Nevada nurse activist and her friend publish book that celebrates nursing

Nevada RNformation, Nov 2003

Pat van Betten and Melisa Moriarty, co-authors of a wonderful new book about nurses, share a friendship that began when both were public health nurses in Austin, Texas, in the early 1960s. Their book, Nursing Illuminations: A Book of Days, will be published this fall by Mosby/Elsevier Science. (See ad on this page )

"Preparing this book has been a very special journey of discovery and personal growth," said Pat. "Melisa and I look forward to sharing this wonderful book, which celebrates nursing while allowing the reader countless opportunities to discover nursing's achievements, versatility, and its vast potential," she said.

Nursing Illuminations: A Book of Days has the format of a perpetual calendar, which invites the reader to spend a few minutes each day with a nurse. The book includes professional nurses, volunteer nurses and healers, and presents a sampling of nurses who, over time, have made a difference.

Each entry page starts with a carefully selected quotation from the writings of that nurse, featured on or near his or her actual birthdate. The short quotation is accompanied by a concise narrative about that nurse, followed by a brief biographical summary.

Nursing Illuminations invites nurse readers to experience the past and present history of nursing in a new and very enjoyable way. People who are exploring nursing as a career option will be introduced to a profession of broad opportunities and countless possibilities.

Pat, a longtime member of the Nevada Nurses Association, is currently a Director at Large on the NNA state board of directors, and has represented the Nevada Nurses Association on the Nevada Health Care Reform Project since it began ten years ago. She lives in Blue Diamond. Her colleague, Melisa Moriarty, lives in San Diego.

Editors note: To order this book-see ad below.