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.

The National Institutes of Health Disappoints

When I worked at the National Institutes of Health, a colleague and I wrote an article: The Role of Nurse Practitioners Expands at NIH for the NIH Record newsletter in May of 2000 about the increase of Nurse Practitioners at the Institute. My short time there was exciting, especially as I witnessed NP positions increase…… Continue reading The National Institutes of Health Disappoints

Mindfulness: Julia Sarazine

I met Julia Sarazine this past June when I spoke to Rush University nurses in Chicago about my book: Stories from the Tenth-Floor Clinic: A Nurse Practitioner Remembers. We agreed on the need for nurses to tell their stories. When I discovered Julia’s background in teaching mindfulness techniques to nurses in order to reduce symptoms…… Continue reading Mindfulness: Julia Sarazine

 Change of Pace: Panzanella

The high temperatures that we have in Raleigh keep me indoors more that I would like. The thermometer on my kitchen counter tells me it’s 99 degrees outside as I write this at 4 pm. Our home is comfortably cool so I could just knuckle down and write my weekly post that is due tomorrow.…… Continue reading  Change of Pace: Panzanella

Home Visits Can Be Fraught with Danger

  One time, long ago, at a nursing conference, I sat fixated as a fellow nurse told a story about the time she rang the doorbell at her patient’s house, and he didn’t answer. It was later that she found out he had been murdered. And in hearing more detail, she discovered that the murderer…… Continue reading Home Visits Can Be Fraught with Danger

Wishes, Dreams and Hopes for My Book: Stories from the Tenth-Floor Clinic

  I imagine Oprah Winfrey being told by one of her many assistants about a book she should read that is set in Chicago, that focuses on a female protagonist and deals with the disenfranchised on the West Side. Oprah, immediately after reading my book, writes a glowing review in O, the Oprah magazine. Great…… Continue reading Wishes, Dreams and Hopes for My Book: Stories from the Tenth-Floor Clinic

New Nursing Show on Netflix

I intend to watch this show. Sounds fascinating. Reblogged from Truth About Nursing: Tiempos de AmTor Netflix show provides limited glimpse of 1920s Spanish wartime nursing, but it does offer one fearless nursing leader January 2018 – This month Netflix released to the U.S. market the first season of Morocco: Love in Times of War, a…… Continue reading New Nursing Show on Netflix

Getting Older

Originally posted on Getting Older: Charting the Uncharted:
I promptly lost my first Medicare card. When I opened the envelope and saw the red, white and blue border, I was reminded of the elderly I cared for over twenty years ago when I was a gerontological nurse practitioner. I ran a not-for-profit clinic in a…

Rethinking How to Handle this Age Issue

I’ve had second thoughts about my last post: “How to Handle this Age Issue,” where I decided that the best way for me to deal with being an older woman was to ignore my age. That decision nagged at me so I did a little research. I reread an essay that I had saved from…… Continue reading Rethinking How to Handle this Age Issue

How to Handle This Age Issue

The woman who was interviewing me asked my age. She was apologetic. “My boss wants me to get ages.” I was ready for her. “I am 76,” I said. “Not a problem to ask. I think it’s good that folks realize that older people can still be productive.” “That’s one way to handle it,” she…… Continue reading How to Handle This Age Issue