In her new compilation of short stories by professional nurses around the United States, Sue Heacock shares the hopes and joys of nursing. The stories range from humorous adventures in school nurses' offices to poignant tales from emergency departments and intensive care units.

            One of the more delightful stories in Inspiring the Inspirational comes from J.T. Hayes in Palm Springs, California, entitled "Suddenly Stricken." He writes, I am not your typical school nurse. I am male, 6'2" tall, and weigh 200 pounds. Many parents, school visitors, and new teachers mistake me for a campus security officer or an administrator. One day several years ago, I looked up to see a small girl walking down the hall toward the health office. What was unusual was that she had her head tipped back, eyes closed; and was erratically waving both extended arms in front of her. She was accompanied by two other girls from her class. Why was the second grader visiting the health office? She had been suddenly "stricken blind" when the teacher handed out an arithmetic test. Her two companions were all atwitter in their concern, right up until the "blind" girl's eyes popped wide open and she blurted out, "You can't be the nurse, you're a boy!"

            Inspiring the Inspirational reminds us that nurses are caring, selfless people who give much of themselves every day for the benefit of others, and that it's about time they were given some inspiration as well. Sue Heacock hopes that by sharing these stories, she will lead and inspire other nurses in their noble endeavor. The author was a military police officer in the US Army and worked in human resources and equal employment opportunity before becoming a nurse. She has >12 years of nursing experience, including work in research, pediatrics, and occupational health. A certified occupational health nurse specialist, she resides in Florida and is a mother to a 15-year-old daughter and a 19-year-old son in the Marines.