I didn’t know much about nursing before I read this book. Except for my fairly limited (and mostly good) experiences in the hospitals I’ve been too they’ve just... been there. Ultimately this book is about just that; being there, being kind. Horrifying in parts, Watson manages to make the harrowing feel a little lighter, the nature of a great nurse. Not just an account of her experiences, she notes the observations of other nurses throughout history, medicine practices around the world, and the incredible timeline of the discovery of healing. This book made me want to thank each and every nurse (and other medical personnel) personally for all they give up, to give us something instead. I know in theory it’s a “job”, but Watson shows that it is so much more than that. She can’t force you to sit up and listen, but she doesn’t need to. She gently talks you through her experiences while not making you feel guilty or stupid for not knowing what she, and countless others do.