“Warm Hearts: A Nurse’s Recipe for a Successful and Fulfilling Career” describes the reality of the nursing profession. Nurses are critical players in the healthcare sector. They serve as primary caretakers. Since they have firsthand knowledge of the patient’s symptoms, they must become advocates for physical and psychological wellbeing. Yet, nursing isn’t as simple as doing routine tests. Even those who graduate at the top of their class have difficulty with the job. The expectations built up before, during and after they graduate do not always align with reality. This divergence causes disappointment, which in turn leads to resentment.

If a nurse is unhappy, changing careers is difficult. Nursing involves highly specialized skills. Studying to become a nurse costs a lot of time, energy and money. Thus, it is important for nurses to understand what their jobs truly entail. What exactly are the requirements of a good nurse? What does it take to succeed in this profession? In its five chapters, “Warm Hearts: A Nurses’ Recipe for a Successful and Fulfilling Career” highlights the values of a good nurse: 1. A Good Attitude, 2. Compassion, 3. Patience, 4. Empathy, and 5. Integrity.

“Warm Hearts: A Nurses’ Recipe for a Successful and Fulfilling Career” takes the time to identify these values, to describe their importance in the nursing profession, and to give examples on how to cultivate them within the reader. The book also describes the antithesis of each value, in order for the reader to be aware of their negative traits and avoid them. When taken together, the key to becoming a good nurse is a positive change in outlook. The book enumerates the three components of a person’s attitude: cognitive, emotional and behavioral. All of these must be changed in order to improve. Shifting ones attitude from negative to positive may be difficult, but it is necessary to avoid burnout.

Nursing is a service-oriented profession. Beyond mere credentials or certifications, a nurse’s outlook and approach is crucial to excellent work. The book uses real-life accounts of the author’s experience as a nurse. These provide concrete examples of how to apply the lessons within its pages. “Warm Hearts: A Nurses’ Recipe for a Successful and Fulfilling Career” describes behavior as a choice. Thus, it is the nurses’ choice to become better version of themselves. They must learn to tough it out and upgrade their people skills. Becoming a nurse is an honorable career path, but it is also a difficult one.