They are compassionate voices, they are dedicated professionals, they are critical players in the health care system with worn pairs of shoes that have miles of stories to tell. They are America’s nurses.

Heroic Acts in Humble Shoes: America’s Nurses Tell Their Stories is more than just a quick glance into the trials, tribulations, joys and rewards of nursing. It is a gateway to understanding what today’s nurses are challenged with everyday.

Irene Stemler, RN, BSN, goes beyond the research and gives a voice to the millions of nurses who directly or indirectly make a difference in the lives of patients. Each story opens with a photograph of the nurse’s shoes and offers a unique, passionate, personal, and sometimes controversial perspective on nursing in today’s health care environment.

Inside you’ll find: • Over 40 interview-style stories • Each story accompanied by a photo of the featured nurse’s shoes • Stories that reflect the breadth and diversity of today’s nursing practice

Heroic Acts in Humble Shoes also looks to be a springboard for spirited discussion about the future of nursing. When nurses read these reflections of the daily battle to provide quality health care to ordinary people, they are encouraged to act, taking a leadership position in transforming their profession and nurses’ role in health care delivery as a whole.

Do you consider your work to be heroic? The often surprising answer to this question makes Heroic Acts in Humble Shoes: America’s Nurses Tell Their Stories a must-read for all nurses across the U.S. and those who know them.

Andreea Irina Barzic has been a scientific researcher in the Department of Physical Chemistry of Polymers at the "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Iasi, Romania, since 2005. She received her PhD in chemistry from the Romanian Academy, Bucharest. Her major fields of interest include polymer blends, composites, and liquid crystal polymers. She has published more than 40 papers in peer-reviewed journals and has authored or co-authored several books. She is also involved in several research projects and is a referee (reviewer) for a number of prestigious journals in the field of polymer science.

Silvia Ioan is a senior researcher, with more than 50 years of scientific contributions, at the "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Iasi, Romania. Her areas of study have included interdisciplinary research for theoretical and experimental substantiations of the processes and technologies at nano-, micro-, and macroscales. These scientific contributions have focused on the participation of some polymers with special architectures in obtaining multifunctional materials including studies concerning the improvement of some properties for predetermined goals and applications. The direction of her research is reflected in many publications, such as books or book chapters and more than 300 scientific papers, as well as in patents, in participation at several national and international scientific conferences, and as leader and member of numerous research projects. She also developed a specialized research group on the characterization of macromolecular compounds in solution and solid states at Romania’s Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry. In addition, Dr. Ioan serves as an expert reviewer of several prestigious scientific journals, and she is the PhD supervisor in the materials science domain at the doctoral school of the Romanian Academy—"Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Iasi.