Thanks so much for your support, comments, and encouragement. I just received an email to the article, 'Prison Environment' and your comments!
Thank you Pam for this article! There is no way I could have predicted or anticipated the phenomenal response and success that my book has generated...so soon.
Literally, all kinds of people, surgeons, nurses, residents, a physicist, lawyers, patients, and those in various business sectors have connected with the book. I am honored!
What started out as a deeply personal, attentive and unguarded exploration of my self evolution has become a 'Tsunami of Hope' for those of us who may feel devalued, dispensable and distanced in our professions and workplaces (all the 'd' words).
Professionals, people like you and me, are not just ranting or disgruntled. We are frustrated that our efforts, our expertise and our roles are devalued.
We, 'The Naked Invisibles' are treated as a 'necessary yet expendable means to an end' in many and various settings. (As nurses, women, wives, mothers, significant others, and Simone DeBeavoir's 'other' and yes, men too).

My nursing career has created quite a dissonance in me throughout the years. On one hand I am proud of who and what I am as a cardiothoracic surgical nurse. On the other hand I see myself reflected in some patients or doctors eyes as 'less than.'

My book was my journey to reclaim myself and reconcile myself...for me. This book was a promise I made to myself, when I was about 11 or 12 years old, in my bedroom, a converted 'junk room' yet a 'room of one's own.' I had a collage that I created that hung on the wall at the foot of my bed. I placed on that collage a note (what would be called an affirmation today) that one day I would have a book that would be on the New York Times Bestseller List.

At the age of 11 or 12 years old, I named my book, 'Notes From the Mothership'!! (I know!) BTW, 'The Naked Invisibles' came in 2007..my father would have had a fit if I said that at 11 or 12! WTF! As remarkable as it seems, now my book,my memoir, is NOT about me. It is about US!
The public needs to know who and what we are.
The public as well as other nurses (because we do not necessarily know the roles of other nurses and their respective investments in those roles) needs to know that I, personally (and many of you) leave pieces of ourselves in our workplaces.
WE invest in our patients.
WE know and carry their stories.
WE carry the memory of these persons, patients and colleagues like talismans the rest of our lives!
WE work in hospitals that are still the bastions of sexism, gender pay inequity, and the 'old boy' network; which BTW includes some nurses who are complacent and complicit in their behavior and treatment towards other nurses, myself included. (Anyone got a match? Funny, I feel like burning something down!)

I am honored that KimRN of http://emergiblog.com, when I announced on my Blog (http://adriennezurub.typepad.com) that I was fired, took the time to purchase the book, read it and offer me the gift of a thoughtful review at her site (check out her Blogroll!)
Please, give her a 'Holla' and tell her what a great review and service she did not only to me, but to us all!

If I had to do it over, I would ALWAYS be true to myself FIRST and foremost. Nothing earthly could stop me from writing MY...YOUR book. I would do it again in a heartbeat even without the acclaim.
I hope everyone buys a copy or two or twenty.

BUY THE BOOK!
I hope that I am not the FIRST & ONLY nurse to voice the truth in a book.

Here is just one of the many emails I receive:
"I just want to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for taking a stand. We experienced nurses out here are dying!! You GO GIRL! God Bless You, Adrienne!! I have never met you Adrienne, but I am so proud of you." --Rhonda, North Carolina

I read that quote like a chant, a prayer. It is so poignant...it still makes me weep. Nuff said! (Now, get me on Oprah!):D

Adrienne Zurub, RN,MA, CNOR

nursingvoice I have emailed Oprah and received no response. I have called Oprah and get the run around. I will continue to call Oprah until I get satisfaction and some kind of discussion with someone who can get Adrienne on the show. Good Luck

I did too, that's the only response I received after over a week

Nope cuttie, I haven't because Adrienne expressed she wanted on Oprah