June 2026 • Volume 19, No. 6
From the Editor
Happy summer!
Is it just a pipe dream these days to think we can deliberately take time to sit down and read, view, or listen to something just for relaxation and restoration?
Work expectations creep into non-work hours; family and personal obligations and aspirations keep increasing. And, at our fingertips, avalanches of information, fascination and aversion are available whenever we have the impulse to look. Not to mention the news cycle flashing 24/7 like an ambulance beacon.
But taking time for deliberate relaxation is different from absent-minded scrolling. Not only is intentional reading enjoyable, but it can be a stress reducer with mental health benefits.
So for this, our annual summer reading and media issue, we’ve gathered some of our picks for relaxing, changing focus, and learning. I hope you enjoy them.
Our Student in the Spotlight is Heather Michalides, APN, FNP-C, of Schaumburg, IL
Enjoy!
Julie Lancaster, Editor
Photo by missmimimina on Adobe Stock
Books
The Girl in His Shadow
By Audrey Blake
2021
Raised by the eccentric surgeon Dr. Horace Croft after losing her parents to a cholera epidemic, Nora Beady knows little about conventional life. While other young ladies were raised to busy themselves with needlework and watercolors, Nora was trained to perfect her suturing and anatomical illustrations of dissections. At the time, women faced dire consequences if caught practicing medicine, but in Croft’s private clinic Nora was his most trusted assistant. That is, until the new surgical resident arrives.
Historical fiction set in 1840s London, with vividly written details on medical practices, politics surrounding medical care, and the position of women . . . and a page-turner of a story. (A sequel, “The Surgeon’s Daughter,” continues Nora Beady’s story with her studies in Italy in pursuit of a medical license, since women could not attend medical school in England.)
The author, Audrey Blake, is actually two authors, one from Canada and one from Kansas, who met as finalists of a writing contest and have been writing together ever since.
Read more . . .
The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human
By Siddhartha Mukherjee
2022
If the escapism of the usual beach reading isn’t your jam, you might consider this: Pulitzer Prize-winning physician-author Siddhartha Mukherjee examines the science behind cellular therapies and how advances in medicine are reshaping patient care. Winner of the 2023 PROSE Award for Excellence in Biological and Life Sciences and the 2023 Chautauqua Prize, and a nominee for Goodreads’ Readers’ Favorite Nonfiction (2022). Mukherjee begins the story in the late 1600s, when two men looked into their handmade microscopes and began to realize that we are built from assemblages of tiny, self-contained units, or cells — a discovery that revolutionized biology and medicine. He goes on to explain how cellular components function and interact in health, disease, and treatment, masterfully interweaving stories throughout. As one Goodreads reviewer wrote, “It’s a surprising emotional and poetic read for a subject seemingly as dry as cell biology.”
Read more . . .
Lab Girl
By Hope Jahren
2016
Not medical, but science-y. This is a memoir by Hope Jahren, a teacher and acclaimed scientist who has built three laboratories in which she’s studied trees, flowers, seeds, and soil. “Lab Girl” is a book about work, love, and the mountains that can be moved when those two things come together. It is told through Jahren’s stories: about her childhood in rural Minnesota with an uncompromising mother and a father who encouraged hours of play in his classroom’s labs; about how she found a sanctuary in science, and learned to perform lab work done “with both the heart and the hands”; and about the inevitable disappointments, but also the triumphs and exhilarating discoveries, of scientific work. This is a wonderful read.
Read more . . .
Podcast
MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries Podcast
By Jonathan B. Allen
(2023 to present)
Medical horror stories and diagnostic mysteries that are as fascinating as they are terrifying. Hosted by master storyteller MrBallen, a former Navy SEAL, this podcast explores bizarre and unheard-of diseases, miraculous recoveries, and strange medical mishaps that leave even doctors and scientists baffled. Episodes are around 30 minutes.
Movies & TV Shows
2024-present (2 seasons)
This series was on our list last year, too: The daily lives of healthcare professionals in a Pittsburgh hospital as they juggle personal crises, workplace politics, and the emotional toll of treating critically ill patients, revealing the resilience required in their noble calling. Now with two seasons complete, “The Pitt” remains my favorite of hospital shows set in the current day. If you haven’t found time to view it yet, now may be the time. HBO/Hulu.
Read more . . .
2014-15 (2 seasons)
My favorite hospital show in a period setting. Set in New York in 1900, “The Knick” explores the professional and personal lives of the staff at the (fictitious) Knickerbocker Hospital in Manhattan. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, it features wonderful casting and acting. Fascinating presentations of historical medical procedures and practices as well as issues like racism and sexism. HBO Max.
Read more . . .
2010-2013 (3 1/2 seasons)
Not medical, just a great series. It’s about life in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. From the creators of “The Wire,” this show follows neighborhood residents from wildly different backgrounds and lifestyles as they recover from the devastation to their homes and the city. Besides featuring great acting, the series is exceptional in the way it highlights the richness of music in New Orleans — not just the New Orleans jazz styles you might expect but also blues, R&B, Cajun, singer-songwriter, classical and even heavy metal music.
Read more . . .
In the Spotlight: Heather Michalides
Credentials
APN, FNP-C
Student Status
Current student in NIFA’s RNFA program
City & State
Schaumburg, IL
Current Position
APN in Advocate Pediatric Urology
Where did you get your RN degree?
Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN
APN — University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL
How did you come to choose perioperative nursing?
After years in the field of Reproductive Medicine/Women’s Health, I had an opportunity to enter the field of Pediatric Urology. I jumped at the chance to enter perioperative nursing when one of our surgeons needed a first assist to team with.
What is one funny, scary or unique moment you’ve seen at the table?
I’m new to the OR, so honestly it is all unique and a new adventure for me.
What is one technique or RNFA trick you’ve learned from NIFA that you will use for life?
Great suturing techniques that make patients and families more comfortable when they look at their incisions. The basics — maintain sterility, arrive early to check that all equipment and supplies are available. This can reduce a lot of frustration and make the surgery run smoother.
How do you feel having your RNFA will impact your life/career?
It helps me be a better practitioner by offering greater continuity of care from treating patients in clinic, the OR, and then post-op. It is comforting for families to see the same provider. On a personal level, it opens up a new adventure. It opens up a role in the OR and allows me to participate in more exciting and satisfying hands-on care.
NIFA – Office Hours
Monday-Thursday, 8:00am – 5:00pm
Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm
Practice Resources
Here are several of the most-in-demand sites for our students, prospective students and grads:
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this newsletter are strictly those of their respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of NIFA. NIFA does not give any express or implied warranty as to the accuracy of statements made by our contributors and does not accept any liability for error or omission. It is the responsibility of all perioperative personnel to work within and adhere to their facility bylaws and individual scope of practice.
