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Becoming Nursey: From Code Blues to Code Browns, How to Care for Your Patients and Yourself
Nursing isn't a career; it's a calling. Learning how to be a great nurse at the bedside while maintaining your sanity at home is no easy task. This book talks about how to realistically live as a nurse, both at home and at the bedside.. with a little humor and some shenanigans along the way. Comprised of both stories from the bedside and practical and honest advice, this book will provide you the tools you need to become a safe, caring, and efficient nurse as fast as possible. Based off of the popular nursing blog, Nurse Eye Roll, this ebook aims to ease the challenging transition from overwhelmed graduate nurse to successful bedside nurse. Get ready guys, it’s about to get real, real nursey.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2014
175 people are currently reading
1034 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
May 18, 2015
This book is excellent for all nurses. It is aimed at students and new nurses but I think there is enough truth in it to really touch the heart of any nurse. Kleber is funny, honest and respectful. She describes some aspects of nursing that I have been trying to put into words for my students for years and she does so beautifully. My favorite part was the last page where she just simply tells the reader thank you for what we do a nurses. I didn't realize how desperate I was for a thank you - from someone who understands. I felt a sense of commradrie while reading this book - and that's what made it very enjoyable. I will be recommending this book to my students for years to come!
March 28, 2023
Had to read this book for class, but it was so enjoyable. I’ve never read a more real book about what being a nurse is like and the steps to get there. It definitely encouraged me but also scared me for the rest of nursing school and being a nurse.
February 12, 2021
Had good moments but overall was kinda basic. Maybe I would've enjoyed it more at the beginning of nursing school? Not sure.
August 1, 2015
Was not impressed...
As a new nurse I bought this book hoping for some insight and guidance. At first I thought it was ok,but as I kept reading I started to dislike it more and more. The first reason is because I thought some parts were totally unrealistic. Things like the time frame to get things done. I felt like in the "perfect" hospital setting then yes, perhaps all those things could get done in that very short time frame. But in the real world with 5-7 patients all with different needs it seems unreal. I also felt the author was somewhat self righteous...harder to explain this one but it's just the vibe I got throughout. This bothered me to the point that I almost didn't finish the book. Overall I would not re-read or recommend to a friend.
As a new nurse I bought this book hoping for some insight and guidance. At first I thought it was ok,but as I kept reading I started to dislike it more and more. The first reason is because I thought some parts were totally unrealistic. Things like the time frame to get things done. I felt like in the "perfect" hospital setting then yes, perhaps all those things could get done in that very short time frame. But in the real world with 5-7 patients all with different needs it seems unreal. I also felt the author was somewhat self righteous...harder to explain this one but it's just the vibe I got throughout. This bothered me to the point that I almost didn't finish the book. Overall I would not re-read or recommend to a friend.
June 29, 2017
I think this book would have gotten more stars if I was a brand new nurse. She has great advice from work-life balance to how to organize your mornings. The author is so honest about what being a nurse is. It is satisfying to know that nurses in other institutions go through the same feelings that I do. What a wonderful thing about nursing! What a connection we all have to each other!
One negative though is her use of the word "nursey." I felt it was much to juvenile and a little insulting to a prestigious and trusted profession.
One negative though is her use of the word "nursey." I felt it was much to juvenile and a little insulting to a prestigious and trusted profession.
February 4, 2016
My medical experience is as a patient. But as fate would have it I'm married to a nurse and our oldest just passed her NCLEX (nursing boards) I'm sure they took something far different from the book than i did as a lay person. That there were deeper thoughts and longer laughs at the funny bits. Still the book gave insight in to what a nurses face and carriers I'd never considered. An easy non technical read. i'd highly suggest it to anyone living with a nurse or nursing student.
