes extra little details that make reading or listening (her narration is sublime and poetic) so much more immersive and she is completely honest and open about her actions in the past. I'm so glad to say that The Courage to Care: A Call for Compassion also contains this style of writing.
Whilst it isn't necessary to read The Language of Kindness: A Nurse's Story before reading this book, I would highly recommend it as the previous book covered Watson's career and personal circumstances and tragedies that are mentioned in this one. The Courage to Care: A Call for Compassion is a mix of Watson's own experience in nursing, the adoption journey she took before meeting her son and the observations and experience of working alongside nurses in a variety of settings: prison, district etc.
As before, Watson does not hold back with the stories she tells and the honesty and rawness she writes about cannot fail to bring about an emotional response. I hugged my daughter a little tighter today after reading some of the cases in the book. Indeed, I am privileged enough to have a healthy daughter and, as Watson states, it is these moments we need to cherish. It can all change in an instance.
I also appreciated the discussion around recent medical events. The case of the unvaccinated child is one that I feel every parent should read. One cannot publish a medical memoir without mentioning covid-19 and Watson does so with tact and compassion. It was wonderful to see her return to nursing when the pandemic started. This truly shows that she has the courage to care.
Thank you to Christie Watson, Random House UK and Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved The Language of Kindness: A Nurse's Story when I listened to the audiobook version via my library's mobile app. I was so happy when I was approved to read an advanced copy of The Courage to Care: A Call for Compassion that I hastily sat down and completed the book I was currently reading so I could read it. Christie Watson has such a beautiful way of writing; she includes extra little details that make reading or listening (her narration is sublime and poetic) so much more immersive and she is completely honest and open about her actions in the past. I'm so glad to say that The Courage to Care: A Call for Compassion also contains this style of writing.
Whilst it isn't necessary to read The Language of Kindness: A Nurse's Story before reading this book, I would highly recommend it as the previous book covered Watson's career and personal circumstances and tragedies that are mentioned in this one. The Courage to Care: A Call for Compassion is a mix of Watson's own experience in nursing, the adoption journey she took before meeting her son and the observations and experience of working alongside nurses in a variety of settings: prison, district etc.
As before, Watson does not hold back with the stories she tells and the honesty and rawness she writes about cannot fail to bring about an emotional response. I hugged my daughter a little tighter today after reading some of the cases in the book. Indeed, I am privileged enough to have a healthy daughter and, as Watson states, it is these moments we need to cherish. It can all change in an instance.
I also appreciated the discussion around recent medical events. The case of the unvaccinated child is one that I feel every parent should read. One cannot publish a medical memoir without mentioning covid-19 and Watson does so with tact and compassion. It was wonderful to see her return to nursing when the pandemic started. This truly shows that she has the courage to care.
Thank you to Christie Watson, Random House UK and Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2025
O carte superbă, scrisă de o asistentă medicală care a dedicat o parte importantă din viață și scrisului. Probabil că este o scriitoare cel puțin la fel de bună pe cât este de strălucită ca asistentă medicală.
Cartea cuprinde un număr de cazuri în marginea cărora se discută mult despre ce înseamnă să fii asistentă medicală în general și asistentă medicală în diverse specialități medicale. Se simte un om minunat în spatele condeiului, deopotrivă extrem de rezistent și cu un suflet plin de căldură și empatie.
Pe lângă spețele medical - umane, cartea conține și referiri privitoare la familia autoarei, care are o fată biologică și un fiu adoptat. Cu acceptul copiilor, sunt redate etapele psihologice ale evoluției acestei maternități complexe, ceea ce este foarte instructiv pentru toți cei ce lecturează această minunată carte.
Nu în ultimul rând, cred că această carte poate fi un superb cadou pentru cei ce fac parte din lumea medicală sau, copii încă, visează la o astfel de meserie.
Cartea cuprinde un număr de cazuri în marginea cărora se discută mult despre ce înseamnă să fii asistentă medicală în general și asistentă medicală în diverse specialități medicale. Se simte un om minunat în spatele condeiului, deopotrivă extrem de rezistent și cu un suflet plin de căldură și empatie.
Pe lângă spețele medical - umane, cartea conține și referiri privitoare la familia autoarei, care are o fată biologică și un fiu adoptat. Cu acceptul copiilor, sunt redate etapele psihologice ale evoluției acestei maternități complexe, ceea ce este foarte instructiv pentru toți cei ce lecturează această minunată carte.
Nu în ultimul rând, cred că această carte poate fi un superb cadou pentru cei ce fac parte din lumea medicală sau, copii încă, visează la o astfel de meserie.
September 30, 2020
thanks to netgalley and the publishers for a free copy in return for an open and honest review
This book makes you think about what nurses have to go through and more so with COVID19 but the author shows her compassionate side even working through difficult situations and the hard decisions nurses have to make in the interests of the patient.
This book makes you think about what nurses have to go through and more so with COVID19 but the author shows her compassionate side even working through difficult situations and the hard decisions nurses have to make in the interests of the patient.
September 30, 2020
This was such an insightful read, which is more important than ever right now.
