This is a nonfiction book about the medical industry as seen through the eyes of the nurses who work in it. The author, Alexandra Robbins, chose four Registered Nurses and followed them throughout their day to day lives for about a year as they worked in four hospitals. Some of these four actually interacted with each other, and a couple I don't think ever met each other. All four worked at ERs though various other medical wards, clinics, and locations are mentioned. Robbins addresses specific topics in each chapter, such as hazing or bullying of nurses by other nurses, coping tactics, behind the scenes secrets of the nurses, and the problematic relationship between nurses and doctors. She typically used at least two to all four of the nurses' points of view to highlight a given area, such as the preferential treatment that hospitals dole out to doctors but then take away from nurses. In one example, a hospital doled out free parking passes to doctors and to the techs, but forced the nurses to pay for the same parking pass. IIRC, this same hospital gave free uniforms to doctors and techs but then wanted the nurses to pay for their uniforms. After using the nurses' POV, the author herself provides a short essay on the given topic for that particular chapter and how hospitals are making things worse for the nurses or attempting to make things better for them.

I liked this book. I've worked with many RN's throughout my career (as a social worker) and I still found this fresh and informative without being dry or dull. This would be a good book for anyone who is maybe considering going to nursing school or is just on the fence. It has real RNs in real life scenarios.