February 9, 2021
Unnecessary amount of Bible thumping
April 27, 2019
I graduated less than a year ago from Nursing school in May of 2018, got my RN license in June of 2018. Where I am now, I'm glad I read it, because I was able to understand the feelings she was describing like all that jitteriness we all get when first starting out, and it allowed me to appreciate and feel validated for the steps I took as a new professional, considering that not everything turned out as I expected it to in my first year of nursing.
The things she talked about when applying for a job and getting experience and adjusting to a new unit, man oh man, right on the nail there.
Feeling like you're gonna throw up after you've taken your boards, right-o.
Talking about how usually if a doctor or people are rude it's just because they've had a bad day or just because they're awful people - spot on.
But i dont know how helpful this book would have been to me a year ago, because it was all advice I pretty much picked up from my professors or preceptors or just learned on my own at the time. However it may still be helpful to people who don't get that supplementation from their profs. I mean my teachers were amazing, best in the biz, wouldn't have been able to do it without them. Either way this is still a great little lovely book of fluff and warmth for any nursing student or new nurse grad that needs that extra boost of encouragement or pat on the back that says 'dude it's okay. You've got this. we've all been there. you're gonna get through it.' And you don't think it's true but then 11 months have gone by and you're patting the next people down saying the exact same thing to them that you were told.
This book also helped me realize how far I've come professionally such as being able to recognize different forms of lingo that nurses and medical professionals are privy to, though I missed the definition of 'flying' she used, but I haven't been in that kind of intense care where we would use it.
oh my gosh ativan, ativan is my friend, it is your friend, we love ativan in this household we love and respect ativan it is part of our family.
So yes I do appreciate this book for validating the experiences I've had thus far, and it gives me encouragement to know that there is a future for me professionally, and I will start to improve more and learn more and I will become someone on the floor that has the expertise and the understanding to guide others.
I love how she describes the team as everyone having their own special skills. For one it's the technical stuff, another it's the emotional stuff, the strong stomach, the one with all the book-smarts about everything. I feel blessed to see a bit of myself in each of these and hope that i'll keep improving them as I grow in my new career.
Yeah good book, quick and light and entertaining read. Would recommend for any new nurse or new nurse graduate that's feeling the jitters over the new career. Which is all of you. Go read this book.
You got this.
And as an addition. Thank God for this woman and explaining her base reasons for going into nursing. She didn't have an immediate explicit love for it. Just figured it was kind of practical. "Hm. Yeah. I like medical stuff. Lots of good options. Lets go for it." I feel that in the very core of my being because it was essentially the same path I chose to my major, and it's something I've agonized about to this day, wondering if I made the right choice, if this was the best possible path I could have taken. And to know that someone else went through that same process and came through alright and found their niche and a place where they can love their profession is profoundly encouraging in more ways than I know how to describe.
The things she talked about when applying for a job and getting experience and adjusting to a new unit, man oh man, right on the nail there.
Feeling like you're gonna throw up after you've taken your boards, right-o.
Talking about how usually if a doctor or people are rude it's just because they've had a bad day or just because they're awful people - spot on.
But i dont know how helpful this book would have been to me a year ago, because it was all advice I pretty much picked up from my professors or preceptors or just learned on my own at the time. However it may still be helpful to people who don't get that supplementation from their profs. I mean my teachers were amazing, best in the biz, wouldn't have been able to do it without them. Either way this is still a great little lovely book of fluff and warmth for any nursing student or new nurse grad that needs that extra boost of encouragement or pat on the back that says 'dude it's okay. You've got this. we've all been there. you're gonna get through it.' And you don't think it's true but then 11 months have gone by and you're patting the next people down saying the exact same thing to them that you were told.
This book also helped me realize how far I've come professionally such as being able to recognize different forms of lingo that nurses and medical professionals are privy to, though I missed the definition of 'flying' she used, but I haven't been in that kind of intense care where we would use it.
oh my gosh ativan, ativan is my friend, it is your friend, we love ativan in this household we love and respect ativan it is part of our family.
