"Are you crazy? You finally retired! Why would you want to work in the hospital again?" My friends couldn't understand why, after forty years of nursing and four of retirement, I would return to nursing. Actually, I didn't understand either. Tired of the pressure of the job, I had eagerly and joyfully retired with no plans to practice nursing again.
Then one day a friend who was also a retired nurse told me how much she loved being a part of the Volunteer Registered Nurse program. "You help nurses care for patients at the bedside, "she said, "and the best part is that you do so at your own speed."
She directed me to the program at our local hospital, and after completing lots of paperwork and a few classes, I was excited about getting back to the bedside. On my first day, after basic training, I stepped onto the surgical(外科的) floor to be welcomed with smiles and hellos from the staff. I checked with the charge nurse to see who needed my help the most or if there was a particular patient requiring some extra care.
She smiled, "I am so glad to see you. I can't believe you are here to help me. "Taking a deep breath, she added, "Mr. Jones needs a bath and some extra attention. He is so disappointed he's not going home today."
I proceeded(前往) to the patient's room to see a sad man staring out of the window.
I gave him my biggest smile. "Hi, I'm Mary, a volunteer RN and I'm here to take special care of you this morning."
I asked if he would like to take a shower and he shook his head.
"Taking a shower and putting on clean pajamas(睡衣) may make you feel better, "I encouraged.
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He agreed and walked to the shower.
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I felt I had made a small difference.
