Sean Conroy

As a retired nurse for 44 years and a family nurse practitioner for the last 15 of those years, the topic of this memoir was of great interest to me.

I have worked side by side with many wonderful PAs in my career
and his descriptions resonated deeply with me.

He takes the reader through various clinical rotations, with all the challenges and quandaries of an inexperienced student and leads us through the day to day rigors of his development into a skilled professional. We meet many different patients—and health care providers-- who come alive on the page. I felt like I was in the room with him as he cared for the patients or dealt with difficult staff members. I also felt his angst and concern as I experienced growing pains with him, recalling my own development as a nurse.

His writing is honest and vivid and his sense of humor breaks up the serious nature of his story. It flows at a nice pace. In fact, I didn’t want to stop reading it and when I did, I looked forward to getting back to it. His personal reflections add a deeper dimension to the story and offer a realistic view of the requirements of PA education as well as a heartwarming portrayal of the growth and development of a young man. His passion for his work comes through clearly. You don’t have to be a health care professional to appreciate his story. Many people are cared for by PA’s and often are confused about the role of PA or nurse practitioner in relation to the doctor. This story will enlighten and no doubt assure patients of the rigorous level training and experience involved.

This is not only an engaging and educational read about the health care field, but it is also an excellent resource for high school guidance counselors or anyone interested in pursuing a career as a PA. I have purchased this book for my niece who is contemplating becoming a PA. I highly recommend this memoir.… (plus d'informations)