I love medical memoirs but have never read one about a nurse before. This book was fascinating. I learnt so much about all the different types of nurses and the important work they do
This book is full of really heart warming and heart breaking stories about the work of different nurses in the NHS from district nurses, to mental health nurses and everything in between.
There is some really harrowing stories in this book but also some incredibly important messages to take home
I'm in constant awe of the amazing work the NHS nurses do and this book highlights we do not appreciate them enough.
If you love medical memoirs I can't recommend this enough. I will definitely be picking up her first book now
TW: real life descriptions of death, illness, trauma, stabbings, suicide, self harm, eating disorders, child abuse and depression
I love medical memoirs but have never read one about a nurse before. This book was fascinating. I learnt so much about all the different types of nurses and the important work they do
This book is full of really heart warming and heart breaking stories about the work of different nurses in the NHS from district nurses, to mental health nurses and everything in between.
There is some really harrowing stories in this book but also some incredibly important messages to take home
I'm in constant awe of the amazing work the NHS nurses do and this book highlights we do not appreciate them enough.
If you love medical memoirs I can't recommend this enough. I will definitely be picking up her first book now
TW: real life descriptions of death, illness, trauma, stabbings, suicide, self harm, eating disorders, child abuse and depression
November 20, 2020
I worried this would be a dull work of polemic; perhaps the title, though stirring, is inapt, as the book is actually a straightforward sequel to Watson’s 2018 memoir about being a nurse, The Language of Kindness. Watson traveled widely over the course of the intervening two years to research the state of care in the country, but she mostly relies on her own experience of various nursing settings during her two decades as a nurse: a pediatric intensive care unit, home healthcare for the elderly, a children’s oncology day center, a residential home for those with severe physical and learning disabilities, a community mental-health visiting team, and the emergency room. She also shadows military nurses and prison doctors.
With a novelist’s talent for scene-setting and characterization, Watson weaves each patient and incident into a vibrant story. Another strand is about parenthood: giving birth to her daughter and the process of adopting her son – both are now teenagers she raises as a single mother. She affirms the value of everyday care delivered by parents and nurses alike. I was especially struck by the account of a teenage girl who contracted measles (then pneumonia, meningitis and encephalitis) and was left blind and profoundly disabled, all because her parents were antivaxxers. In general, I’ve wearied of doctors’ memoirs composed of obviously anonymized case studies, but I’ll always make an exception for Rachel Clarke and Watson because of their gorgeous writing.
Note: Watson had left nursing to write full-time, but explains in an afterword that she returned to critical care in a London hospital during COVID-19.
Some favorite lines:
“So much of nursing, I think to myself, seems obvious, and yet seeing that need in the first place is difficult and takes experience, training and something extra. … The mundanity of human existence is where I find the most beauty … It takes my breath away: how fragile, extraordinary and vulnerable, how full of hatred and love and obsession and complexity we all are – every single one of us.”
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
With a novelist’s talent for scene-setting and characterization, Watson weaves each patient and incident into a vibrant story. Another strand is about parenthood: giving birth to her daughter and the process of adopting her son – both are now teenagers she raises as a single mother. She affirms the value of everyday care delivered by parents and nurses alike. I was especially struck by the account of a teenage girl who contracted measles (then pneumonia, meningitis and encephalitis) and was left blind and profoundly disabled, all because her parents were antivaxxers. In general, I’ve wearied of doctors’ memoirs composed of obviously anonymized case studies, but I’ll always make an exception for Rachel Clarke and Watson because of their gorgeous writing.
Note: Watson had left nursing to write full-time, but explains in an afterword that she returned to critical care in a London hospital during COVID-19.
Some favorite lines:
“So much of nursing, I think to myself, seems obvious, and yet seeing that need in the first place is difficult and takes experience, training and something extra. … The mundanity of human existence is where I find the most beauty … It takes my breath away: how fragile, extraordinary and vulnerable, how full of hatred and love and obsession and complexity we all are – every single one of us.”
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
March 7, 2023
I don’t think I’ve ever found a book as moving as this one. It reveals exactly what our nurses do and have to put up with and left me ashamed that we live in a society that does not value them as we should do.
It also shows how vulnerable we all are and how we need to support each other and it shows the compassion that the best nurses give - suffering with and being alongside patients and their families in their suffering and getting to know each one as an individual rather than as a number in a system.
I came across Christie Watson in a Kate Bowler “Everything Happens” podcast and recommend listening to that too:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/026O...
Recommended reading for everyone but especially for those unfortunate enough to have to spend a lot of time visiting loved ones in our NHS hospitals.
It also shows how vulnerable we all are and how we need to support each other and it shows the compassion that the best nurses give - suffering with and being alongside patients and their families in their suffering and getting to know each one as an individual rather than as a number in a system.
I came across Christie Watson in a Kate Bowler “Everything Happens” podcast and recommend listening to that too:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/026O...
Recommended reading for everyone but especially for those unfortunate enough to have to spend a lot of time visiting loved ones in our NHS hospitals.
October 3, 2020
This is an absolutely stunning memoir about nursing and having the courage to care - whatever the situation. An emotional collection of anecdotes that will make you cry, smile and really develop even more respect for those who work for NHS every day. I can't recommend this book enough!
