NURSE JAN is a novel based on the many experiences of the author who graduated as a registered nurse in 1960. As a student in a large San Francisco hospital in the late 1950s, Janet Winston finds herself conjoined in a concoction of starched standards, hilarious experiences, and the heart stopping traumas of rape and attempted murder. In her three years of nurses' training, she manages to overcome crippling panic attacks and many fears that threaten her progress while building bonding friendships and a blossoming romance that will permeate every reader's heart. With refreshingly simple and clean language, the author handles every topic with a realism and sensitivity that makes the book suitable for everyone. *********************************** Filled with fear, they giggled apprehensively as they entered the scene of every horror movie ever made. The hall was damp and dimly lit. Odd-sized pipes lined the ceiling and produced strange gurgling sounds. As the four of them walked rapidly down the hall, it seemed endless. Every dark room or sinister-looking door held a suspicious unseen monster about to jump out and attack them. As they finally turned the corner, their destination was within reach. They knocked on the door to the Autopsy Exam Room. Not receiving an answer, they slowly opened the door rather than stand outside in the scary hall. . . *********************************** During a lull in the conversation, Allen got up from his chair, closed the door to the room and brought Jan to a standing position. He took advantage of this opportunity to wrap her in his arms and kiss her with the passion of two people very much in love. Just as he stopped and was looking into her eyes, the door opened. They both jumped, and a sweet voice said, "Oh I'm sorry, I was . . . is that you Allen?" He turned around, grinning sheepishly. "Oh hello Aunt Barbara." "Is it alright to come in?" "Yes, of course.." . . *********************************** Jan never saw it coming. She was suddenly flying across the room, sliding down the wall, with Rita on top of her as everything went dark. She woke up on a gurney, watching the lights above her moving fast down the hall with Dr. Whooly on one side, an orderly and Des on the other. Jan was overcome by extreme pain in her nose, cheeks and forehead. "What happened to me?" "Just lay quiet, Miss Winston. Rita decided to take her frustrations out on your face, but you'll be fine. We're on our way to emergency so they can take care of you." Dr. Whooly tried to reassure her. "Is Rita okay?" "She's in the quiet room right now, and she's scheduled for electroshock this afternoon." In emergency they packed and taped her nose and she returned to the nurses dorm. She was suddenly startled awake with Mandy leaning over her, "Jan Winston, what on earth happened to you?" "I was trampled by a heard of wild cattle." Jan whispered with a nasal voice. "Jan, this isn't funny, tell me what happened." "I had a small confrontation in the psych ward." "Oh my gosh, my next rotation will be there. Maybe, I shouldn't go " "Hey, you're big enough to take care of yourself. Where were you when I needed protecting?" "I would have taken care of him for sure." "Mandy, it wasn't a 'he', it was a 'her." "Oh, you are a ninety-five pound weakling, aren't you?" *********************************** Teens and young adults making decisions about their own futures will find NURSE JAN entertaining, inspirational and informative. WOMAN ON A PEDESTAL is the first of a series based on the author's life.