Customer Reviews

25 Stupid Things Nurses Do to Self Destruct

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This is a very good book. I love Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio. She is very sharp, witty and in nurses face about the things that they do to belittle themselves and look less than professional to others and among themselves. This is a reality check for nurses. God knows that we need one. Every Nursing 101 student needs this book. I wish that Laura would revise and reprint this book.

I agree with a previous reviewer- it does list many obvious problems within the nursing profession, however, doesn't give many suggestions as to how one should deal with such problems.

The facility I work for has a nasty reputation of "nudging out" those who don't fall into the company line, and have an open mind. Management is cliquish and those who aren't liked have their jobs made nigh-impossible so they decide to quit rather than reform a broken system- much like the situations described in the book. Gasparis and company take pride in pointing out the dysfunction of the nursing profession, but don't offer much in the way of fixing it, or how one keeps morale up when roadblocks and landmines muddle the field.

This book was a cult classic in its day, because it capitalized on the "ward Rage" phenomenon experienced by many RNs during the restructuring and downsizing of the 1990s. I think the subtitle ought to be "the best of b&^%h sessons" because when you read it aloud, each chapter is a diatribe about some aspect of work life that makes people unhappy. It is no surprise that the authors had a lot of time making the lecture circuit - I think they make some coldly calculating assessments as to which line of complaining would draw the largest applause or reaction, much as a stand-up comedian will think back on when the audience laughed and use it to refine the jokes they make. These are guaranteed to get a reaction out of a certain type of person working in health care.

I have lent my copy to various friends in nursing, and it appeals to a certain "type" - usually older, very traditional, and conservative. It is unfortunate to say that these nurses feel as though the new demands of health care have passed them by, but in my own observation, it is true that many nurses have felt disenfranchised in this way. This group is receptive to the points being made here. There is a gleeful pleasure in saying the bad things out loud.

Where the book falls short is in its lack of a meaningful solution. It reinforces the victim syndrome to which it gives voice, and the authros are cynical and disrespectful to those who are working to improve health care. Yes, you can allow yourslef a checkle, but when you are done reading, what next? shoudl you shrivel up into a slough of despair?

My advice is to *not* buy the book, ( its outof print anyway)but to spend your money joining your state's chapter of the American Nurses Association and work to make it better alongside of other nurses who reject the victim approach.

Joe Niemczura, RN
Maine