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Reading good nursing novels is a good way to relieve stress and increase your motivation at work. Some nursing schools even recommend a reading list before beginning clinical rotations. there are many novels written about the lives of nurses that nurses can relate to.
You are reading: Books about nurses fiction
If you’re looking for a good read, here’s a list of the best fictional novels about nursing. choose your choice of book and enrich your mind with a great nursing story.
note: clicking on the title takes you to the description of the book on goodreads, while clicking on the book cover takes you to amazon (if you are interested in buying it). goodreads is a good place to see other readers’ reviews and author information.
1. cherry ames, nursing student by helen wells
Cherry Ames, Student Nurse is the first book in the Cherry Ames Nursing Series. In this book, Cherry Ames is a promising student nurse in the pre-war time era. Because of too many nurses going to the war front, the shortage of nurses made Cherry and her classmates fill the demand for nursing care in their training hospital.
Cherry’s adventurous personality helps her solve mysteries at work. coupled with her passion for nursing, she grows from a nursing student to a fully qualified rn. is an inspiring novel for those considering a career in nursing.
trivia: the <cherry ames nursing series is made up of 20 books. The books were published between 1940 and 1960. During this time, there was a nursing shortage in the United States, and the publication of these books helped the nursing community inspire more students to enter the nursing profession.
2. the healer’s war by elizabeth ann scarborough
The Healer’s War is set in the Vietnam War era where Lt. Kitty McCulley faces the challenges of being a nurse amidst the turmoil of war. McCulley deals with the overt racism of her colleagues as they provide care to injured soldiers and Vietnamese civilians at the China Beach medical facilities.
While continuing to deal with the challenges of his job, he obtains an amulet from a dying Vietnamese saint. This amulet makes her see other people’s auras and takes her on an incredible journey in a war-torn jungle.
This novel will make you understand a nurse’s perspective on war and how it can change your priorities.
Fun facts: The author of The Healer’s War, Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, was actually a nurse in Vietnam during the war period. Her experiences during that time inspired the ideas for her novel.
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3. lions and tigers and nurses by amy glenn vega
Lions and Tigers and Nurses reflects the clashes in the workplace of nurses nowadays.
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haylie evans, a recent nurse graduate, is excited to be a part of med-surg south. Soon enough, she learns the meaning of the expression “nurses eat their young” when she is assigned to a senior nurse preceptor of terror.
The themes addressed in this novel represent real-life issues of new nurses who experience lateral violence in their work. This book shows how generational and personality differences can impact professional relationships in the workplace.
trivia: lions and tigers and nurses is a well-known educational nursing novel used in schools. once you finish reading the book, you will be able to receive 3 contact hours from cne.
4. the wonder of emma donoghue
The year is 1859 and Lib Wright, an English nurse, is summoned to a small rural village in the Irish Midlands. There she finds a mystery that people cannot comprehend whether a medical anomaly or a miracle. Eleven year old Anna O’Donnell has survived for a month with no food. Anna believes she is living off manna from heaven and tourists and a journalist are flocking to the Wonder.
the book of wonders will not be to everyone’s liking. however, if you like slow, atmospheric stories full of mystery, you’ll love this haunting and moving story.
5. the orange tree by martin r. ganz crystal
The Orange Tree features the unlikely friendship of an old Jewish lady and her young Somali nurse. Their age and cultural differences make a special bond of relationship as they tackle their troubled pasts and present situations.
The different perspectives of past and present cultures are well presented in the novel. More importantly, the problems of American families coping with their elderly are current issues presented in this book.
Trivia: The author of the orange tree is a board member of the Somali American Community Association. He served in the Peace Corps as a legal adviser to the Somalia National Police between 1966 and 1968. His experiences during these times served as the inspiration for writing the novel.
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6. no other medicine by gail ghigna hallas rn phd
No Other Medicine is a realistic novel that reflects the healthcare corruption in hospitals nowadays. The novel’s story dates back to 1973. It is filled with suspense and courtroom drama as different cases of exploitations in the healthcare system jeopardize the health of the main characters.
The author accurately portrays the real-life situation of the United States healthcare system, where corporate greed and corruption directly affect healthcare professionals and patients. The novel is easy to understand so that even readers without medical training can keep up with the story and learn more about the medical world.
Trivia: The author of No Other Medicine, Gail Ghigna Hallas RN Phd is a Registered Nurse. she was inspired to write the novel from her own experiences in her nursing career. Many reviews of the novel hailed it as a realistic portrayal of current problems in the health care system.
7. poor mrs rigby by kathy herman
Poor Mrs. Rigby is a novel about 90-year old Elsie Rigsby and her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Sally Cox. The story took place in a nursing home where Cox first worked after becoming a CNA.
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mrs. Rigsby feigns insanity to hide her fortune and prevent her son and grandson from discovering it. Soon enough, Cox discovers the truth about Mrs. Rigsby’s secret and she is torn between fulfilling her faith and satisfying her greed. the book provides a valuable lesson in setting priorities and following one’s moral compass.
trivia: katy herman, the author of poor mrs. Rigby, has been in the Christian publishing industry for many years. Her novels revolved around mysteries with incorporated teachings from Christian scriptures.
8. one flew over the cuckoo’s nest by ken kesey
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is a bold and shattering novel that became popular in the 1960’s. The story revolves around an asylum where tyrannical Big Nurse Ratched encounters Randle Patrick McMurphy, the new inmate that opposes her. McMurphy’s rebellious ways clash with Big Nurse Ratched’s totalitarian authority. Their clash became a duel of madness and sanity.
Since one flew over the cuckoo’s nest is the point of view of a mental patient, you can feel the roller coaster of emotions that patients experience inside an insane asylum. It is recommended reading if you are going to rotate in a mental health center.
trivia: this is ken kesey’s first novel. she was inspired to write the novel from his own experiences. she tried mind-altering drugs for the federal government and later worked as a nursing assistant at the same facility. She also drew disturbing sketches during her work as a nursing assistant and these illustrations appear in some of his published books.
9. the cloak of glory: a novel by louisa may alcott and clara barton by patricia o’brien
The Glory Cloak: A Novel of Louisa May Alcott and Clara Barton is a fictional novel about what may have happened if Louisa May Alcott and Clara Barton met during the Civil War era. Louisa May Alcott, the author of Little Women, is a volunteer nurse. Together with her cousin Susan Gray, they meet Clara Barton and form remarkable friendships altogether.
historical events unfold in the novel, such as lincoln’s appointment of clara barton to find and name the missing and dead of war, as well as louisa may alcott’s fame writing the novel little women . is a great read for those wondering about the lives of nurses during the civil war era.
trivia: the cloak of glory includes a later section in which the author discusses the fictional and non-fictional parts of the book.
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10. the english patient by michael ondaatje
The English Patient is a poetic tale of four damaged lives in an abandoned Italian villa. The story takes place at the end of World War II. Hana, a Canadian nurse, refuses to leave her last surviving patient despite receiving orders to vacate. She is taking care of a badly burned man only known as the English patient. She is joined by Caravaggio, a mysterious thief, and Kip, an Indian bomb disarmer loyal to the British army.
the English patient presents a beautiful and unforgettable story that will leave a cut in your heart. Hana’s perseverance and passion despite adversity will make you proud to be a nurse.
curiosities: the novel won the booker prize and was made into a movie. The novel is lyrically expressive since the author, Michael Ondaatje, is not only a novelist but also a poet.
and that’s our list! Are there any books that you liked from the previous nursing novels?
If we missed any other nursing novels, please share your favorite picks with us on our facebook page!
See Also: Top 10 novels about toxic friendships | Fiction | The Guardian