Customer Reviews

Reflections on Doctors: Nurses' Stories about Physicians and Surgeons (Kaplan Voices)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I received this book as a gift. Being an RN for 34 years, I found so many of these Nursing Stories validated my Nursing experiences. The story that I was most affected by was "Refusing Doctors' Order" by Karen Klein, RN.
Though fortunately this is not common in my nursing practice, those events of my career that stand out the most are when I have advocated for a patient. "Smart enough not to be a doctor" By Pamela F. Gonzalez RN says it all about how I feel about my profession. This is great reading for any Nurse, Student Nurse or other healthcare professionals. Kudos to the nurses who have shared their stories. I loved it.

I found this to be an interesting, easy read. The book contains many short stories from nursing professionals and how they each have a unique story. I didn't find it to be negative as the other reviewer noted. I especially liked the short story by Carolyn Lounsbury, LPN, "Ms. Manners".

I loved this collection. I was expecting more negative stories, but was impressed about how even the negative comments on doctors were for the most part turned around for the good. These are great to read after a bad day at work, to remember why you got into nursing, and to reflect on the privelege we have as nurses to be a part of patients' lives.

Although the quality of the stories varies, the overall tone was quite negative, and at times seemed just like bitter sour grapes from disenfranchised nurses. It could have reflected more on the positives of the relationships between healthcare providers that is actually more reflective of reality and would have led to a more balanced picture. By tearing down other troubled and likely stressed coworkers, you can never build yourself up. The book could have been a whole lot more. Don't waste your money!

This is a collection of short stories written by nurses about their experiences, both good and bad, working with doctors.

I definitely enjoyed the stories as a student of nursing. I give it points for being a fast and easy read. I would have liked more a little more detail, though.

Reflections on Doctors brings to life the complex relationships that have developed over the years between doctors and nurses. The anthology accomplishes this by turning negative situations into positive outcomes. And, yes, the nursing profession has evolved over time giving nurses their own educational path and scope of practice to follow. One of my favorite essays, Relinquishing a Soul, written by Terry Ratner (editor), begins with "I watched a stranger's heart beating today." Ratner brings the reader into the OR where she is observing a procurement of organs. This essay gives an intimate look at the thin line between life and death and the integration of science and God. Another favorite, Cheryl Dellasaga's Every Patient Tells a Story, shows the importance of the art of listening and preserving the person in the patient. Recommended to healthcare professionals and anyone wanting a glimpse into the world of nursing.

I'm in nursing school expecting to graduate this June. One of our clinical instructors requested we read the anthology, Reflections on Doctors: Nurses' stories about Physicians and Surgeons, to assist us in our understanding of the nurse-physician relationship. The essays opened my eyes to a variety of issues which my class discussed in an open forum. What became clear is the importance of communication between physicians and nurses. The result of this powerful read==a promoting of the nursing profession with a long overdue dialogue.

As an avid reader and nurse for over twenty years, I found Reflections on Doctors to be enlightening and compelling, as it touched on topics that have been ignored for years--communication and trust between nurses and doctors. It's rare to find essays about nurses that don't dramatize their relationship with physicians, but instead portray an accurate description of what goes on behind closed doors. This is just the beginning of an "open door" policy by nurses, who are also proficient writers and the new voices for our profession. This anthology needs to be required reading for nurses, doctors, and nursing and medical students. It's a book to be cherished and shared.

As an RN with 30 years experience, I was deeply touched by the variety of themes in this anthology. It is rare to read a book that portrays the partnership between physicians and nurses in such an honest and compelling manner. Congratulations to the editor, Terry Ratner, RN, MFA, for her hand-picked selection of essays which kept me turning the pages and at the completion wanting more.