The Language of Kindness

A Nurse’s Story

by Christie Watson

TM Duggan Books (2018)

Almost 3 decades ago, I heard a nurse, Hob Osterlund, speak at a conference devoted to the art of medicine. 
The audience, mostly physicians, was enraptured by her talk. During the question period, an elderly, self – 
important physician asked her, "Your our talk was so impressive that I wonder why you never became a doctor?"
Ms. Osterlund replied, "Because being a nurse is equally as important as, and sometimes more important than, 
being the physician."

At that moment, a light went on in my chauvinistic brain. Reading Christie Watson's, The Language of Kindness, 
has many such epiphanies. It's a wonderful introduction to a greatly undervalued profession.

Over the years, I've read many books but doctors about the practice of medicine, but only a few about 
the call of nursing. This book will be a great help to any healthcare professional who makes the time 
to read it.

Introduction: Nursing was left to "those who were too old, too weak, two drunken, to dirty, too stupid 
or to bad to do anything else." Florence Nightingale

Sympathy, compassion, empathy: this is what history tells us makes a good nurse.

And 17, she decided to become a nurse. Plus, she knew there would be parties. Student nurses were 
almost all young and wild. A significant number were Irish women, who had two choices: nurse or 
nun.

20 years in nursing has taken so much from me, but has given me back even more. I want to share 
with you the tragedies and joys of a remarkable career.

Read my full notes at: The Language of Kindness.