A collection of funny, insightful, and inspirational tales from a nurse on the front lines of health care.

When Maria Higuera took a job caring for a spunky elderly man, she had no idea it would set the course of her life. From that first bedside, she became a first responder fearlessly facing the job’s physical demands, then a nurse thrown onto the front lines of a global pandemic, and—when she least expected it—a patient on the other side.

Clocked Out and Wheeled In is a lighthearted yet poignant memoir of working in healthcare. In this authentic, touching, and humorous collection of stories, Maria addresses the phenomena that healthcare employees often face—and the patients who leave a lasting impression. She shares her experiences of rejection, bullying, assault, loneliness, burnout, and infertility as both a healthcare provider and a patient, extracting valuable lessons by looking beneath the surface of a caregiver’s life. Ultimately, she realizes that you can overcome even the hardest days with pride if you embrace your journey instead of the destination.

By sharing her feel-good short stories, Maria hopes to uplift others and empower them to embrace the personal and professional growth they, too, are capable of.