How to Treat People

May 27, 2019
“Respect the nurse” is the theme of this reverential memoir from London nurse Case. “It is the nurses,” Case writes, “who, despite racking up thousands of steps on their pedometers, are in fact a static constant for the person lying in extremis in the hospital bed.” Case began working in hospitals as a student nurse in 2012, and her book documents her time learning her craft as she delves into medical history (Greeks and Egyptians factor heavily) and explains surgical procedures. At its core, though, it’s a lucidly written narrative about patient care: Case points out that a nurse must treat patients’ ailments and try to sooth their souls, even when patients are combative—as was the case with Sidney, who refused treatment for his maggot-infested legs—or insulting, as with Shirley, a heart-attack victim who called Case a slut. Case’s writing is efficient and never too emotional, but there are amusing moments, including the time she couldn’t remove a 70-year-old patient’s penis piercing and had to call for assistance. Case writes of feeling especially thankful for her training, noting one evening in particular when she aided her father as he had a stroke. This book is a thank you note to hospital caregivers and will appeal to those interested in nursing and the intricacies of patient care.