Author: Marianna Crane

After a long career in nursing--I was one of the first certified gerontological nurse practitioners--I am now a writer. My writings center around patients I have had over the years that continue to haunt my memory unless I record their stories. In addition, I write about growing older, confronting ageism, creativity and food.
My memoir, "Stories from the Tenth Floor Clinic: A Nurse Practitioner Remembers" is available where ever books are sold.

Overdue Reckoning on Racism in Nursing

Originally posted on NurseManifest:
We are excited to announce a series of web discussions “Overdue Reckoning on Racism in Nursing” starting on September 12th, and every week through October 10th! This initiative is in part an outgrowth of our 2018 Nursing Activism Think Tank and inspired by recent spotlights on the killing of Black Americans…

Writing advice: Anne Lamott and Toni Morrison

This past Saturday, I watched Anne Lamott on a webinar sponsored by Book Passage. She spoke from her home for three hours, sharing her wisdom on writing. She shared titles of books that might help with writing: Stephen King, On Writing, A Memoir of the Craft Walter Mosley, This Year You Write Your Novel Abigail Thomas, Thinking About…… Continue reading Writing advice: Anne Lamott and Toni Morrison

Olden Days of Nursing: Dialysis

I still remember the teenager but not his name or how long he had been getting peritoneal dialysis (PD). I recall him walking between his parents down the long hospital corridor. He was going home to die. A father with small children had preempted the teenager’s spot on the dialysis unit. Restricting patients was necessary…… Continue reading Olden Days of Nursing: Dialysis

Hedda Hopper’s Lemon Pie

When I first read that men thought of sex every seven seconds, I thought that’s me. No, not that I think of sex but that I think of food frequently.  Even when I worked full time, I planned our family dinner each evening. Meal planning and cooking seemed more of a hobby that a chore. I…… Continue reading Hedda Hopper’s Lemon Pie

Olden Days of Nursing: Coronary Care Unit

  I helped open the first CCU in New Jersey in 1967. New monitoring technology and implementation of coronary-pulmonary resuscitation precipitated the development of CCUs across the country in order to reduce deaths from acute myocardial infarcts (AMI). Bethany Hospital in Kansas had opened the first CCU in the United States on May 20, 1962.…… Continue reading Olden Days of Nursing: Coronary Care Unit

The Story Behind the Message

I first posted “The Story Behind the Message” in 2017 before my memoir was published. Now as I work on my second book, this post remains as relevant to me as ever. Writing for me doesn’t get easier, Molly. ******************************************** Rearranging my bookcase, I came across a book with the following inscription: This is the…… Continue reading The Story Behind the Message

Let me count the ways—to make a home visit.

As a home health nurse, I made visits in Chicago, Washington D.C., and right before I retired, in the areas surrounding Raleigh, North Carolina. I didn’t climb over the roofs in New York City, nor did I ride a horse or a bike. Unlike the nurses in the Visiting Nurse Service of New York City…… Continue reading Let me count the ways—to make a home visit.

Ramblings on Expanding Nursing Practice

    I asked Martha Barry who worked with me at the Erie Family Health Centers in the early 80s, to remind me if the Certified Nurse Midwives delivered babies.  Here’s what she said: The model for the Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) when I arrived was outpatient care only. The CNM did all of the…… Continue reading Ramblings on Expanding Nursing Practice

Media In-Depth Look at Nurses

Sandy and Harry Summers review in their June 2020 The Truth About Nursing Blog a story that appeared in the Washington Post. I am always happy to see another example of the media covering nurses and nursing issues. And this time the authors talk about “what nurses actually do!” However, it’s sad that it has taken a pandemic…… Continue reading Media In-Depth Look at Nurses