So yes I do appreciate this book for validating the experiences I've had thus far, and it gives me encouragement to know that there is a future for me professionally, and I will start to improve more and learn more and I will become someone on the floor that has the expertise and the understanding to guide others.
I love how she describes the team as everyone having their own special skills. For one it's the technical stuff, another it's the emotional stuff, the strong stomach, the one with all the book-smarts about everything. I feel blessed to see a bit of myself in each of these and hope that i'll keep improving them as I grow in my new career.
Yeah good book, quick and light and entertaining read. Would recommend for any new nurse or new nurse graduate that's feeling the jitters over the new career. Which is all of you. Go read this book.
You got this.
And as an addition. Thank God for this woman and explaining her base reasons for going into nursing. She didn't have an immediate explicit love for it. Just figured it was kind of practical. "Hm. Yeah. I like medical stuff. Lots of good options. Lets go for it." I feel that in the very core of my being because it was essentially the same path I chose to my major, and it's something I've agonized about to this day, wondering if I made the right choice, if this was the best possible path I could have taken. And to know that someone else went through that same process and came through alright and found their niche and a place where they can love their profession is profoundly encouraging in more ways than I know how to describe.
September 19, 2025
This book is filled with advice from Kati, who has been a nurse for many years. I liked this book a lot because I feel it gave very good advice not just for work but also for outside of work to. She gave great advice on how to be a better nurse for your patients and for yourself. I have no complaints about this book other than maybe it could be a little longer. The motif of this book is when she repeats the phrase "getting nursey," which relates back to the title. She uses this phrase quite a bit, and it's used when she gives advice on how to become a better nurse. I would read this book again because I felt it was helpful, and I think other nurses or anyone who wants to be a nurse should read it too.
June 5, 2018
Kleber has packed so much wisdom into just 149 pages that I am in awe. This book is not only a must read for new nurses, but also for nursing students, nurse educators, and nurse leaders. There are not enough hours in the nursing education process to learn all there is to know about the care of patients. Kleber not only provides core tips on how to care for patients. She also offers suggestions on how to be a professional nurse and reminders that self-care is essential to be a great nurse.
February 7, 2019
I recently graduated from nursing school and was trying to find a down to earth book that talked about the struggles of being a new nurse and their overcomings. This book was PERFECT. It seriously made me laugh out loud, cry real tears and gave me confidence. Perfect book for a new graduate. The author was a med surg nurse and then become an ICU nurse, so the stories focus mostly on her journey through those two specialties.
November 27, 2017
This book was a blog transformed into a book. And it read that way. There were spelling and grammatical errors and several of the passages felt as though they were written in haste. I was a new nurse looking for guidance when I began reading this book but I felt like I was treated like a kindergartener instead.
September 5, 2019
Highly recommended this book to new nurses! I’ve just become a new nurse (I’m also in neuro) but anyone can relate to what she is saying indefinitely. It’s really comforting but also she gives really good tips and steps to take being a new nurse and the new tasks that come with that. I’m really glad I read this before hand! It’s better than most nursing books I’ve been reading to prepare!
October 31, 2020
I enjoyed this book because the author provided some examples of what her life as a nurse has consisted of. It was a fairly short, easy read that I can see myself picking up again in the future. Some of the terms in the book were beyond my comprehension because I am only a first year student. However, the authors added definitions for some of the terms throughout the text which was helpful.
February 1, 2024
very awesome and helpful book on what nurses actually do. Kleber is so kind hehe as I pursue nursing I wanted to get a better framework of what a day to day looks like and it was really practical info!
January 7, 2017
Very good for someone who is interested in the career. A common sense read for someone in nursing school or anything post-nursing school.
December 31, 2017
It has some good insight, but poorly written, lots of grammatical errors, and it felt like the majority of the content was only hitting the surface to me.
October 28, 2017
Reassuring but not very informative.
November 15, 2019
I really liked this book as a current nursing student. However, at times, I felt that it was slow. In general, it was a good book.
