When I think about my many years as a nurse, I know that out of the vast array of experiences, there are a few moments I will always remember. Some are related to an interesting diagnosis or a highly emotional interaction with a colleague, but most of my crucial memories as a nurse come from the intimacy I shared with particular patients. Those crucial experiences are like cave paintings on my psyche— they cannot be erased. I carry them everywhere with me, and when I take the time to study them, I am deeply aware of who I am and what it means to be a nurse.

In this memoir by a nurse turned novelist, Christie Watson bravely and beautifully recounts 20 years of crucial moments as a nurse. With honesty and self-compassion, she sheds light on her own cave paintings in an account that is deeply compelling. Her poignant...

You do not currently have access to this content.