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.

NURSE PRACTITIONER VERSUS PHYSICIAN’S ASSISTANT

Last week in a restaurant in Lyon, France, my tablemate turned toward me and asked, “What’s the difference between a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant.” My husband and I were on a tour. Our traveling buddies consisted of older folks like ourselves. The woman knew I was a retired NP and had told me…… Continue reading NURSE PRACTITIONER VERSUS PHYSICIAN’S ASSISTANT

24-Hour Woman

“What matters in life is not what happens to you but what you remember and how you remember it.” —Gabriel Garcia Marquez I remember Sadie Rooney handing me a brown paper bag on my visit that autumn day in the early 90s. Her husband, Jim, a self-taught preacher, had died the month before. At first…… Continue reading 24-Hour Woman

ONCE A NURSE, ALWAYS A NURSE By Jane Van De Velde, DNP, RN

My nursing career has taken me down many paths over the years. Presently, I am a Reiki Master Teacher as well as the founder of a nonprofit organization called The Reiki Share Project. People often ask me what I “do.” And I usually begin by telling them that I am a registered nurse. Their next…… Continue reading ONCE A NURSE, ALWAYS A NURSE By Jane Van De Velde, DNP, RN

MEETING GOALS

meeting goals

I’ve written about getting this book done so a draft will be finished by September first. (Post: Time To Get Serious). I’ve listed goals to be accomplished by the end of each month. I only have to tweak one story to meet my target for April and since there is one more day in April,…… Continue reading MEETING GOALS

BEST TIME TO BE A WRITER

Seems that this is a great time to be a writer. At least that’s what I heard at the fifth annual Triangle Area Freelancers Nonfiction Writers Conference yesterday. I had attended the last three. Each year only gets better. What I liked most was the conference was small enough to feel part of a friendly,…… Continue reading BEST TIME TO BE A WRITER

Write What You Are Afraid Of

Afraid to write

I didn’t attend the 2011 Fall Conference in Asheville sponsored by the North Carolina Writers Network but I kept this description of one of the master classes: “If You’re Afraid to Write About It, You Probably Should Write About It”    Often a writer’s breakthrough comes when he finally faces up to material he’s been avoiding.…… Continue reading Write What You Are Afraid Of

Time To Get Serious

I woke up one morning this past January and decided it was time to get serious about losing weight and finishing the book. First of all, I have been carrying around ten extra pounds for years until they magically morphed into twenty extra pounds. Second, over the past seven years I have written and rewritten…… Continue reading Time To Get Serious

SOB SISTERS

Thanks to my friend Lois Roelofs and her post “Growing Older In “Style,” I found Ari Seth Cohen, a twenty-eight-year-old who is spotlighting “stylish senior citizens.” Love it. Older women—and men—who ignore the old adage: “dress your age.” How come a twenty-eight-year-old man finds older people so fascinating? Well, I was sure there had to…… Continue reading SOB SISTERS

Humor and Humility

It started out on a rainy day in January. Like the rest of overweight America, I had resurrected old New Year resolutions. I wandered into a branch of a not-to-be-identified weight loss program and approached a young lady sorting out pamphlets. After giving me the information I requested, she excitedly told me that I would…… Continue reading Humor and Humility