March 7, 2021
This was as good as I expected and a great follow up to The Language of Kindness, we get to see a lot more of the life and background of Christie as well as more stories from life on the front line.
June 22, 2024
What a beautiful, poignant and inspirational book.
July 9, 2021
i finished this book on one of the weirdest night shifts i’ve ever had- oh the life of a nurse!
this is a poetic, moving and validating account of nurses’, patients’ and their families’ stories within the uk. i recommend this book and her previous- the language of kindness- to pretty much everyone. i feel it’s especially helpful for (student) nurses who may be feeling burnt out with all that covid has brought upon us (@ me)
really thankful for the author for being able to wonderfully show all that nursing encompasses: the challenges, the blessings and the ridiculous.
if this review doesn’t make sense i wrote it at 4 am, much love
this is a poetic, moving and validating account of nurses’, patients’ and their families’ stories within the uk. i recommend this book and her previous- the language of kindness- to pretty much everyone. i feel it’s especially helpful for (student) nurses who may be feeling burnt out with all that covid has brought upon us (@ me)
really thankful for the author for being able to wonderfully show all that nursing encompasses: the challenges, the blessings and the ridiculous.
if this review doesn’t make sense i wrote it at 4 am, much love
October 17, 2024
This has been sat on my book shelf for a long time. I've been avoiding it as I have recently been diagnosed with P.T.S.D (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) as I worked through the Covid Pandemic on a dedicated Raspatory Covid Unit.
I started reading it and could relate straight away but I was resentful as it was saying that nurses are the back bone of the NHS I have heard this so many times during my years working in the NHS in Acute Medical Assessment Units, Renal and Dialysis Units, Theatre’s and A & E as well as many medical, surgical and out patient wards!
However, I got past this irritation of mine and by the end of the book I was loving it as Christie did acknowledge the work that HCA's (Healthcare Assistants) do for their patients, the NHS and each other. The NHS is built on the back of Doctors, Nurses, HCA's, Porters, Domestics and the many, many other professionals within the NHS. The NHS is a family with extremely strong bonds and it’s built on the back of team work, love, support and the courage to care.
Christie poured tears, truth and passion into this book that reflects on a time in healthcare that most living people have never seen in their life time. Whilst this is an easy subject to write about, it covers one of the scariest time periods the living world has seen.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Christie has thrown in laughter, compassion, memories, happy times, frustration and tears as well.
I started reading it and could relate straight away but I was resentful as it was saying that nurses are the back bone of the NHS I have heard this so many times during my years working in the NHS in Acute Medical Assessment Units, Renal and Dialysis Units, Theatre’s and A & E as well as many medical, surgical and out patient wards!
However, I got past this irritation of mine and by the end of the book I was loving it as Christie did acknowledge the work that HCA's (Healthcare Assistants) do for their patients, the NHS and each other. The NHS is built on the back of Doctors, Nurses, HCA's, Porters, Domestics and the many, many other professionals within the NHS. The NHS is a family with extremely strong bonds and it’s built on the back of team work, love, support and the courage to care.
Christie poured tears, truth and passion into this book that reflects on a time in healthcare that most living people have never seen in their life time. Whilst this is an easy subject to write about, it covers one of the scariest time periods the living world has seen.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Christie has thrown in laughter, compassion, memories, happy times, frustration and tears as well.
December 30, 2020
I heard about this book on The Sky Arts book club and received it for Christmas!
This book exceeded my expectations. Christie Watson has written an excellent book which is part memoir about how nurses are undervalued and how they do many things for different parts of society without us even realising. She interviews many other nurses across the UK including district nurses, prison nurses, ICU nurses etc. And she shares many memories and anecdotes from her own nursing career and her own life. I think she is incredible and if we all took her approach to caring for others the world would be a better place.
This book should be read by everyone and I think it is equal to "This is going to hurt" in a more heart warming way.
This book exceeded my expectations. Christie Watson has written an excellent book which is part memoir about how nurses are undervalued and how they do many things for different parts of society without us even realising. She interviews many other nurses across the UK including district nurses, prison nurses, ICU nurses etc. And she shares many memories and anecdotes from her own nursing career and her own life. I think she is incredible and if we all took her approach to caring for others the world would be a better place.
This book should be read by everyone and I think it is equal to "This is going to hurt" in a more heart warming way.
September 20, 2024
This is such a great read on the importance of nurses in our NHS! An insight into the unseen work that they do, and the kinds of unbelievable things they witness and experience daily in terms of the human experience. A reminder that things can change quickly - really made me grateful for all I have and everyone I know and love who is healthy and well!
July 11, 2021
I’ve read my share of medical memoirs over the past year, from Adam Kay’s THIS IS GOING TO HURT to Amanda Brown’s THE PRISON DOCTOR and Joanna Cannon’s BREAKING AND MENDING. Christie Watson’s THE COURAGE TO CARE fits in nicely along these, though with two key differences: she focusses on nurses rather than doctors, and she writes mainly about others rather than about herself.
The memoir is definitely at its strongest when Watson is recounting the incredible challenges faced by her patients, their families, and the nurses who care for them. Her respect and admiration for their resilience, along with her own compassion, shine through in every vignette, and there were multiple instances where I couldn’t help tearing up. So much of what she describes is unimaginable, yet it’s what these brave women and men face every day.
For that reason alone, this is a story worth reading. As a book, however, I don’t feel like it’s very well put together. The story jumps back and forth between so many different people, focussing on one patient, jumping back to offer a related vignette, and then returning to the first patient, that I often lost track of where we were or what was happening. There was no sense of any cohesive through-thread, and by the end of the book I felt like I had been hit with a barrage of stories, rather than being taken on a journey.
Similarly, while the book is confessedly about the resilience of nurses and their patients, Watson also weaves in significant sections about her own journey to adopting her son. These sections are equally fascinating, yet they seem slightly incongruous in a book about nurses. I would gladly read a full book about Watson’s adoption process and the challenges of the adoption system, but its inclusion in this book only made an already muddy narrative even messier.
It feels wrong, after the year we’ve had, to not automatically give anything written by a nurse a five-star rating. THE COURAGE TO CARE is an eye-opening book in so many ways and we all need to read more stories like this. That said, the structure and wide-ranging content of this relatively short book simply don’t provide the subject matter with the vehicle it deserves. We definitely need more books celebrating nurses, hopefully ones with more structure and cohesion.
The memoir is definitely at its strongest when Watson is recounting the incredible challenges faced by her patients, their families, and the nurses who care for them. Her respect and admiration for their resilience, along with her own compassion, shine through in every vignette, and there were multiple instances where I couldn’t help tearing up. So much of what she describes is unimaginable, yet it’s what these brave women and men face every day.
For that reason alone, this is a story worth reading. As a book, however, I don’t feel like it’s very well put together. The story jumps back and forth between so many different people, focussing on one patient, jumping back to offer a related vignette, and then returning to the first patient, that I often lost track of where we were or what was happening. There was no sense of any cohesive through-thread, and by the end of the book I felt like I had been hit with a barrage of stories, rather than being taken on a journey.
Similarly, while the book is confessedly about the resilience of nurses and their patients, Watson also weaves in significant sections about her own journey to adopting her son. These sections are equally fascinating, yet they seem slightly incongruous in a book about nurses. I would gladly read a full book about Watson’s adoption process and the challenges of the adoption system, but its inclusion in this book only made an already muddy narrative even messier.
It feels wrong, after the year we’ve had, to not automatically give anything written by a nurse a five-star rating. THE COURAGE TO CARE is an eye-opening book in so many ways and we all need to read more stories like this. That said, the structure and wide-ranging content of this relatively short book simply don’t provide the subject matter with the vehicle it deserves. We definitely need more books celebrating nurses, hopefully ones with more structure and cohesion.
October 6, 2020
I was kindly gifted The Courage To Care by Christie Watson and Vintage Books part of the #CTCReadalong run by Tandem Collective.
I adored this book. I love reading medical memoirs, and Christie’s The Language of Kindness was the first one I read and really got me interested in them. And Christie didn’t disappoint with her second one. I found this one such an emotional read. At the moment, my only reading time is when the baby has her nap, cuddled up to me, and with a lot of the stories in this book taking part in her experience with paediatrics, I found I cuddled my little girl tighter every time I read it. As a new mum, it made me feel full of anxiety about the endless possibilities of what ifs there are for her, but also made me feel so so lucky that we have a beautiful healthy baby like her.
I loved seeing the different aspects of nursing that you might not think of straight away. As a teacher, I know of the nurses who deal with schools, but nurses who work in prisons hadn’t even crossed my mind. It’s incredible that this one career has so many paths to go down, all so similar yet so different at the same time.
With this book being published so recently, Christie touches on COVID-19 and the impact it has on nurses. She also discusses systemic racism, it’s such a relevant read, reaffirming what we already know, nurses are incredible. I loved how Christie opens up about her personal life, including the adoption process of her son, and uses these times to explore her nursing memories, it is so well written.
This book made me smile and made me cry (seriously, so so much 😭). As I was kindly gifted this book by Christie Watson and Vintage Books, I’ve made a donation of what I would’ve paid for it to the RCN Foundation mentioned in Christie’s acknowledgments. Thank you Christie for yet another incredible, honest and poignant read. ❤️
I adored this book. I love reading medical memoirs, and Christie’s The Language of Kindness was the first one I read and really got me interested in them. And Christie didn’t disappoint with her second one. I found this one such an emotional read. At the moment, my only reading time is when the baby has her nap, cuddled up to me, and with a lot of the stories in this book taking part in her experience with paediatrics, I found I cuddled my little girl tighter every time I read it. As a new mum, it made me feel full of anxiety about the endless possibilities of what ifs there are for her, but also made me feel so so lucky that we have a beautiful healthy baby like her.
I loved seeing the different aspects of nursing that you might not think of straight away. As a teacher, I know of the nurses who deal with schools, but nurses who work in prisons hadn’t even crossed my mind. It’s incredible that this one career has so many paths to go down, all so similar yet so different at the same time.
