People with nursing careers are considered important components in the fabric of American life. They populate television shows, provide assistance in delicate times and remain a symbol of selfless dedication to both the young and old. With this in mind, it's not surprising that there is no shortage of books centered around the historic profession. In fact, each year there seems to be at least one book that comes out and reaffirms nurses' importance and sheds new light on the profession in general.
In this regard, 2012 was no different. In October, a beautiful new book about nursing was released, and it has been a favorite among nurses and others ever since. "The American Nurse," by Carolyn Jones, is a coffee-table book that presents nursing in all its varied forms.
Because Jones is a well-known photographer and documentary filmmaker, the book's impact is largely based in the beauty, emotion and elegance of its images. Throughout its 75 portraits and interviews, the book tells the compelling tales of nurses from all walks of life who are stationed in every corner of the country.
From sea to shining sea
In her mission to produce this book – on behalf of the American Nurse Project – Jones traveled across the country, from New York City to Louisiana to California. During her travels, Jones captured nurses helping hungry teenagers, providing assistance to prisoners and mending brave soldiers wounded in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Healing warriors
When interviewed about her project, Jones expressed her amazement about how her perception of nurses changed over the course of her work on the book. Before she started, she recognized the strength and grit necessary to perform these duties day after day, but it wasn't until she witnessed it up close – and through the lens of her camera – that she first began to understand the dedication of the American nurse.
"I expected warriors out there and in a way that's what I found," Jones said, according to the Times Union. "Nurses do fight to care for us, in spite of ourselves, in spite of the obstacles in their way. And, they fix us, and when they can no longer fix us, they make sure we are comfortable and that our time leaving this earth is as rich as it is entertaining."
"The American Nurse" is the rare nursing book that appeals to those with no experience in the industry as well as those with years of intimate knowledge.