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Book Reviews

2022; American Association of Critical-Care Nurses; Volume: 42; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.4037/ccn2022626

1940-8250

Sara Grieshop,

Disaster Response and Management

Brown B. Random House; 2021. Hardcover; 336 pages.Finding the right words to describe a feeling should be easy enough. But is it? The COVID-19 pandemic has taught nurses many things, and one of the biggest lessons is the importance of using the right words to describe a state of mind to avoid being misunderstood. From the nurses who have worked tirelessly at the frontline, to the managers who have worked behind the scenes to support their staff, to the invaluable nursing assistants and technicians, as health care professionals nurses are utterly exhausted. What nurses have experienced is more than burnout; it is more than compassion fatigue. Nurses are traumatized. In addition, nurses feel invisible in many ways. Invisibility, in Brené Brown's latest book Atlas of the Heart, is defined as No one shows up to work to feel invisible. Nurses show up to work to make a difference in the patients' lives that are entrusted to them. Each person who shows up to fight another day is more than resilient. A person cannot show up to care for others, 3 years into a pandemic, and not be resilient. Although I left the hospital in April 2021 to lend my voice to nursing in a different way, I know the strength that it takes to put on those scrubs and show up to work day after day.In Atlas of the Heart I found many compelling words that describe the world so many nurses live in right now—words that define nurses' experiences and how they feel disconnected from family, friends, hospital administration, and even themselves. I also found words that can help nurses share their experiences with people outside of health care.I do not mean to tell nurses to buck up, to find their inner peace with yoga, or to keep going to work for the pizza parties. I recommend reading this book because it might help nurses figure out how to best put into words their feelings. Reading this book will not fix staffing ratios, salaries, or lack of supplies, but it may give nurses a moment of peace and the knowledge that they are not alone. Our collective voice will be heard and we will fight to lead the next generations of nurses so they will not feel invisible. This atlas of language can help ensure we are both heard and understood.McConaughey M. Crown Publishing Group; 2020. Hardcover; 304 pages.In this memoir, Matthew McConaughey shares stories, insights, and philosophies. He reminds us that life is short and we should cherish the simple things. This book emphasizes that we are all human and mistakes can and will be made. What often feels like a roadblock could be a green light down the road. If you listen to the audiobook, you will be able to enjoy McConaughey's inflections and laid-back story telling.Gawande A. Picador; 2010. Paperback; 240 pages.The Checklist Manifesto is an easy read about finding simplicity in how we organize our thoughts and actions in a high-stress environment, with consistency and safety always at the focus. Using a checklist keeps everyone on the same page, even when we are in the middle of hundreds of actionable items that we face in our acute and critical care settings every day. For brand-new nurses, especially as they gain their footing and transition into independent practice, this book provides the backstory as to why we encourage the use of a checklist to start the day.