With this book being published so recently, Christie touches on COVID-19 and the impact it has on nurses. She also discusses systemic racism, it’s such a relevant read, reaffirming what we already know, nurses are incredible. I loved how Christie opens up about her personal life, including the adoption process of her son, and uses these times to explore her nursing memories, it is so well written.
This book made me smile and made me cry (seriously, so so much 😭). As I was kindly gifted this book by Christie Watson and Vintage Books, I’ve made a donation of what I would’ve paid for it to the RCN Foundation mentioned in Christie’s acknowledgments. Thank you Christie for yet another incredible, honest and poignant read. ❤️
September 12, 2020
Thank you to Christie Watson, Random House UK and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this book. All views are my own. Any quotes taken from the book are subject to change.
This book is the second healthcare-related book written by retired nurse, Christie Watson, her first one being, "The Language of Kindness". As a student nurse myself, it was amazing to see Watson's own experiences as a student nurse and the thoughts that came with that. Watson touched upon failures within her studies and how she bounced back and continued - not letting anything hold her back.
The first chapter was heart-breaking and made me want to read on, it was promising and it did not disappoint. There was one quote in the second chapter that really stood out to me and that was "the single most important thing is that it is critical to care" - this goes without saying but it's always a nice reminder.
The book takes you on a journey through not only Watson's professional life and career but her home life too which made it personal and makes you feel more connected to the book and the stories.
At the end of the book, Watson touches on the COVID-19 situation and how she signed up to the temporary register to help out when the NHS were in desperate need of extra help more than ever. It was really insightful to read first hand what it was like and the effects the pandemic has had on the NHS and NHS workers.
Whilst the writing style is messy and goes back and forth between different events with some digression, I quite liked it. I perceived it at representing the chaos and uncertainty that comes with being a nurse.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone, particularly current student nurses or those wanting to go into the nursing profession.
(Review to go live on my blog on 15th Sept at 5pm - https://chlosbookshelf.weebly.com)
This book is the second healthcare-related book written by retired nurse, Christie Watson, her first one being, "The Language of Kindness". As a student nurse myself, it was amazing to see Watson's own experiences as a student nurse and the thoughts that came with that. Watson touched upon failures within her studies and how she bounced back and continued - not letting anything hold her back.
The first chapter was heart-breaking and made me want to read on, it was promising and it did not disappoint. There was one quote in the second chapter that really stood out to me and that was "the single most important thing is that it is critical to care" - this goes without saying but it's always a nice reminder.
The book takes you on a journey through not only Watson's professional life and career but her home life too which made it personal and makes you feel more connected to the book and the stories.
At the end of the book, Watson touches on the COVID-19 situation and how she signed up to the temporary register to help out when the NHS were in desperate need of extra help more than ever. It was really insightful to read first hand what it was like and the effects the pandemic has had on the NHS and NHS workers.
Whilst the writing style is messy and goes back and forth between different events with some digression, I quite liked it. I perceived it at representing the chaos and uncertainty that comes with being a nurse.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone, particularly current student nurses or those wanting to go into the nursing profession.
(Review to go live on my blog on 15th Sept at 5pm - https://chlosbookshelf.weebly.com)
January 7, 2025
o carte draguta care prezinta sentimentele prin care trece o asistenta medicala... in ceea ce priveste nasterea copilului (si toate gandurile negre pe care si le face dat fiind profesia), adoptia unui copil si viata profesionala care in UK e diferita, poti fi asistenta de district cu vizitele acasa, asistent medical specializat in dizabilitati de invatare, asistente medicale militare, asistente la urgenta (neonatoligie sau terapie intensiva pediatrica, UPU). asistenta de psihiatrie, asistenta la oncologie pediatrica, asisatenta in domeniul medicinei legale (lucreaza in politie si inchisori) sau cele care se ocupa de oamenii fara locuinta.
Cartea mentioneaza dedicarea asistentelor si tare mi-as dori sa fie norma in fiecare tara.. asistente medicale dedicate insotite de lucratori sociali implicati. Un vis...
Pe de alta parte cartea ajuta cititorul sa vada ca o persoana nu e rea doar din prisma situatiei in care se afla sau pentru o singura actiune... e doar un om cu bune si rele.. Toti oamenii sunt in esenta buni, doar ca viata cateodata te duce in zone intunecate.
Cartea mentioneaza dedicarea asistentelor si tare mi-as dori sa fie norma in fiecare tara.. asistente medicale dedicate insotite de lucratori sociali implicati. Un vis...
Pe de alta parte cartea ajuta cititorul sa vada ca o persoana nu e rea doar din prisma situatiei in care se afla sau pentru o singura actiune... e doar un om cu bune si rele.. Toti oamenii sunt in esenta buni, doar ca viata cateodata te duce in zone intunecate.
September 22, 2020
In The Courage to Care bestselling author Christie Watson reveals the remarkable extent of nurses’ work. A community mental-health nurse choreographs support for a man suffering from severe depression. A teen with stab wounds is treated by the critical-care team; his school nurse visits and he drops the bravado. A pregnant woman loses frightening amounts of blood following a car accident; it is a military nurse who synchronises the emergency department into immaculate order and focus.
Being a retired nurse I was looking forward to reading this book by Christie Watson. This is really well written book, with the normal tugging at heart strings yet the humour you need to get through some tough days. Story touches on Covid, but its not about this horrendous time
Thank you to #NetGalley, #RandomHouseUK #VintagePublishing and the author #ChristineWatson for ARC copy of this book
Being a retired nurse I was looking forward to reading this book by Christie Watson. This is really well written book, with the normal tugging at heart strings yet the humour you need to get through some tough days. Story touches on Covid, but its not about this horrendous time
Thank you to #NetGalley, #RandomHouseUK #VintagePublishing and the author #ChristineWatson for ARC copy of this book
October 3, 2020
“The Courage to Care” is an honest collection of anecdotes which teach us about nursing in the wider community. I have nothing but respect for author Christie Watson, and all nurses who have the courage to care unconditionally. The style was a little bit off for me, but overall this was a really enjoyable 4 stars.
My full review: https://whatrebeccasread.wordpress.co...
My full review: https://whatrebeccasread.wordpress.co...
August 30, 2020
Wow, just wow. I don’t even know where to start. I “wished” for this book on Netgally, my wish was granted and I devoured this book in one day. I’ve already got one of my closest friends who is a nurse to pre order this book for next month. I used to work in care and reading about each nurses story and devotion to their role is truly inspiring, the courage to care is an amazing well written book, that pulls on your heart strings and makes you love the NHS even more.
June 26, 2021
This book was sooo emotional but sooo well written 😍
June 25, 2022
Should be read alongside other 'I-want-to-study-medicine' classics. There's no reason this book shouldn't be found amongst 'When Breathe Becomes Air' or 'This is Going to Hurt'. I think of this book as a long message not to the public but to doctors who don't realise the amount of help they receive and politicians who still desperately underfund our NHS.
September 3, 2020
I understand that “The Courage to Care” is the second book by Christie Watson - I haven’t read the first one, but this stands alone.
The book takes you on a journey through various times in Christie’s nursing career, but as we move through the book we also explore the breadth of work that nurses do from the well known hospital work and district/home nursing to the lesser known nursing that happens in prisons, supporting those with disabilities, or specific illnesses, palliative care, and the nurses who work within the armed forces. Some of the stories are heartwarming whilst others are heartbreaking. Christie touches on the current COVID-19 pandemic & how the NHS staff are coping. It was good to hear her internal struggle as she debated whether she should return to nursing or stay home with her family.
Overall I enjoyed the book but I didn’t warm to the writing style like I have to similar memoirs, it just felt a little disjointed and stiff to me. There is an underlying adoption storyline which some readers may find difficult.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free from the publisher via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the publisher & author for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own.
#TheCouragetoCare #NetGalley
The book takes you on a journey through various times in Christie’s nursing career, but as we move through the book we also explore the breadth of work that nurses do from the well known hospital work and district/home nursing to the lesser known nursing that happens in prisons, supporting those with disabilities, or specific illnesses, palliative care, and the nurses who work within the armed forces. Some of the stories are heartwarming whilst others are heartbreaking. Christie touches on the current COVID-19 pandemic & how the NHS staff are coping. It was good to hear her internal struggle as she debated whether she should return to nursing or stay home with her family.
Overall I enjoyed the book but I didn’t warm to the writing style like I have to similar memoirs, it just felt a little disjointed and stiff to me. There is an underlying adoption storyline which some readers may find difficult.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free from the publisher via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the publisher & author for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own.
#TheCouragetoCare #NetGalley
September 19, 2020
i was lucky enough to be given an advance copy thanks to netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
i had previously read christie’s first book the language of kindness a true account of her nursing career and loved it.
this follow up book allows us to share the day to day workings of a nurses life with details of the patients she came across,their conditions and their families.
it also covers nursing in other settings including dealing with the homeless and the wonderful outreach staff.
christie takes you on a wonderfully written journey about her working life but also her private life too.as an ex nurse i loved being back with the patients and their families via her words and like last time her caring nature comes across above everything else.
easy to read,interesting and emotional.
highly recommended
i had previously read christie’s first book the language of kindness a true account of her nursing career and loved it.
this follow up book allows us to share the day to day workings of a nurses life with details of the patients she came across,their conditions and their families.
it also covers nursing in other settings including dealing with the homeless and the wonderful outreach staff.
christie takes you on a wonderfully written journey about her working life but also her private life too.as an ex nurse i loved being back with the patients and their families via her words and like last time her caring nature comes across above everything else.
easy to read,interesting and emotional.
highly recommended
September 17, 2020
It is possibly an even harder time than ever, being on the NHS Frontline during the recent Covid pandemic. Christie Watson talks about the very real fear about this situation, which her saw signing up to lend a hand, alongside other acts of courage she has seen throughout her time in nursing.
"As frontline staff, we live in spaces where sometimes there is no right or wrong, only the in-between. We are always questioning our actions : whether they were enough, or even right. ‘Do No Harm’ is not always possible, despite our best efforts. Often medicine and nursing are choices between bad or worse, not good or better . The only way I can cope with this is to think always of compassion. To ask myself difficult questions, and keep the patient and their family at the heart of all things."
