9 Books About Nurses

Celebrating the Unsung Heroes of Healthcare

Nurses Do It All

In addition to providing emotional support, administering medications, and monitoring vital signs, nurses save lives every day. It takes a truly extraordinary person to excel at this brutal job. Nurses must be nurturing, yet tough as nails. They are often called upon to make split-second, life-and-death decisions. Nurses work long hours and face the brunt of the complicated emotions of patients and their family members. Amidst the Covid-19 crisis, we are more grateful than ever for the tireless work of these oft-unsung heroes. In honor of National Nurse Week, here are nine books featuring nurses.

Historic Nurses

Cherry Ames, Student Nurse
Published in 1946, this series for young adults by Helen Wells can feel dated, but the story—a young girl venturing into the medical field amidst World War II—is nostalgic and engaging. And many of the issues young Cherry faces, such as nursing shortages and on-the-job training, remain relevant.

The Glory Cloak
Author Louisa May Alcott was one of many young women who responded to the call for volunteer nurses during the American Civil War. Here author Patricia O’Brien reimagines that story, inventing fictitious Alcott cousin Susan Gray who accompanies Louisa to Washington D.C. to serve and connects her with historic leader Clara Barton.

The English Patient
Michael Ondaatje's Booker Prize-winning novel takes place in an abandoned Italian villa at the end of World War II. Here Hana, a Canadian nurse, exhausted by death, tends to her last surviving patient, an unnamed Englishman, who has been severely burned. They find a deep connection as he shares his memories of suffering, rescue, and betrayal.

Novel Nurses

Cereus Blooms At Night
Set on a fictional Caribbean Island, this luminous novel by Shani Mootoo centers on a troubled, elderly woman with a shrouded history. After being charged with murder and found unfit to stand trial, Mala is placed in a home under the care of Tyler, a vivacious male nurse, who becomes her unlikely confidant.

Never Change
At fifty-one, nurse Myra Lipinski is happy with her quiet life. But everything changes when her new patient turns out to be none other than Chip Reardon, her high school crush, who is now facing an incurable illness. From Elizabeth Berg (a former nurse herself), comes the poignant tale of two souls engaged in a complicated dance of memory, ambivalence, and longing.

Promise Not To Tell
In this thriller from Jennifer McMahon, middle-aged school nurse Kate Cypher has returned to rural Vermont to care for her ailing mother. On the night she arrives, a young girl is murdered. The crime eerily mirrors the long-unsolved murder of Kate’s childhood friend and as she is drawn into trying to solve the mystery, her past and present collide in terrifying, unexpected ways.

Real-Life Nurses

I Wasn’t Strong Like This When I Started Out: True Stories of Becoming a Nurse
This collection of narratives reflects the tenacity and charisma of nurses providing the first vital line of patient care. Here, a diverse group of caregivers reflect on their milestones, what gets them though long, demanding shifts, and why they stay in this profession.

The Nurses: A Year of Secrets, Drama, and Miracles with the Heroes of the Hospital
In this lively, fast-paced narrative, New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Robbins digs deep into the subculture of nursing, following the real-life stories of four nurses working in different hospitals. The result is an insightful page-turner that will leave readers feeling smarter about their healthcare and undeniably appreciative of the incredible nurses who provide it.

The Shift: One Nurse, Twelve Hours, Four Patients' Lives
Practicing nurse and New York Times columnist Theresa Brown invites us to experience a day in her life working at a busy teaching hospital's cancer ward. Unfolding in real time, Brown gives us an unprecedented view into the individual struggles and illuminates some larger truths about the U.S. healthcare system.

Yay for nurses! This selection of books provides insight into their critical work on the front lines of medicine. Let us know if you have any additions to this list.

Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon