Taking Care

The Story of Nursing and Its Power to Change Our World

By: Sarah DiGregorio

Narrated by: Ann Marie Gideon

“DiGregorio’s storytelling is pitch-perfect; narrative and nursing, she understands, come from the same place and both are concerned with a deep understanding of character and plot….This is a brilliant book, and DiGregorio is a beautiful writer. Taking Care deserves to be on the reading list for nursing and medical schools, and on the bedside table of all politicians.""—New York Times Book Review

In this sweeping cultural history of nursing from the Stone Age to the present, the critically acclaimed author of Early pays homage to the profession and makes an urgent call for change.

Nurses have always been vital to human existence. A nurse was likely there when you were born and a nurse might well be there when you die. Familiar in hospitals and doctors’ offices, these dedicated health professionals can also be found in schools, prisons, and people’s homes; at summer camps; on cruise ships, and even at NASA. Yet despite being celebrated during the Covid-19 epidemic, nurses are often undermined and undervalued in ways that reflect misogyny and racism, and that extend to their working conditions—and affect the care available to everyone. But the potential power of nursing to create a healthier, more just world endures.

The story of nursing is complicated. It is woven into war, plague, religion, the economy, and our individual lives in myriad ways. In Taking Care, journalist Sarah DiGregorio chronicles the lives of nurses past and tells the stories of those today—caregivers at the vital intersection of health care and community who are actively changing the world, often invisibly. An absorbing and empathetic work that combines storytelling with nuanced reporting, Taking Care examines how we have always tried to care for each other—the incredible ways we have succeeded and the ways in which we have failed. Fascinating, empowering and significant, it is a call for change and a love letter to the nurses of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Great learning experience

Learned a lot about the foundation of nursing. The history of the nursing profession and how nurses have lead the way for health care innovations

In depth appreciation of nursing roots & explanation of what it means to be a nurse

Nursing history & origins was interesting. Topics covered spaned across many challenges we all face as a society today. It talks about how modern medicine hierarchy, insurance companies, & misinformation are detrimental. It also discusses how the roots of nursing are embedded since the beginning of time & has been shaped over time to what it is today: a misunderstood, under appreciated, & under paid "hospital expense" that is vital to healthy populations. Thank you, Sarah, for your work; also thank you for promoting nursing engagement in policy & reminding us all that we have a voice that cannot be silenced unless we allow it. One voice at a time we can heal together.

Inspirational

I found this book to be well written, well researched, fascinating, touching and inspiring. I highly recommend it, especially to anyone in healthcare or anyone thinking about joining this crazy roller coaster we proudly call our profession . As a nurse of many years, I so appreciate the recognition of the importance, difficulty, and intensity of our jobs. Being a nurse is truly much more than just a job, and this book makes that clear in a beautiful way. It made me feel seen. The unspoken history of nursing that the writer brought to light was heartbreaking, infuriating but so necessarily told. The contributions to Nursing and struggle by people of color, particularly Black women should be taught in every nursing program. I will forever be grateful to and in awe of the amazing women who have come before me to make Nursing the respected and trusted profession it is today, we would never be where we are without you. It also shows how misogyny and patriarchy have denigrated our enormous contribution to the advancement of science and modern medicine. We have a long way to go to get the respect and proper recognition we deserve as medical professionals, but we cannot get there without knowing where we started.

Incredible

I was not aware of this history and I’m a nurse. This book made me even more proud of my profession. Would recommend to anyone, but especially those who want to be a nurse or who are already a nurse.

Excellent book on the power of nurses

As a nurse of 42 yrs and still working, I learned something new in every chapter! The author gave me back my dignity and strength that I always possessed but sometimes forgot I had! I am proud to say that I have worked in a wonderfully diverse environment with staff from many nations and creeds. I am pleased to say that nursing now embraces that diversity and we are so much better for it.