I typically enjoy medical books. I have a nursing background but I had difficulty getting into this book and did not finish.

Such simple writing and a seemingly juvenile mindset, this was a difficult book for me to engage in. I would think as a nurse, there would be some more professional writing, IMO

I am a nurse myself so I enjoy reading other books by nurses and their experiences with patients and floor nursing. I think this author did a good job of showcasing some of the things nurses deal with but her lack of empathy or any kind of feeling in relating the stories made the book difficult to read. The writing is simplistic, even childish at times and the overt sexualization of some of the doctors was more out of a soap opera or TV show than real-life.

This book tackles some tough subjects nurses see on a daily basis but for someone representing "the most trusted profession" in America, I wouldn't want her treating me within a 10 mile radius.

While the subject of nursing can be a fascinating one for a book, this tome is not one of them.

It’s a very superficial look at nursing through the eyes of a nurse through the years -- from newbie nurse to seasoned veteran -- the book takes us through the memorable patients and situations the nurse encountered.

The reason why I give this book such a low rating is while the stories themselves are compelling, there is no depth to the narrative, no soul. The prose was simply, “I did this” and “this is the result.”

I never felt any real emotion or reason why I should care about the nurse in question.

For those sensitive readers, some of the situations are rough and some are down-right gory, so reader beware.

While it was a very fast read, I cannot recommend this book unless the subject matter intrigues you.

40 years of nursing experience is reflected in Zero to Ten, a memoir by Patricia Taylor. From her first harrowing experiences on the maternity floor to her work in a psychiatric unit to caring for dying patients, Taylor represents the compassion all nurses have. She has both the composure and skills to listen to all patients, where they are in pain, angry, deceptive or psychotic. Two of the most moving stories in this collection are Sex on the Beach, describing the death of a gifted psychiatrist from AIDS and I’ll Fly Away. This chapter is an emotional recount of the last days Taylor spent caring for her dying mother. All these stores are revealing and interesting. Some deal with medical practices no longer in use, some with the frustrations of hospital hierarchy and others with the inner strength need to deal with difficult patients. All are very readable and show how many changes there have been in medical care in recent years. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Patricia Taylor for this ARC.

After twenty-three as an RN, I found myself relating to so many of Patricia Taylor’s personal accounts. There are so many nuances involved in a nurse’s day that are tough to communicate. When someone says, “how as your day?” I am always torn about what to say. Do I tell them the truth and flood them with details they were not prepared for? Or do I brush off all the amazing things I had the privilege of doing and minimize my job? Is there a balance? Yes! In this collection of stories, Patricia invites you to pull up a chair and listen. There is a wide variety of experiences as well as her thoughts and takeaways. This is an enlightening read for all nurses, of all levels of experience. I think it would even be good for those who are considering becoming a nurse. Thank you for authentically sharing your stories! While I do not agree with all things, these are her experiences. There are some triggering situations that may be tough for some readers.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity.*

WARNING: mentions of abortion and death in this review

As a nurse myself, I'm always excited to read memoirs of other RN's-- I especially enjoy comparing modern hospitals to those in the past (even if the past is only twenty years ago, a lot changes!). ZERO TO TEN was no exception. Set primarily from the 1970s to 1990s (if I did my math correctly), Patricia Taylor is able to give the viewer a broken-down version of what working in a hospital was like as a nurse. She does a wonderful job of simplifying complex medical jargon, making this book perfect for someone not in the medical field, but interested in the subject.

However, I have several fundamental problems with this book. The writing was very simplistic, almost juvenile at times-- a grown woman reflecting on her professional career should not use "like" as frequently as Taylor did. The language made me lose a lot of respect for a woman who very obviously had a successful career as a RN, even if this writing style was an attempt to hark back on her younger years.

The author also made me, as both a reader and fellow nurse, incredibly uncomfortable with how many patients and doctors she described as handsome or attractive (even going as far as assuring the readers she was not in a sexual relationship with a gay man dying of AIDS).

And, on a more personal note, it bothered me that Taylor did not take the time to explain why the outdated medical treatments she describes are dangerous by today's standards-- it felt as though, upon reflection, she simply shrugged her shoulders and said "oh well" after describing a terrible event. It's important to explain to readers why the third-trimester abortion described is now illegal (and WAS illegal at the time) and horrific by any health care standard. ZERO TO TEN touched on topics such as palliative care, cancer patients, a sudden and violent patient death, a possible murder (?), and the abuse of a psychiatric patient; but all of these incredibly difficult topics were barely discussed and treated with a disturbing laissiez-faire attitude.

On a closing note, I applaud Taylor for writing this book-- it's not an easy feat, and it's certainly not easy to look back at often painful memories as a bedside nurse. But as a reader and nurser, I cannot recommend this book.