Gram Negative

Jackie O'Neil, newly appointed head of the intensive care unit at Sprague Hospital, 30 minutes outside Boston, is pretty, bright, feisty and above all, a good nurse. One of the patients in her section is Jennifer Stafford, daughter of the hospital's major benefactor, and childhood sweetheart of Dr. Michael Graham, a handsome young widower who is also a good doctor. The few days of hospital life that are detailed in this first novel by a nurse with experience in intensive care include Jackie's budding romance with Michael as well as her clash with him over the running of her unit. She also comes up against the political realities of running a hospital, deals with a junkie nurse, a gay one, an incompetent, powerful doctor and the equally powerful effects of a major New England blizzard. Although the story stretches like a TV drama to cover too many character- and situation-types, it moves along briskly. Weiner is lavish with inside information about medical practices and procedures that readers are sure to find fascinating. First serial to Good Housekeeping. (September 24)