Do you really know what a nurse does? All nurses, not just critical care nurses, have tremendous knowledge and skills that are not well known, not well understood, and not well recognized. This book explores all that nurses do on a regular basis. Sherry Shaffer Ratajczak, who has worked as a nurse in different settings for more than forty years, answers questions such as: How do you choose a nurse education program? What is it like to work in an intensive care unit? Why should you be aware of compassion fatigue? What does it mean to be critically ill? She also highlights new technology available to nurses, daily routines that every nurse must master, cases of infant abuse, and the stressors that caregivers must overcome. If you've ever thought about becoming a nurse and want to know how to thrive in the field, this book will be a valuable resource that you'll consult for years to come.