Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives: The Stories of Nurses by Carolyn Hope Smeltzer and Fran Vlasses

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives: The Stories of Nurses by Carolyn Hope Smeltzer and Fran Vlasses 1 is a gift to the nursing profession. The authors thought about the nurses they knew and the story of each of those nurses' lives-what a rich and beautiful tapestry these stories would make when woven together, and indeed, they were correct. The book brings a unique perspective, with all stories joined by a single thought: the work of nurses throughout the ages has been appreciated, admired, and valued by all elements of society.

The book is divided into five parts: Part 1 is written by nurses who relate stories about other nurses they have known and respected. In this section, the reader meets a modern-day Florence Nightingale, army nurses, and "angels passing by," among many others. Part 2 is written by family members who know that the story of the nurse in their family is special and has been waiting to be told. The pride and respect felt for the nurses featured in this section is palpable. Part 3 contains stories written by nurses' friends and their patients; the admiration for the nurses is rich. Part 4 turns more to nursing practice as nurses define themselves and their societal contributions. Part 5 contains reflections of nurses about their own lives as nurses.

Perhaps the most creative section of the book is its last, a blank page that invites the owner of the book to write a tribute to a special nurse. In this lovely surprise ending, the authors offer all readers the opportunity to carry on the tradition of telling nurses' stories. This page seems to magnify the importance and relevance of the stories that come before it and personalizes each book.

This book is inspirational and emotionally moving. The pictures, however, are spectacular. Photographs of the nurses featured accompany each story. They lead the reader into the story even more deeply, so that the true impact of the writing can be felt. The pictures help the reader feel that the subject of each story is someone that he or she would want to know personally.

The uses for this book are many and varied. It is a beautiful continuation of the tradition of the oral history of nursing, a documentation of the practice and contributions of those in the profession. It would be a special gift for any nurse, one that would be displayed proudly. This book would be an inspiration to those who might be considering nursing as a career choice; becoming a part of this noble profession would be appealing after reading the stories.

Storytelling is a little-used strategy in leadership that is gaining rapidly in popularity. To spark the interest of nurses in leadership, reading this book helps foster the technique of storytelling that can be used to learn so many lessons as well as documenting contributions. Smeltzer and Vlasses have given the profession a keepsake, depicting ordinary people going about their life's work and resulting in their extraordinary lives as nurses.

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