The Shift: One Nurse, Twelve Hours, Four Patients' Lives Kindle Edition

The Shift is a wonderful book. I am reviewing it from the perspective of both a reader as well as a hospital-based physician.The Shift is the most accurate depiction of a floor nurse's daily existence that I have ever read. It vividly describes the hectic and often chaotic demands that are placed on the people that actually take care for us when we get sick. The profession has always been demanding, both in terms of the amount of work involved as well as the responsibilities nurses shoulder, and that current runs through the narrative. The book reads fast, much as the typical shift an RN experiences runs fast - there is little time for idle gossip or relaxation. I found the read compelling, and I continually marveled at how accurately Ms/Dr (the author is a PhD in English, and it shows in the writing) Brown depicts and translates for a reader the care she and others provide, from the medical language that is used to the technology that must be mastered. I read the entire book in 2 days. Surprisingly, I found myself kind of exhausted at the end, much like most nurses are at the end of their shift, many having been too busy to even stop and have lunch and often staying 30 minutes after their shift has ended (all unpaid, of course), "giving report."Likening a nurse's work to the bicycle she rides to and from work, the author states, "Nurses are a hospitals mechanics, it's sockets and gears." Oh, but they are so much more than that, and it is to Ms. Brown's credit that she avoids glorifying all they do in the hospital. She merely describes a typical day, and the actions speak for themselves. Those actions reveal what any good doctor will tell you - nurses are the unsung heroes of the hospital. The are the glue that holds it together with a combination of skill and compassion. They are the heart and soul of those institutions, in that they focus on the humanity of the patients they care for. The ability to do that is harder and harder in todays world of mandated computerized record keeping, a fact that is well demonstrated during Ms. Brown's day. Nurse's are often a catalyst for improved care, as demonstrated when the author gently asks a physician if he will stay late and operate in the middle of the night rather that take the easy way out and wait until morning. Nurses are cheerleaders for their patients, encouraging them when they face the terrifying unknown, such as whether or not a bone marrow transplant will take. They are the early warning system, the front line monitors for when patients take a turn for the worse. Almost all nurses are perfectionists, and Ms. Brown details that repeatedly during her shift. Finally, and most important, nurses are compassionate. The author describes one particularly difficult patient, Candace, who stands out in the book. Every practitioner - from nurse's aides (a sadly vanishing breed due to hospitals' relentless drive for profits), to transporters, to technicians, to doctors - will easily recognize her. What is not so easy is to recognize the pain within argumentative and frankly unpleasant patients like Candace. Nurses are far more likely to do so than are anyone else in the hospital. It is why, for many, nursing is a "calling" more than it is a job. When nurses say they "love their patients," they really mean it - they find a way to express empathy for everyone who comes through the door. I found how Ms. Brown demonstrates her empathy for Candace in The Shift a particular strength of the narrative.I love this book as a read that pays tribute to what are all too often the unrecognized heroes of hospital care. We have seen people applauding nurses and other health care providers walking out from a 12-hour shift after taking care of Covid-19 patients. The Shift gives you a glimpse of what they have been doing. Nurses do it because, as Ms. Brown simply states, "It's what we do." Oh, but they do so much more!

If you are a nurse you will appreciate Ms. Brown's book. A realistic look at a 12 hour nursing shift, hers in an oncology ward, but with a few simple changes could be on any ward. Truthful in its reality (no bathroom break I noticed....not unusual where I work! ) a 30 min lunch break in 12 hours? Ha! Maybe every other day! I not only loved her honest approach to telling it like it is within the world of nursing, (all those damned interruptions when you are trying to give out meds!) but she's not afraid to show her compassionate side too, following up on transferred or dischatged patients. If you want to be a nurse, are a nurse, or just want to see how a nurse's day REALLY looks like, then I highly recommend this read. If you already belong to the sisterhood, reading this book will let you will rest assured knowing someone else has crazy work days too. If you've never walked a mile in nursing shoes, this book will let you try on a pair for size to see if nursing is a good fit. Ms. Brown surely proves that technology, brains and compassion DO belong together, and she has them all.

When you go to the hospital, your personal affliction is so overwhelming you think it should feel that way for everyone else there. But for the nurse who is responsible for you, you are only one of several patients, and you are obscured by a slew of various other practitioners, a boatload of required procedures, and massive amounts of documentation— at least, until the shift is over. The book narrates one shift and is extremely well written, threading several stories expertly.I sort of wish I hadn’t read it. My husband is terminally ill, though he’s far from the end of his illness, and I already hated hospitals. But it was a good read.

As a nurse I can really relate to the craziness a floor nurse must overcome to get through a shift. There are never enough hours in a shift to get all the work done and the unexpected interruptions are extremely frustrating. Patients think nurses don't care but we really do, we just don't have the time to show it like we would like to. Extremely well written and a unique perspective on the life of a floor nurse. A good example of why the high burn out rate. All hospital nurses should be admired for their dedication and perseverance in a very difficult job.

If you are into medicine, especially nursing, this is THE book for you. It takes you through the personal daily interactions of one nurse, her struggles to provide the best of care under the restraints of management demands, limited time with each patient, more patient needs than can be reasonably be met, and both needs of patients' families and needs of her own family. And more! I came away from this book with great admiration and appreciation for hospital nurses, and a sense of amazement at how they can continue to meet so many demands so well, day after day. If you know a nurse who works in a hospital, this is the perfect gift for them (plus a month of vacation in Hawaii!)

Thank you for verbalizing my life as a staff nurse on the floor of a busy hospital! You spoke my thoughts out loud: prioritizing and guilt at not being able to be with every patient at the same time can be agonizing. As a military spouse moving from state to state, my choices to work were usually limited to staff nurse, float pool, prn. I loved it, especially cardiac care. I just retired but you hit the nail on the head with this book. I was there with you throughout your shift! We need good floor nurses with compassion and caring. Thank you and God bless you!

This book brings to light how physically and emotionally demanding hospital nursing is for nurses and their families. Yes, there is organized chaos but many positive patient outcomes occur.The author was an English professor so the book was well written with a few literatury references. I recommend the book for those with a medical background, nurses, doctors or anyone with an interest in medical care.

An eye opener - not a minute is spare in this nurses day. Grateful

Interesting from a medical point of view

I enjoyed the book. It was very detailed and told the story of the nurses interaction with several patients. I was impressed with her diligence on her shifts. She also cared for her patients feelings as well as their health. Anyone who enjoys stories about the medical field will enjoy this.

An easy read but full of insight into life as a nurse. The demands and stresses we place on those who we should value. Why is it that we demand so much of nurses and yet not reward them adequately for their hard and tireless work?

Feels grubby. Lots of underlining. Buy new