Acknowledgments

Reuniting with Mary Ellen O’Neill—wise, funny, and irresistible—felt like coming home. I could rhapsodize for pages about this remarkable woman, but she told me to keep the word count no longer than the last book we did together. I also was lured to Workman by the prospect of pairing again with amazingly talented marketing guru Jessica Wiener. I wish Peter Workman, who gamely agreed to open his magical publishing doors to narrative nonfiction, were alive to see this through. On some level, he must have intuited that, for me, a publishing house adorned with Star Wars paraphernalia, Cookie Monster bookmarks, in-progress robot prototypes, and a giant stuffed chicken is the publishing house of my dreams. I thank dynamo Carolan Workman, who plays a mean kazoo, for the warm welcome.

I have been fortunate to be on the same team as the smart, wonderful Suzie Bolotin, and the fun, creative publicity duo of Selina Meere and Noreen Herits. I’m also thankful to Page Edmunds, Michael Rockliff, Claire McKean, Beth Levy, Vaughn Andrews, Becky Terhune, and Heather Schwedel. I’m indebted to the hardworking booksellers and sales reps, many of whom told me personal stories about nurses, and to Michael Prevett, Gail Ross, Howard Yoon, and Anna Sproul-Latimer for their tireless efforts.

I am so grateful to my manuscript readers, who generously spent countless hours poring over unedited text: my Mom, my husband, my sister, and my friend Laura (all errors are mine). My Dad and brother are unwavering in their support and humor, which both are crucial to my writing and well-being.

Researcher Ali Eaves, who spent a summer assisting with research and reporting, was the best right-hand woman an author could ask for; her work was vital to this book. Semester interns Shaina Cavazos and Steffi Lee cheerfully tracked down stats and sources. Dave Holbrook and Krissy Hudgins offered sharp, helpful critiques of the essay on patient satisfaction.

I am lucky to know Denise Wills, for her friendship and for teaching me to be a better reporter and writer each time we collaborate, and the G.N.O. girls: Chrissy, Charlotte, Eliza, Jesse, Laura, Yvonne, Gwen, Danielle, and always Amy L. from afar. And I send an appreciative salute to Eva, my own nurse in shining armor.

Molly, Juliette, Lara, and Sam were generous with their time, stories, and patience, particularly when we reached the fact-checking stage. I hope they are as proud of this finished work as I am to know these incredible nurses.

My Facebook readers are awesome. They are supportive, thoughtful, interactive, and interesting. I particularly want to call out Andrew P.D.G. Everett for locating an elusive article and for helping to fact-check statistical analyses, Melinda Lundquist Denton (statistical analysis), Alexandra Markus (sourcing assistance), Andrew Eppstein, and Chip Decker (medical fact-checking). You, too, can join our fun at www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexandraRobbins or follow me on Twitter @AlexndraRobbins.

Thank you to my family with all of my heart. You know how I feel. And my eternal gratitude and devotion go to my husband: my rock, my best friend, and the love of my life.

Notes

Chapter 1

“Emergency nurses practice . . . ” Emergency Nurses Association, Award Recognition Program. www.ena.org/about/annualawards/Pages/ENAAward.aspx.

“ER nurses have the raunchiest jokes . . .” Interview with author (henceforth designated as “Interview”).

“It’s like high school, except for the dying people.” Interview.

Dilaudid, a narcotic five to ten times See, for example, L. Felden et al., “Comparative Clinical Effects of Hydromorphone and Morphine,” British Journal of Anaesthesia 107, no. 3 (2011).

injecting up to 8 milligrams of Dilaudid at a time, an enormous dose, but, for Lara, just enough to keep her alert. Lara’s recollection, interview.

Medical Drug Intervention program MDI is a pseudonym. To find a rehabilitation program in your state, visit http://webapps.aana.com/Peer/directory.asp. While Peer Advisors are for CRNAs and student nurse anesthetists only, many of the programs are for all nurses.

At 3.5 million strong in the United States See U.S. Census Bureau, “Men in Nursing Occupations,” February 2013.

and more than 20 million worldwide Correspondence from World Health Organization spokesperson to author.

nurses comprise the largest group of healthcare providers See, for example, “Nursing Fact Sheet,” American Association of Colleges of Nursing, http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/nursing-fact-sheet.

women who comprise 90 percent of the workforce Interview, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections, U.S. Census Bureau. See also “Men in Nursing Occupations.”

“like a secret club . . . ” Interview.

“We are not just the bed-making . . . ” Interview.

They are, for example, frontline reporters. Thank you to nurse Meghan Yowell for inspiring the structure and content of this paragraph.

“Nursing is not a job.” Interview.

“Doctors breeze in and out . . .” Email from this nurse to author.

an “I’m-going-to-eat-my-hair-in-a-corner person.” Sam’s words, interview.

Chapter 2

“I will not be ashamed to say ‘I know not’ . . .” From the Modern Version of the Hippocratic Oath. See Peter Tyson, “The Hippocratic Oath Today.” NOVA. March 27, 2001. Accessed at pbs.org.

“The intimate nature of nursing care . . .” The American Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics For Nurses page at http://nursingworld.org.

“Lots of hot residents . . .” Interview.

I-STAT A portable device that can perform diagnostic tests at a patient’s bedside.

“ . . . shadowy, dark corners of our profession.” Barry Silbaugh, “ACPE Foreword.” In Owen MacDonald, “Disruptive Physician Behavior,” American College of Physician Executives, May 15, 2011.

bloody handprint on her scrubs. Abigail Zuger, “Nurses Speak Out, About Doctors,” The New York Times, October 28, 2008.

shoving matches in the operating room Interviews. Also see, for example, Richard Knox, “Doctors Behaving Badly? They Say It Happens All the Time,” NPR, May 25, 2011.

physicians throwing stethoscopes, pens, or surgical instruments Interviews. See also, for example, Harold Levy, “Heal Behaviour, MDs Urged,” Toronto Star, September 15, 2004.

scissors See, for example, Liz Kowalczyk, “Hospitals Try to Calm Doctors’ Outbursts; Medical Road Rage Affecting Patient Safety, Group Says,” The Boston Globe, August 10, 2008.

Physical abuse by physicians is on the rise. “Unresolved Disrespectful Behavior in Healthcare,” ISMP Medication Safety Alert, October 3, 2013.

“Are you stupid or something?” Interview.

A Texas doctor threw a metal clipboard . . . Interview.

A surgeon threw a scalpel at a Virginia nurse . . . Interview.

“. . . He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named” Interview.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) . . . has reported rampant bullying in healthcare ISMP’s Survey on Workplace Intimidation, 2013; ISMP’s Survey on Workplace Intimidation, 2003.

87 percent of nurses encountered Ibid.

“Every single nurse I know . . .” Interview.

in countries such as Australia . . . “Workplace bullying is a serious health and safety hazard affecting nurses and midwives.” See “Bullying in the Workplace,” policy paper, The Australian Nursing Federation. Reviewed and re-endorsed November 2011. See also Amanda Place, “Dealing with the Bullies in our Midst,” The Age, Melbourne, Australia, June 22, 2002.

prevalent in South Africa Simone Honikman and Ingrid Meintjes, “Nurses are Stressed, Ill-Treated, Burdened,” Cape Times, September 9, 2011.