December 31, 2019
Very helpful
This book is very helpful. A lot of great tips I'm excited to apply to my nursing practice. Thank you Kati!
This book is very helpful. A lot of great tips I'm excited to apply to my nursing practice. Thank you Kati!
January 18, 2020
A nurse’s guidebook to becoming a great nurse.
A must read for seasoned nurses and new nurses alike. This book will inspire you to become the nurse you have always wanted to be.
A must read for seasoned nurses and new nurses alike. This book will inspire you to become the nurse you have always wanted to be.
February 21, 2021
This book is geared to student nurses and new nurses. It was thoughtful and intriguing but an an experienced new, I have learned most her recommendations and tips. It was an enjoyable read.
May 21, 2021
Candid, clear, and fun to read. Highly recommend to new nursing students!
January 22, 2022
Excellent book. If you are a new grad, this is a must read.
September 25, 2022
I read this as a new grad nurse and looking back now I feel it is a good introduction into what exactly we’ve gotten ourselves into. It’s educational, insightful, and best of all not preachy.
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April 19, 2023I want to read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2017
I'm really glad that I read this book as it pertains to so much of my life. I am currently a second semester nursing student, and a lot of what Kati covers in the book is what I have to look forward to in my future. There were parts that I didn't exactly agree with (such as when to get all of your charting done - from what I have seen during my clinicals, it is not always possible to get your charting done right then and there), but overall, I thought she gave some really great life-work balance advice. There were also parts where she came off a little over-confident in herself. I don't really know how to explain it, but there were parts where I almost disliked her, to be honest. Also, there were quite a few typos (which will be really embarrassing if there are any in this review) that really distracted me at times. Overall, though, I thought it was a solid book giving just a glimpse into the wonderful, crazy, amazing world of nursing.
October 2, 2016
I follow Kati on her blog and tumblr, and I wish I bought and read this book while in nursing school. Instead I bought it after I graduated and it really could have helped me more in nursing school. I noticed a lot of people don't like her writing style but I found it likeable and more causal than trying to talk down to you or teach you.
I really liked her tips like how to beat smells and other nursing tips. As a new nurse this book really gave me a good insight on how my first couple years as a nurse will seem and play out. It didn't feel like she was being nasty or patronizing like some family members (who are also nurses) have been to me. It really felt encouraging and was uplifting to read someone else's story as a student and then nurse. Overall I recommend for nursing students and new nurses, I don't really think experienced nurses will get the same message as us newbies do but even so it was a fast and realistic read.
I really liked her tips like how to beat smells and other nursing tips. As a new nurse this book really gave me a good insight on how my first couple years as a nurse will seem and play out. It didn't feel like she was being nasty or patronizing like some family members (who are also nurses) have been to me. It really felt encouraging and was uplifting to read someone else's story as a student and then nurse. Overall I recommend for nursing students and new nurses, I don't really think experienced nurses will get the same message as us newbies do but even so it was a fast and realistic read.
August 3, 2015
All I can say is where was 'Becoming Nursey' when I was a new grad and thank goodness it is here for todays novice nurses. Kleber has packed so much wisdom into just 149 pages that I am in awe. This book is not only a must read for new nurses, but also for nursing students, nurse educators, and nurse leaders. There are not enough hours in the nursing education process to learn all there is to know about the care of patients. Kleber not only provides core tips on how to care for patients. She also offers suggestions on how to be a professional nurse and reminders that self-care is essential to be a great nurse.
May 10, 2015
The author is very likable and I enjoyed her stories and tips. I'm glad I didn't buy the book, but borrowed it electronically because it was really short! I was surprised when it was over. There's not a ton of content. However I like that she is a Christian and talks about her faith a bit. She really does get to the heart of nursing and she gives good advice. The book is odd because at times it feels like it's written for nurses but other times it seems like it's written for non-nurses. Like she couldn't decide who her audience was. Overall I enjoyed reading it but definitely not one I would re-read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews