Off the charts by Georgie Carroll

Georgie Carrol's nursing experience with patients and also the health systems of both the UK and Australia has become the basis of her humour, her stand-up routine, and now her book.

There are keen observations along the way, in particular Georgie's take on allied health carer workers, doctors, administrators, her kids, and Steve (her husband). We become very knowledgeable about some parts of his anatomy.

Much of the health care jargon is explained. This may or may not be reassuring if you find yourself in a hospital bed either listening to it spoken, or taking a sneak look at your notes located at the bed's foot.

Georgie's experiences have exposed her to birth, death and the bits in between, all of which are celebrated with humour and wisdom. There is something comforting about her writing that makes you feel not alone despite the heartache that we all must feel at some time during our lives. And after all is this not the job of being a nurse?

By the end the book the reader should be much more appreciative of the burden nurses carry and hopefully more tolerant when stuck in an emergency department waiting for medical attention. There is good news associated with being left till last. Read the book and you will find out why.

Robert McNair

Themes: Comedy, Nursing, Health system, Compassion.