A Nurse's Story: Life, Death, and In-Between in an Intensive Care Unit (Autorensignatur)

Tilda Shalof

ISBN 10: 0771080867 / ISBN 13: 9780771080869

Published by McClelland & Stewart, 2004

About this Item

Autorensignatur; Spuren von Feuchtigkeit / Nasse; Leichte Rillen / Abschurfungen / Risse / Knicke. In the intensive care unit (ICU) of a bustling city hospital, Tilda Shalof finds herself among a unique team of nurses known as "Laura's Line." This group is characterized by their intelligence, humor, and a healthy disregard for authority, all while demonstrating deep care and commitment to their work. Laura leads with her quick wit, while Frances, from Newfoundland, is known for her creative cooking. Justine, the union representative, boldly sports t-shirts with slogans like "Nurses Care But It's Not in the Budget." Despite Shalof's university education, her colleagues tease her for being "sooo sensitive." The emotional and physical demands of ICU work are immense, as many patients are in critical condition, and the staff strives to extend their lives. However, they often grapple with the ethics of their interventions, questioning whether some measures are too extreme for terminally ill patients. The toll on the staff is significant, yet on good days, they find fulfillment in their roles. Shalof vividly portrays the intensity of the work, highlighting moments of chaos and camaraderie, as well as the challenges and triumphs faced by nurses. Through her experiences, she offers a compelling glimpse into the realities behind closed hospital curtains, blending drama, humor, and the pressing issues of healthcare.

Seller Inventory # e0bee31a-fa83-42a6-b683-13557b397a66

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Nurse's Story: Life, Death, and In-Between in an Intensive Care Unit (Autorensignatur)
• Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
• Publication Date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0771080867
• ISBN 13: 9780771080869
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Fair
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Autobiographies & Memoirs

About this title

Synopsis

The team of nurses that Tilda Shalof found herself working with in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a big-city hospital was known as “Laura’s Line.” They were a bit smart, funny, disrespectful of authority, but also caring and incredibly committed to their jobs. Laura set the tone with her quick remarks. Frances, from Newfoundland, was famous for her improvised recipes. Justine, the union rep, wore t-shirts emblazoned with defiant slogans, like “Nurses Care But It’s Not in the Budget.” Shalof was the one who had been to university. The others accused her of being “sooo sensitive.”They depended upon one another. Working in the ICU was both emotionally grueling and physically exhausting. Many patients, quite simply, were dying, and the staff strove mightily to prolong their lives. With their skill, dedication, and the resources of modern science, they sometimes were almost too successful. Doctors and nurses alike wondered if what they did for terminally-ill patients was not, in some cases, too extreme. A number of patients were admitted when it was too late even for heroic measures. A boy struck down by a cerebral aneurysm in the middle of a little-league hockey game. A woman rescued – too late – from a burning house. It all took its toll on the staff.And yet, on good days, they thrived on what they did. Shalof describes a colleague who is managing a “crashing” “I looked at her. Nicky was flushed with excitement. She was doing five different things at the same time, planning ahead for another five. She was totally focused, in her element, in control, completely at home with the chaos. There was a huge smile on her face. Nurses like to fix things. If they can.”Shalof, a veteran ICU nurse, reveals what it is really like to work behind the closed hospital curtains. The drama, the sardonic humour, the grinding workload, the cheerful camaraderie, the big issues and the small, all are brought vividly to life in this remarkable book.From the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

An intensive care unit nurse with twenty years of experience in Israel and Canada, Tilda Shalof now lives in Toronto.
From the Hardcover edition.