Review of On The Receiving End
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Hydah Katrina Kerry
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Review of On The Receiving End
[Following is a volunteer review of "On The Receiving End" by Sheila J. Brooks RN, BSN.]
On The Receiving End is an interesting memoir by Sheila J. Brooks RN, BSN. It is a collection of tales from a registered nurse who met, tackled, and overcame insurmountable obstacles. Nurses are the primary caregivers to patients in and outside our hospitals; however, the contradiction in Sheila's story gives this book an interesting storyline. The author narrates about the emotional, psychological, physical, and financial burdens of being in and out of hospital occasionally. Major themes in this book include parenthood, professionalism, health, divorce, loss, change, and more. Since I am a nurse too, I found this book both relatable and insightful because it has invaluable information touching on different specialties within the hospital setting. The book is written in a first-person narrative, giving you an experience similar to a one-on-one conversation with the author.
The author begins with her comprehensive background, highlighting the complicated relationship between her parents. She takes us through every stage in her life, each presenting new and stronger challenges that test her resilience, faith, and willingness to see another day. She clearly explains the symptoms and reasons that made her seek medical help from gynecologists, gastroenterologists, hematologists, surgeons, nurses, and other caregivers. Sheila narrates her experiences before, during, and after medical procedures like endoscopy, CT scan, MRI, and X-ray, and her encounter with different medications and anesthesia. Even though this book leans more toward the medical field, I am glad that the author uses simple language to explain complex medical terms and procedures, allowing even non-medics to understand its message easily. She exposes the reader to different treatment modalities for various health conditions, their possible complications, and how she overcame all the emotional and physical traumas accompanying them.
Sheila's health problems affected several aspects of her life. First, her nursing career was interrupted, denying her the opportunity to grow and forcing her to move from one department to another. Second, due to frequent and long hospital stays, Shella's children were affected by her absence and the reality of her deteriorating health status. I am glad that her children were actively involved in their mother's care. I noticed that Sheila built both personal and professional relationships with those who treated and cared for her. I liked how some of the caregivers empathized with Sheila and encouraged her through the painful and uncertain treatment processes. However, I disliked the caregivers who thought otherwise about her pain and complaints. Lastly, Sheila's complicated marriage to her husband was one of the problems she had to confront despite having a weak body and mind. As I read each chapter, I was unprepared to open one more page, yet the curiosity to know what happened next kept me going.
The editing team did a fair job; however, I encountered punctuation errors that persisted throughout the book. I suggest that the editing team review the book to remove these errors. I hereby rate this book four out of five stars because of the punctuation errors. I recommend this book to lovers of memoirs and motivational books.
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On The Receiving End
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
On The Receiving End is an interesting memoir by Sheila J. Brooks RN, BSN. It is a collection of tales from a registered nurse who met, tackled, and overcame insurmountable obstacles. Nurses are the primary caregivers to patients in and outside our hospitals; however, the contradiction in Sheila's story gives this book an interesting storyline. The author narrates about the emotional, psychological, physical, and financial burdens of being in and out of hospital occasionally. Major themes in this book include parenthood, professionalism, health, divorce, loss, change, and more. Since I am a nurse too, I found this book both relatable and insightful because it has invaluable information touching on different specialties within the hospital setting. The book is written in a first-person narrative, giving you an experience similar to a one-on-one conversation with the author.
The author begins with her comprehensive background, highlighting the complicated relationship between her parents. She takes us through every stage in her life, each presenting new and stronger challenges that test her resilience, faith, and willingness to see another day. She clearly explains the symptoms and reasons that made her seek medical help from gynecologists, gastroenterologists, hematologists, surgeons, nurses, and other caregivers. Sheila narrates her experiences before, during, and after medical procedures like endoscopy, CT scan, MRI, and X-ray, and her encounter with different medications and anesthesia. Even though this book leans more toward the medical field, I am glad that the author uses simple language to explain complex medical terms and procedures, allowing even non-medics to understand its message easily. She exposes the reader to different treatment modalities for various health conditions, their possible complications, and how she overcame all the emotional and physical traumas accompanying them.
Sheila's health problems affected several aspects of her life. First, her nursing career was interrupted, denying her the opportunity to grow and forcing her to move from one department to another. Second, due to frequent and long hospital stays, Shella's children were affected by her absence and the reality of her deteriorating health status. I am glad that her children were actively involved in their mother's care. I noticed that Sheila built both personal and professional relationships with those who treated and cared for her. I liked how some of the caregivers empathized with Sheila and encouraged her through the painful and uncertain treatment processes. However, I disliked the caregivers who thought otherwise about her pain and complaints. Lastly, Sheila's complicated marriage to her husband was one of the problems she had to confront despite having a weak body and mind. As I read each chapter, I was unprepared to open one more page, yet the curiosity to know what happened next kept me going.
The editing team did a fair job; however, I encountered punctuation errors that persisted throughout the book. I suggest that the editing team review the book to remove these errors. I hereby rate this book four out of five stars because of the punctuation errors. I recommend this book to lovers of memoirs and motivational books.
******
On The Receiving End
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Cross Intents by Scott Wells
