There are so many hospital-based dramas on TV that you'd be forgiven for thinking you had a pretty accurate view of what goes on in the wards. Some of the US shows, like E.R., Dr House or Grey's Anatomy, always seem a bit Hollywoodised and romanticised, but I always thought the UK offerings, such as Casualty or Holby, were quite accurate and realistic. Not so apparently, at least according to Jimmy Frazier, author of Nurse ! Nurse !
Jimmy Frazier isn't his real name, but the book does relate his real life experiences during his three years as a student nurse. We follow him on his different placements, in child nursing, mental health nursing, even in a prison, as well as in various training sessions and lectures with the formidable Mr Temple.
The patients' names have been changed to protect their privacy and they are composites, rather than specific individuals, but you can't help but sense the gritty realism and emotional bond that comes through in the writing.
Some of the patients (or clients, depending on who you talk to) have heartbreaking stories but on the whole, it's a light read, full of funny anecdotes and interesting glimpses behind the scenes in Britain's hospitals and nursing facilities.
star rating : 4/5
RRP : £7.99
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Constable (24 Feb 2011)
ISBN-10: 1845293959
ISBN-13: 978-1845293956
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nurse-Student-Nurses-Story/dp/1845293959
Other reviews you may be interested in :
Blue Lights and Long Nights - Les Pringle
Book review : Starting Over, One Cake at a Time - Gesine Bullock-Prado
Book review : Room - Emma Donoghue
Book review : Between Shades of Gray - Ruta Sepetys
star rating : 4/5
RRP : £7.99
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Constable (24 Feb 2011)
ISBN-10: 1845293959
ISBN-13: 978-1845293956
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nurse-Student-Nurses-Story/dp/1845293959
Other reviews you may be interested in :
Blue Lights and Long Nights - Les Pringle
Book review : Starting Over, One Cake at a Time - Gesine Bullock-Prado
Book review : Room - Emma Donoghue
Book review : Between Shades of Gray - Ruta Sepetys
sounds interesting - wonder when someone will do one from a Physio's (or even better, a Physio Assistant's) perspective...maybe I should have a go!
ReplyDeleteAndy Frazier IS my real name! I was looking Jimmy up to see if he was a long lost cousin and found your review - you dissapointed me now!
ReplyDeleteHave dowloaded the book all the same. Maybe he would like to read some of mine?
Or you would like to review some - I have written quite a few....