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Caring Lessons: A Nursing Professor’s Journey of Faith and Self
Imagine not wanting to be a nurse, teacher, or teacher of psychiatric nursing only to find yourself doing all three-and loving it! In Caring Lessons, Lois Roelofs tells her stories about being a rebellious minister's daughter, reluctant nurse, restless mom, perpetual student, and eventually, fun-loving teacher. She used to tell her students that if she, an ordinary suburban sandbox mom, propelled by restlessness and prayer, could end up having a career, growing in faith, and getting a PhD, they could too. Roelofs brings the "therapeutic use of self" required in nursing to her writing. You will be amused, saddened, and inspired as you read this intimate and introspective memoir. You may even run to enroll or teach in a nursing program, and, if you're already teaching nursing students, you may discover renewed gratitude for the privilege. The main theme of the book is caring-caring for others and caring for oneself. The "others" in Roelofs' career involved students as well as students in the classroom, clinical settings, and her office and patients in inpatient as well as in a variety of outpatient settings. In caring for others, the nurse as caregiver must care for herself; she did so by changing jobs to suit her interests, going back to school more than once to feed her crave for learning, and seeking professional help when first her restlessness as an unhappy housewife and much later, illnesses of several people close to her and her husband's cancer invaded her personal life. The idea for writing Caring Lesson came while Roelofs in Chicago was talking to a nursing friend in North Carolina. They were nearing retirement, wondering what they would do with their time, when the subject of writing their nursing stories popped up. They both had a passion for their profession and felt people need to know more about nurses. What do they do? How do they think? How do they choose where to work and what kind of work they do? And because she couldn't find any memoirs written by nursing professors describing their personal and professional lives, she felt she could reach out to others with her story. Readers will learn the importance of faith, family, and friendship that applies to their own lives whatever their profession and will come away with a new appreciation of caring for themselves as well as caring for others.
224 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2010
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 11, 2012
CARING LESSONS by Lois Hoitenga Roelofs
Published by Deep River Books
ISBN 10: 1-935265-37-7
ISBN 13: 978-1-935265-37-5
At the request of WOW Tours, a TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
Synopsis: Lois Roelofs describes herself as a rebellious minister’s daughter, a reluctant nurse, a restless mom, and a perpetual student who eventually became a fun-loving teacher of mental health nursing. During her forty-year nursing career, she cared for patients and taught nursing students in primarily mental health and medical-surgical settings. As a caregiver, she learned the value of caring for herself and did so by changing jobs to suit her interests, going back to school more than once to feed her crave for learning, and seeking professional help when personal and family crises invaded her life.
You will be amused, saddened, and inspired as you read this intimate and introspective memoir. Plus you will learn the importance of faith, family, and friendship— whatever your profession— and come away with a new appreciation of caring for yourself as well as caring for others.
My Thoughts and Opinion: When the "call" went out for reviewers of this memoir and after reading the synopsis, being a former RN, I signed on. It has been many years since my days as a student nurse and working as a licensed RN, however, I can vividly recall many incidents both funny and sad, good and bad, and countless patients that touched my heart. I had expectations that this book would be memorable stories of the author's years during her training, patients that had touched her life and anecdotes during her years of nursing.
I could relate to the beginning of the book, where the author tells of her training, and the questioning of her career decision, to pursue a 2 year degree in Nursing. Her clinical training rotations (working on specialty floors of hospitals) such as psych, medical/surgical brought back memories. The book then goes through her years of continuing her education whereas she receives her Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD and the different positions that she works in. She shares, and you can actually feel her pride and enjoyment, about the years when she was a Nursing Instructor. This is my opinion, and my opinion only, but maybe I started reading this book thinking it was going to take a different route than it did, and for that I was left a bit let down.
My Rating: 2
Published by Deep River Books
ISBN 10: 1-935265-37-7
ISBN 13: 978-1-935265-37-5
At the request of WOW Tours, a TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
Synopsis: Lois Roelofs describes herself as a rebellious minister’s daughter, a reluctant nurse, a restless mom, and a perpetual student who eventually became a fun-loving teacher of mental health nursing. During her forty-year nursing career, she cared for patients and taught nursing students in primarily mental health and medical-surgical settings. As a caregiver, she learned the value of caring for herself and did so by changing jobs to suit her interests, going back to school more than once to feed her crave for learning, and seeking professional help when personal and family crises invaded her life.
You will be amused, saddened, and inspired as you read this intimate and introspective memoir. Plus you will learn the importance of faith, family, and friendship— whatever your profession— and come away with a new appreciation of caring for yourself as well as caring for others.
My Thoughts and Opinion: When the "call" went out for reviewers of this memoir and after reading the synopsis, being a former RN, I signed on. It has been many years since my days as a student nurse and working as a licensed RN, however, I can vividly recall many incidents both funny and sad, good and bad, and countless patients that touched my heart. I had expectations that this book would be memorable stories of the author's years during her training, patients that had touched her life and anecdotes during her years of nursing.
I could relate to the beginning of the book, where the author tells of her training, and the questioning of her career decision, to pursue a 2 year degree in Nursing. Her clinical training rotations (working on specialty floors of hospitals) such as psych, medical/surgical brought back memories. The book then goes through her years of continuing her education whereas she receives her Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD and the different positions that she works in. She shares, and you can actually feel her pride and enjoyment, about the years when she was a Nursing Instructor. This is my opinion, and my opinion only, but maybe I started reading this book thinking it was going to take a different route than it did, and for that I was left a bit let down.
My Rating: 2
April 12, 2012
Lois began nursing school because her parents allowed only two careers for the girls in her family: Become a teacher or a nurse....without discussion or question. Helping her fifth-grade-teacher mother grade papers every night after supper,(which she hated!) the only choice for Lois was nursing.
I love the way Lois writes. She drew me in right from the beginning. I hurt right along with her when she called home and begged to leave nursing school. I felt embarrassed with her when she didn't place the surgeon's gloves on correctly the first time, and also indignant about his verbal abuse.
Through her entire memoir, Lois bravely shares ups and downs in her professional and personal life, sometimes humorous, sometimes quite sad. There were parts I laughed out loud, and others I actually shed tears.
When I'd finished the book, I felt as if it went by too fast, just like Lois' amazing career seemed to do....from nursing student to a Ph.D. This is one of those rare books that I could read a second time, and I'm sure I will, sometime soon!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. You don't need to be in the health care industry or education to like it. If you're a woman and you like memoirs, you'll like it!
I love the way Lois writes. She drew me in right from the beginning. I hurt right along with her when she called home and begged to leave nursing school. I felt embarrassed with her when she didn't place the surgeon's gloves on correctly the first time, and also indignant about his verbal abuse.
Through her entire memoir, Lois bravely shares ups and downs in her professional and personal life, sometimes humorous, sometimes quite sad. There were parts I laughed out loud, and others I actually shed tears.
When I'd finished the book, I felt as if it went by too fast, just like Lois' amazing career seemed to do....from nursing student to a Ph.D. This is one of those rare books that I could read a second time, and I'm sure I will, sometime soon!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. You don't need to be in the health care industry or education to like it. If you're a woman and you like memoirs, you'll like it!
May 27, 2016
I read this book years ago when it was published and I wasn't a participant on goodreads. Now that I am, I'm recommending Lois Roelof's "Caring Lessons" to anyone interested in becoming a nurse or going into the care of patients or to anyone interested in reading about how a strong faith and the support of a caring husband and close family guides through rough waters and enables us to support and care for others.
It is as the description on the back says amusing, sad, and inspirational. It also conveys the work and dedication required to be come a nurse and take on teaching others choosing that profession. You will have a deeper appreciation for the person who helps you in the clinic, the doctor's office, and the hospital after reading "Caring Lessons."
I first read this book as part of a writer's group. The journey Lois Roelofs took writing it was as focused and determined as her nursing and teaching career have been.
It is as the description on the back says amusing, sad, and inspirational. It also conveys the work and dedication required to be come a nurse and take on teaching others choosing that profession. You will have a deeper appreciation for the person who helps you in the clinic, the doctor's office, and the hospital after reading "Caring Lessons."
I first read this book as part of a writer's group. The journey Lois Roelofs took writing it was as focused and determined as her nursing and teaching career have been.
January 19, 2011
Caring Lessons is a wonderful and touching memoir. When I started nursing school at 16, I never fathomed how tough nursing can be and many times I wanted to quit . The author welcomed us into her life and showed us that faith and perseverance can get us through any problem. The book was well written and I could feel her emotions. Even if you do not have a medical background the book is for you and will give you an insight into the wonderful world of Nursing. I recommend this book to all nursing students because you will learn from the author's wisdom and instill them into your practice. I have been an RN for over 25 years now and I find the profession challenging but I will never give it up. I will definitely pass the book on to my colleagues and maybe they will look at Nursing differently after reading the book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews