I'd heard somewhere that someone had the idea that art's purpose is to evoke strong feelings, so I asked ChatGPT about it.
Yes, they/it responded: Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, Nietzsche, John Dewey, Susan Sontag, Edmund Burke, along with many others, have contributed to the understanding that art's purpose is often to evoke strong emotional responses, enhancing the viewer's engagement and appreciation of the work."
So when I checked the Amazon page for the recently published third book in the neonatal ICU series, Saving Julian, I, the author, was gratified that reviewer #3 (out of a total of 3) really hit the mark set by Susan and the guys ID'ed by AI.
That was when I read, "As a NICU nurse I was excited to read this book." Amazon is tetchy about inducements for reviewers, so I acknowledge that no payment of any kind was given to C. Swain in recompense for her strong feelings. Below is the full review but I'd prefer you'd read it after you've hurried to get your copy online if not at your local bookstore.
1.0 out of 5 stars
As a NICU nurse, I was excited to read this book
Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2024
But I don’t know if I will continue. Just within the first few pages, there is so much wrong about NICU care. First of all, you would never nasally intubate a 24 weeker. A 2.0 ett would never fit in the nares of a 636 gram infant. You wouldn’t do an ROP exam in the first week or two of life. Those start at 34 weeks when the blood vessels in the eyes are more developed. You wouldn’t run a continuous drip of bicarb. The baby has a respiratory acidosis, not metabolic. As far as needling the chest of a newborn with pneumonia without an X-ray? That wouldn’t happen either. In fact, that baby’s nurse’s very first course of action would be to deep suction without the need to be told by the doctor. It’s obvious that the author, while maybe being a professor in pediatrics, is not at all familiar with NICU environment, and would have done well to consult with an experienced NICU nurse in the writing of this book.After reading a bit more, I have found this to be quite a disgusting read. The idea of a physician getting drugs and sex from the parent of a patient is ludicrous and I am not seeing any type of real plot or purpose to this book. It is a disgrace to the medical and neonatal community.
In my MFA program we were taught how hard it is to garner attention in the publishing market. That makes me especially glad for the passion expressed by Swain.
Comments