Watson writes with real heart. She contrasts her personal story (including death of her father, birth of her daughter and the adoption process she went through with her son), with snippets of her work life. Having trained and shadowed in many different areas of nursing, Watson has met people who make a difference to so many different people. From a nurse who shows care by handing out balloons on Valentine's Day, to one who learned sign language, to one who sings to their patients, this is about the small acts as much as the life saving (of which there is also plenty). Proof that there is always something to admire and that compassion, courage and connection keep the heart of the health service beating.
"Politics has always been part of nursing, but our current political situation means a rise of hatred, and it seeps into healthcare like poison into water."
Watson shares her insights, learnt from a career helping the most vulnerable and being someone who has seen the real sting of the issues we often see in the news- from knife crime to the current national crisis.
The books themes sit together so well. Written articulately, thoroughly and will clear passion, Watson here is definitely sitting amongst those peers she hails as inspirational. There is a lot to learn about kindness, whether in nursing or in our day to day lives.
Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage for the advance copy of this title.
"As frontline staff, we live in spaces where sometimes there is no right or wrong, only the in-between. We are always questioning our actions : whether they were enough, or even right. ‘Do No Harm’ is not always possible, despite our best efforts. Often medicine and nursing are choices between bad or worse, not good or better . The only way I can cope with this is to think always of compassion. To ask myself difficult questions, and keep the patient and their family at the heart of all things."
Watson writes with real heart. She contrasts her personal story (including death of her father, birth of her daughter and the adoption process she went through with her son), with snippets of her work life. Having trained and shadowed in many different areas of nursing, Watson has met people who make a difference to so many different people. From a nurse who shows care by handing out balloons on Valentine's Day, to one who learned sign language, to one who sings to their patients, this is about the small acts as much as the life saving (of which there is also plenty). Proof that there is always something to admire and that compassion, courage and connection keep the heart of the health service beating.
"Politics has always been part of nursing, but our current political situation means a rise of hatred, and it seeps into healthcare like poison into water."
Watson shares her insights, learnt from a career helping the most vulnerable and being someone who has seen the real sting of the issues we often see in the news- from knife crime to the current national crisis.
The books themes sit together so well. Written articulately, thoroughly and will clear passion, Watson here is definitely sitting amongst those peers she hails as inspirational. There is a lot to learn about kindness, whether in nursing or in our day to day lives.
Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage for the advance copy of this title.
October 21, 2020
// The Courage to Care Readalong // Christie Watson // Book Review //
•
“There is a calm about intensive care, even in the most desperate of circumstances, even on the busiest of days. And when it is impossible to save a patient, despite everyone’s best efforts, the critical care nurses are able to offer dignity, a pain-free death and, perhaps most importantly, compassionate care for patients and families.”
•
Big thanks to @tandemcollectiveuk & @vintagebooks for the #gifted copy to join in the readalong.
•
Nurses have never been more important. Christie Watson reveals the remarkable extent of nurses' work.
That time and time again, it is patients and their families - including her own - who show exceptional strength in the most challenging times. We are all deserving of compassion, and as we share in each other's suffering, Christie Watson shows us how we can find courage too. The courage to care.
•
Watson has managed to stitch together anecdotes from a wide variety of areas of nursing, using compassion and emotion to convey, the people and situations she has experienced. It is an inspiring read, one that will hopefully convey to the reader, the huge impact Nursing has and just how important it can be. I loved hearing about her experiences and can completely relate to many of the emotions she conveys. It is an incredibly hard environment to work in at times, but so worth it. The first few pages when she described her postnatal worries, had me completely in awe, feeling that she had hit the nail on the head fully, I struggled with those worries for months, the curse of having worked in emergency medical care never quite leaves you. It is an emotional read at times but well worth it to have a small slice, of the incredible Nurse’s she has worked alongside.
•
A perfect read for anyone working in healthcare, and an amazing education for those that haven’t. It really does make you appreciate the courage our NHS staff have.
•
I will be seeking out Watson’s other books to have a read 💙
•
“There is a calm about intensive care, even in the most desperate of circumstances, even on the busiest of days. And when it is impossible to save a patient, despite everyone’s best efforts, the critical care nurses are able to offer dignity, a pain-free death and, perhaps most importantly, compassionate care for patients and families.”
•
Big thanks to @tandemcollectiveuk & @vintagebooks for the #gifted copy to join in the readalong.
•
Nurses have never been more important. Christie Watson reveals the remarkable extent of nurses' work.
That time and time again, it is patients and their families - including her own - who show exceptional strength in the most challenging times. We are all deserving of compassion, and as we share in each other's suffering, Christie Watson shows us how we can find courage too. The courage to care.
