I Wasn't Strong Like This When I Started Out

True Stories of Becoming a Nurse

By: Lee Gutkind

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

I Wasn't Strong Like This When I Started Out, a collection of true narratives, reflects the dynamism and diversity of nurses who provide the first vital line of patient care. Here, nurses remember their first "sticks", first births, and first deaths and reflect on what gets them though long, demanding shifts and keeps them in the profession.

The stories reveal many voices from nurses at different stages of their careers: One nurse-in-training longs to be trusted with more "important" procedures while another questions her ability to care for nursing home residents. An efficient young emergency room nurse finds his life and career irrevocably changed by a car accident. A nurse practitioner wonders whether she has violated professional boundaries in her care for a homeless man with AIDS. And a home-care case manager is the sole attendee at a funeral for one of her patients.

What connects these stories is the passion and strength of the writers who struggle against burnout and bureaucracy to serve their patients with skill, empathy, and strength.

©2013 Creative Nonfiction Foundation (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Beautifully written stories." (Booklist)

"Tavia Gilbert’s narration of these essays written by nurses is beautiful and profound.... Gilbert translates all the emotions, including fear, gallows humor, gratitude, and empathy." (AudioFile)

A nurse must read!

Great narrator, this keeps all books flowing. Good experiences, very true to the profession. from my 27 year experience. Gotta Love it😘😷

Inspiring book for nurses!

I feel much more validated in my stresses now. Healthcare must be selfless which is taxing yet rewarding.

Great stories. The narration is interesting.

I’ve listened to this book a few times, and I can’t help but be inspired by the nurses who wrote these stories. They are real. Beautiful. Ugly. Truly an intimate inside look at what a nurse may see on any given day. As for the narration, I must admit that the angst in this woman’s voice becomes overwhelming after listening for more than an hour. I don’t necessarily dislike it, but it certainly won’t help you drift off to sleep. Considering the subject matter, I suppose it’s fitting.

Spot on

This is fantastic. These stories are heartwarming and empowering. I’m a nurse and have forwarded this work to my coworkers.

Exceptional compilation of nurses' stories!

I have been an RN and an NP for ten years collectively, and every one of these nurses' stories resonated with me! This compilation has inspired me during a time in my career when I'm at a loss as to what to do next. Thank you so much for sharing!!

excellent

What made the experience of listening to I Wasn't Strong Like This When I Started Out the most enjoyable?

being the husband of a nurse, this book helped me see the good work my wife is doing and be all the more proud of her.

Have you listened to any of Tavia Gilbert’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Any additional comments?

i gave my wife a paperback copy of the book for her birthday.

Loved this book!

As a nursing student myself and someone who has worked in healthcare for 7 years I find these stories extremely relatable and inspiring. It's true that nobody but other nurses truly understands the challenges we face and why we love or jobs regardless. I'm so glad I found this book.

Good stories, bad narrator

The stories are interesting and really pull on the heartstrings. I work in procedural nursing and reading this book makes me SO grateful I don't work on the floor, whew.

I appreciate the humanness of these stories however there is not much in the ways of clinical nursing. it's more about the human experience, which is great, but doesn't feel like the full picture.

The narrator keeps this perpetual tone of angst, worry, grief, intensity... it's a bit too much. I have to take breaks because it gets old.

Was not able to read it

Any additional comments?

Started great and I think I will be great listen but I would never know. This was little too much for me, I too faint hearted for this. Some of the stories are little hard to bear.

RNs will enjoy this book

I could relate to this book as could most nurses because of the honest and insightful way it was written. Anyone who is considering going into the nursing profession may want to read this book. It is well written.
I am a retired RN and I can relate to many of these experiences.