Penny Scott's first job after graduating as a nurse involves looking after a patient in "a lonely summer home in the Ozarks where strange, frightening things happened without warning." Written in 1963 when nursing was one of the few professions women were encouraged to enter, this book probably was aimed at making the job look exciting. ( )

First line:
~ Penelope Scott shifted in her straight chair and recrossed her feet ~

I just finished Nurses Three: First Assignment which, I have owned since 1963. I was given it by a friend Sylvia for my 11th birthday. I grew up to be a nurse and it gave me quite a chuckle to re-read this book at age 59. Penny is a new graduate who gets a job as a private duty home nurse for an elderly gentleman who has had a heart attack. The patient has two sons who are both interested in dating Penny and she seems to have no problem with that from a nursing ethics point of view. She also becomes quite personally involved with the patient and his family and his financial situation. I can see that the story would have made nursing seem quite glamorous to me as an 11 year old. Penny also helps a deaf-mute boy learn sign language and get away from his abusive father. Oh, if nursing were only truly like this!

The book is seriously outdated in terms of medical information and, as mentioned before, the lack of nursing ethics but as a 'blast from the past' it was a fun read.

I think I shall move this one off my shelves. I don't think I would want any young person in my life reading this book now. ( )