•
Watson has managed to stitch together anecdotes from a wide variety of areas of nursing, using compassion and emotion to convey, the people and situations she has experienced. It is an inspiring read, one that will hopefully convey to the reader, the huge impact Nursing has and just how important it can be. I loved hearing about her experiences and can completely relate to many of the emotions she conveys. It is an incredibly hard environment to work in at times, but so worth it. The first few pages when she described her postnatal worries, had me completely in awe, feeling that she had hit the nail on the head fully, I struggled with those worries for months, the curse of having worked in emergency medical care never quite leaves you. It is an emotional read at times but well worth it to have a small slice, of the incredible Nurse’s she has worked alongside.
•
A perfect read for anyone working in healthcare, and an amazing education for those that haven’t. It really does make you appreciate the courage our NHS staff have.
•
I will be seeking out Watson’s other books to have a read 💙
September 1, 2020
My wish was granted to read this book prior to release by the publisher and Netgalley. I thank them both deeply as I feel incredibly lucky to have read this book prior to release.
I had really high hopes for this book, having loved the author's previous book 'The Language of Kindness', and it did not disappoint. The book has taken me through the entire spectrum of human emotions, much like a day of British weather, to crying ugly deep wrenching tears, to golden moments of hope.
The book takes you on a journey through the many experiences of the author within the NHS. One chapter that stood out particularly for me was the author’s experience supporting premature babies. The sometimes tragic circumstances in how they become preterm highlights the absolute knife edge of life they tread each day.
As well as the stories from the NHS, we also have an incredibly raw insight into the author’s personal life, which I can only describe as having been privileged to witness. I felt my heart going out to Christie at multiple times in the book, but was continually strengthened by her resolve, and above all, her endless compassion for everyone.
The author’s strength and ability to carry on when faced with crisis beyond much of our comprehension is honestly nothing short of miraculous, and an absolute testament to the sacrifices she and other nurses make each and every day.
Above all, The Courage to Care is a timely and important reminder to us all of the need for empathy and compassion in an increasingly divided and uncertain world. I know that this book will have an everlasting place in my heart, and I implore everyone to read it.
I had really high hopes for this book, having loved the author's previous book 'The Language of Kindness', and it did not disappoint. The book has taken me through the entire spectrum of human emotions, much like a day of British weather, to crying ugly deep wrenching tears, to golden moments of hope.
The book takes you on a journey through the many experiences of the author within the NHS. One chapter that stood out particularly for me was the author’s experience supporting premature babies. The sometimes tragic circumstances in how they become preterm highlights the absolute knife edge of life they tread each day.
As well as the stories from the NHS, we also have an incredibly raw insight into the author’s personal life, which I can only describe as having been privileged to witness. I felt my heart going out to Christie at multiple times in the book, but was continually strengthened by her resolve, and above all, her endless compassion for everyone.
The author’s strength and ability to carry on when faced with crisis beyond much of our comprehension is honestly nothing short of miraculous, and an absolute testament to the sacrifices she and other nurses make each and every day.
Above all, The Courage to Care is a timely and important reminder to us all of the need for empathy and compassion in an increasingly divided and uncertain world. I know that this book will have an everlasting place in my heart, and I implore everyone to read it.
July 25, 2021
Christie is a nursing professional and has many years’ experience in the sector. In this book she writes specifically about the role nurses play in the community, citing many cases where their care and dedication has made an enormous difference to the lives of the patients. Interspersed with this narrative are snippets about Christie’s own experiences as she tries to juggle a busy job with her own personal family life.
This is a heartfelt, tender and compassionate book. It introduces us to some of the most caring people you will ever meet, most of whom deserve medals for the work that they do, and the grace and empathy with which they do it. We also hear the stories of their patients, many of whom are facing some of the most challenging situations it is possible to imagine. “There but for the grace of God…” was uppermost in my mind on many occasions. I had not realised the extent of the tasks, duties and “added extras” that nurses perform on a daily basis, not least of which are the things that are not a formal part of their training but just an extension of their caring personalities coming to the fore when necessary to produce a creative solution to a problem or provide some much needed comfort to both patients and families alike. The stories are all fascinating and I had a tear in my eye on occasions.
The downside of this book is that it is a little confusing to read as it jumps around randomly between timeframes. It felt a bit muddled at times as I tried to reorient myself at the start of each section.
Recommended for anyone who would like to spend a few hours immersed in the lives of some wonderful people. A heartwarming book that is easy to read.
This is a heartfelt, tender and compassionate book. It introduces us to some of the most caring people you will ever meet, most of whom deserve medals for the work that they do, and the grace and empathy with which they do it. We also hear the stories of their patients, many of whom are facing some of the most challenging situations it is possible to imagine. “There but for the grace of God…” was uppermost in my mind on many occasions. I had not realised the extent of the tasks, duties and “added extras” that nurses perform on a daily basis, not least of which are the things that are not a formal part of their training but just an extension of their caring personalities coming to the fore when necessary to produce a creative solution to a problem or provide some much needed comfort to both patients and families alike. The stories are all fascinating and I had a tear in my eye on occasions.
The downside of this book is that it is a little confusing to read as it jumps around randomly between timeframes. It felt a bit muddled at times as I tried to reorient myself at the start of each section.
Recommended for anyone who would like to spend a few hours immersed in the lives of some wonderful people. A heartwarming book that is easy to read.
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