Customer Reviews

Trauma Junkie: Memoirs of an Emergency Flight Nurse

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Even though I'm an ER doctor and I've called in my share of medical helicopters to evacuate severely injured people to specialized trauma centers, the sound of a helicopter landing on the ER helipad always cranked up my pulse by a notch or two. Aircraft of any sort are exciting, and so are emergencies. Combine the two into a book, and it's bound to be interesting. Is this book? Yes. The author does a good job of immersing you in her stories, and once you begin reading this book you probably won't want to put it down. Not all of the book concerns her experiences in the CALSTAR air ambulance service; some of the material recounts her career as an ER nurse. Nevertheless, I found that material equally interesting. The only criticisms I have of the book (both of which are very minor) are: 1) The author tends to pull her punches. It seems to me that many authors are afraid to say what they really think for fear of offending some readers who possess contrasting viewpoints. I prefer that authors speak their minds, especially when their opinions were shaped by the experiences they're describing. When I began working in the ER I had virtually no opinions, but after a decade in the ER cauldron I've developed some very strong opinions. Likewise, most ER personnel I know harbor similar opinions that they're not shy about relating to one another, but when most of those folks sit down to write a book they clam up and sterilize their work. 2) The author describes the personality and appearance of several co-workers in her book, and in the center of it there's a group photo of the CALSTAR gang (in color, nonetheless). However, there isn't any accompanying caption to explain who is who.

Notwithstanding these minor flaws, Hudson produced a commendable book. In my opinion, this book is one of the best books in this genre. I've read every book that is even remotely related to emergencies, and many disappointed me because they have little to offer besides an attractive cover and catchy title. In contrast, Hudson's book is filled with nonstop action that's bound to capture your interest. (Review by Kevin Pezzi, M.D., author of "Believe It or Not! True Emergency Room Stories") Since my review is quite complimentary of her book, will you please leave in the "Review by Kevin Pezzi, M.D., author of Believe It or Not! True Emergency Room Stories" part? Thanks!

Janice Hudson has written a book with the just enough action, combined with the ER-style jargon to make everybody interested in this type of book happy. She tells of the accidents, crimes and self-inflicted stupidity that cause the professionals like her to risk their lives for people like us. It will give you a glimpse into the world of nursing and emergency medicine. Good book!

Finally another book worth five stars! This book is simply the best of its kind. Janice Hudson and Trauma Junkie surpass by far the many other Emergency Medical books I've come across. She is truly a professional and experienced Medic. She delves into the precise medical techniques of every call with great clarity. After reading this book you almost don't need field experience... Yet she tells it all in such a story book fashion, what an interesting blend. This is the kind of book I mutter a silent prayer after every chapter that it grows thicker with 300 pages. Oh well, Janice, I'll just have to wait for your next book.

I was surprised how many things this book had going for it. I was interested in the topic, and I just happened across it on the majorly discounted rack. The chapters are grouped by subjects and incidents. Hudson did a great job of not only limiting material to the interesting annecdotes, but in not going on endlessly about nothing. The medical terminology will be difficult for the unfamiliar, but there is little of that, and she explains most of it. The themes in the book seem like those related in other EMS stories, but these are very well told. A good, quick read.

I read this book a few years ago before going into nursing and I loved it. I instantly knew that I wanted to be a flight nurse. I just recently found my copy in a box and reread it now that I have been an ER nurse for over a year, and I still loved it. Janice does an excellent job of balancing the stories with humor, feeling, and reality. It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it! Excellent read if you like tv's ER.

This book is in a word "Fascinating" and "Delightful Reading".

Janice Hudson, a flight nurse, had demonstrated some pretty particular skills to deal with some pretty difficult, often life threatening illnesses and accidents. If you would like to see the adventures that she writes about, then this is the perfect book for you. It is good for anyone, but recommended for anyone going into the health care or into the emergency services work.

The only problem was that I found myself wanting more! The author managed to capture everything--the dark humor, the camraderie, the bone-tiring shifts, the pain at seeing people suffer, the nausea from a gruesome call--definitely a must-read for those interested in emergency medicine.

Oh, humanity! This book captures it from the two extremes of people's most humane and most un-human moments. There's food for thought for those who care to partake, and an adventure in medicine for those who do not.

Very enjoyable. This book is fast-paced and easy to read. The stories covered every human emotion and offered a rare insight to the medical people who become intimately involved with strangers at some of the most intense moments of their lives. kind-of like a macabre wedding photographer.