As I reach the end of my working days as a nurse, a plan is being formulated for “my next great adventure”. Truth be told I am not sure what it will bring. Just like everything else in life, it will be largely unknown, until I figure it out, and then it will change, and I will continue to puzzle it out. The “one foot in front of the other” plan.
The other day as I was sitting on my couch thinking back to my earliest days as a nurse, Florene Girton popped into my head. She was a seasoned nurse on the 3-11 shift, which is where most of us new graduates started out in 1981 at St. John’s Hospital in Salina Kansas. “Girty” was steady as a rock. We thought she knew everything about everything. She could start an IV with her eyes closed, pop in an NG tube slick as a whistle, and in an emergency she was the beacon we looked to for direction. Not only was her clinical acumen beyond reproach, she knew how to handle all the delicacies involved in communication with physicians and she set an example for us that we all aspired to emulate. She was cool, calm, steady, at least on the outside. She was about 5′ tall, always wore a white dress uniform, and had dyed red hair.
What an amazing role model she was for us. I hope I told her that. She shaped us as we took our first baby steps out into the world of what it meant to be a nurse. She was there as we prayed we would not kill anyone, while learning the ropes. We had a lot of book knowledge but the application to real life was a whole other matter.
What I wouldn’t give to talk to Girty today (isn’t that always the way). In the end, I would tell her that thanks to her influence, I was a darn good foot soldier on the front line of taking care of sick people.
Just for kicks how about a photo of mom and dad and I at my graduation from nursing school in 1981. To be clear, I never wore a cap at work, but the “capping” thing was part of the ceremony. That’s my niece Krissy I am holding she is now 45 years old – WHAT???? Ray and Angie were 49 and 52 respectively in this photo… again… WHAT????
This whole time thing is a mind bender.
You will have to bear with me, there will be more posts about my next great adventure and how it feels to be “retired”.
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