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Call Me Sister
Who'd have thought a missing bacon rasher and a teaspoon would play a part in advancing someone's career? It's the late '60s and Jane Yeadon has always wanted to be a district nurse. Staff nursing in a ward where she's challenged by an inventory driven ward sister, she reckons it's time to swap such trivialities for life as a district nurse.
Independent thinking is one thing, but Jane's about to find that the drama on district can demand instant reaction; and without hospital back up, she's usually the one having to provide it. She meets a rich cast of patients all determined to follow their own individual star, and goes to Edinburgh where Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute's nurse training is considered the cr me de la cr me of the district nursing world.
Call Me Sister recalls Jane's challenging and often hilarious route to realizing her own particular dream.
Independent thinking is one thing, but Jane's about to find that the drama on district can demand instant reaction; and without hospital back up, she's usually the one having to provide it. She meets a rich cast of patients all determined to follow their own individual star, and goes to Edinburgh where Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute's nurse training is considered the cr me de la cr me of the district nursing world.
Call Me Sister recalls Jane's challenging and often hilarious route to realizing her own particular dream.
- GenresMemoir
213 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 5, 2018
Quite enjoyable in parts. But very, very slow! A lot of the time I was completely on the outside looking in and everything seemed to be a bit laborious. I thought the experiences of all the patients would be amusing and poignant, but actually they were a bt drawn out.
January 7, 2018
Unfortunately not as good as the first two books. It was OK for the first half or so, but there was a definite change about the time she stops being a student and becomes a professional on her own; the stories became scrappy, with a rushed and unfinished feel. The writing seemed more made-up as well.
The author acknowledges that she really hasn't talked about "the swinging sixties" at all, except for the obligatory Beatles/Rolling Stones references that are definitely patched in. What was the point of the stories about the randy older couple, I wonder? Did someone tell her she needed to "sex up" the narrative (a phrase I abominate)? It felt fake and out of place. Then the "teaser" re: her boyfriend; is there yet another volume to come? If so, I won't be there.
A disappointing end to what could have been a pleasant read. Two and a half stars.
The author acknowledges that she really hasn't talked about "the swinging sixties" at all, except for the obligatory Beatles/Rolling Stones references that are definitely patched in. What was the point of the stories about the randy older couple, I wonder? Did someone tell her she needed to "sex up" the narrative (a phrase I abominate)? It felt fake and out of place. Then the "teaser" re: her boyfriend; is there yet another volume to come? If so, I won't be there.
A disappointing end to what could have been a pleasant read. Two and a half stars.
March 21, 2021
Scottish Humor
This book is about a new nurse in Scotland. She is a Midwife but works as a visiting Nurse. Her panties all live in poverty. Even though she is dealing with poverty, many of the stories made me laugh.It was an enjoyable book .Don't be fooled like I was by the cover. The book is not about babies or midwives as I thought from the front cover.
This book is about a new nurse in Scotland. She is a Midwife but works as a visiting Nurse. Her panties all live in poverty. Even though she is dealing with poverty, many of the stories made me laugh.It was an enjoyable book .Don't be fooled like I was by the cover. The book is not about babies or midwives as I thought from the front cover.
November 8, 2016
Reminded me of Lucilla Andrews - definitely a type. Not sure if it's a good thing they no longer exist or not. I'm sure life is better now. Medical science has advanced, so why is there this lingering feeling that nursing care used to be better?
July 19, 2018
Some good memories of a time that was but has disappeared like the 60s from nursing. Would have liked more description of the social life that the nurses experienced as accompaniment to their working life as District Nurses
October 30, 2023
Love any stories about old-fashioned nurses. This is set in 1969 and the nurses have to cope with a new modern invention- disposable syringes and needles! No more boiling syringes and blunt needles!
July 3, 2014
If this was a TV series it would be in the 8pm Sunday slot for people who are winding down after the weekend and want easing gently in to Monday.
Call Me Sister is made from the memories of the author Jane Yeadon’s while on her training to become a district nurse and the tales were entertaining in parts. Some of the characters on Jane’s rounds were immediately likeable and you could empathise with them but I most of the stories were recalled almost without emotion.
I felt the writer was detached from the ‘human’ element of these stories and anyone who knows a nurse will recognise this emotional detachment as a coping mechanism they need to stay sane in their vocation but it’s needed in writing to hook the reader.
If you have a connection with the swinging 60’s or an interest in nursing this would be more engaging, for me it was a gentle read but it didn’t grip me. Having said that it was very well written and the patients and their surroundings were given life by Jane and My Mum would love it!
Call Me Sister is made from the memories of the author Jane Yeadon’s while on her training to become a district nurse and the tales were entertaining in parts. Some of the characters on Jane’s rounds were immediately likeable and you could empathise with them but I most of the stories were recalled almost without emotion.
I felt the writer was detached from the ‘human’ element of these stories and anyone who knows a nurse will recognise this emotional detachment as a coping mechanism they need to stay sane in their vocation but it’s needed in writing to hook the reader.
If you have a connection with the swinging 60’s or an interest in nursing this would be more engaging, for me it was a gentle read but it didn’t grip me. Having said that it was very well written and the patients and their surroundings were given life by Jane and My Mum would love it!
July 13, 2016
I enjoyed this story as it was a nice light read, however I found it rather lacking. There was no plot, it was simply about the beginnings of a career as a district nurse in the sixties. We meet some interesting characters, but we're thrown around quite a bit from one patient to another, so character development has a lot of potential but doesn't reach it. I did enjoy reading her stories about the patients, however I think the biggest turn off was the ending. It's like it has just decided to finish mid point. There was no closing to it at all.
November 2, 2016
Interesting episodes
Having recently returned from a trip to Scotland, I found this series of fascinating stories quite fun to read.. My brief brush with the Scottish people and culture left me at the time, anxious to delve more into the psyche of these Edinburgh and highlands residents.
Having recently returned from a trip to Scotland, I found this series of fascinating stories quite fun to read.. My brief brush with the Scottish people and culture left me at the time, anxious to delve more into the psyche of these Edinburgh and highlands residents.
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August 7, 2015Did not finish... supposed to be a funny book????
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews