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The Shift
- One Nurse, Twelve Hours, Four Patients' Lives
- Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
- Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
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Summary
In a book as eye-opening as it is riveting, practicing nurse and New York Times columnist Theresa Brown invites us to experience not just a day in the life of a nurse but all the life that happens in just one day in a hospital's cancer ward. In the span of 12 hours, lives can be lost, life-altering medical treatment decisions made, and dreams fulfilled or irrevocably stolen. In Brown's skilled hands - as both a dedicated nurse and an insightful chronicler of events - we are given an unprecedented view into the individual struggles as well as the larger truths about medicine in this country. By shift's end we have witnessed something profound about hope, healing, and humanity.
Every day Theresa Brown holds patients' lives in her hands. On this day there are four: Mr. Hampton, a patient with lymphoma to whom Brown is charged with administering a powerful drug that could cure him - or kill him; Sheila, who may have been dangerously misdiagnosed; Candace, a returning patient who arrives (perhaps advisedly) with her own disinfectant wipes, cleansing rituals, and demands; and Dorothy, who, after six weeks in the hospital, may finally go home. Prioritizing and ministering to their needs takes the kind of skill, sensitivity, and, yes, humor that enable a nurse to be a patient's most ardent advocate in a medical system marked by heartbreaking dysfunction as well as miraculous success.
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What listeners say about The Shift
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- Vicky
- 17-09-20
So full of emotions and an insightful view of a nurses life
As a nurse this book brings all the feelings and emotions to life. I am a children’s nurse but many aspects and experiences are the same. From the feeling of not wanting to get up in the morning to not being able to give your all to all patients, it gave me all the emotions from the smiles to the tears. It is well written and read and should be read by all!!!
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5 people found this helpful
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- Mattie
- 09-03-23
Disappointing
This book was interesting in places . I found the narrator irritating and the minutiae of every part of her life away from the actual nursing tedious.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 31-03-22
Get yourself better organised!
I was a nurse for 24 years and found the litany of whinges tedious. Any paid work has its downsides but to construct a novel entirely out of moans about how tiring and frustrating a role is results in an uninteresting read. The writer claims to have worked in this role for many years but has not yet worked out how to organised appropriate sustenance for her shifts. I can sum the story up in two words as poor me.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 13-12-21
Very interesting book
I can relate to this book in real life experience, i really enjoyed so interesting
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1 person found this helpful
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- shannon
- 09-10-21
Not that great
I really did try to listen to this book, as all I seem to listen too on Audible is medical books. However, by the middle of the book, I was really struggling to stay interested. I also found the voiceovers to be a bit too eccentric and overall, it wasn't easy to listen too. Very disappointed and lacked a good story.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Patrick
- 17-02-24
So relatable!
As a fellow nurse, although not oncology, this book is so relatable! I could put myself in Theresa’s shoes from the beginning right to the end..
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- Anonymous User
- 05-09-23
Self indulgent
I found this book to be more suited to a private diary. The way we all compose our story in our head, with ourselves at the centre, saving the day. Our compassion and empathy overflowing, our actions making everyone's life so much better...
This book appealed to me as I have been the patient on oncology, I have so much gratitude for the medical staff who saved me and wanted to hear more from their side. My experience of the staff, learning their story during my journey; their empathy was so natural they wouldn't highlight it. Much less swim in it the way this author appears to. Modest and understated, quiet yet a force of nature, maybe it's a British thing!
The writing style just wasn't for me, although any nurse, auxiliary, doctor, or carer is still amazing and I thank my lucky stars every day for them and all they did, and still do, to keep me alive.
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- E. Cooper
- 21-08-23
Very boring
Long and tedious book. Far more information than needed
The narrator wasn’t good either. She has a whiny, monotone voice
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- Melissa Wells
- 28-07-23
Really enjoyable
As a non medical practitioner but someone who has spent large amounts of time in hospital, I really enjoyed the levelling of this text. Others may not, but enjoyable for me
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- MBNA
- 19-05-23
Such a surprise to hear
I’ve watched the UK ER programmes, both fictional and fact and often thought I wonder what other countries do about healthcare. This book answered lots of questions. There are many differences between USA and uk hospitals, but the struggles of a nurse seems the same what ever side of the Atlantic you are on. The evidence is not always measurable on what these guys do in a typical day. It’s nothing short of a miracle we get people to do the job at all. Well done Teresa, i would want to be looked after by you if I was ill x
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