Once Upon a Time

(I wrote this post on the first day of February.  My computer was acting up that day so I am just now getting around to posting it)

Today while driving along the road, I saw a blue and white blur out of the corner of my eye.  Something about that blur was familiar to me; so much so that I turned my head to look at it.  A-ha!  That’s it!  The Penn State Shuttle.

Seeing it took me down memory lane.  This mini-bus transports staff, faculty, and students between two Penn State campuses—Penn State University Park and Penn State Hershey Medical Center, the latter of which I worked at for all of my 13 years in nursing.

My schedule for today included grocery shopping and volunteering in my younger son’s classroom.  Four years back, my schedule would have included giving opioid growth factor to a pancreatic cancer patient and participating in a meeting to recruit participants into a new research protocol.  I enjoyed my job and truly felt fulfilled by what I was doing.

Seeing this shuttle whiz by reminded me of the pride I took in being a Hershey Medical Center nurse.  Whenever I would share with people that I was not only an RN, but an RN at Hershey Medical Center, it carried weight.  In my eyes, the association with this prestigious hospital elevated me above the average Joe.  I derived much of my self-worth from my career.

Later that same afternoon as I walk into the elementary school office, the secretaries say “Hi” and joke with me.  Several children in the cafeteria wave in recognition.  A girl in my son’s class walks to the back of the line as usual so that she can walk to the classroom holding my hand.  These are my accolades now.  I enjoy my job and truly feel fulfilled by what I am doing.

Addendum: The very next day while walking into Giant I see a man collapsed on the floor outside the pharmacy.  The staff are gathered around him trying to assess the situation.  I hesitate to assist because it seems as though there are enough people at the scene already.  Eventually I walk over, tell the staff that I am a nurse, and ask if I can help.  Turns out they had been seeking medical staff in the store until the ambulance arrived, and were glad to hand over the reigns to me.  With my youngest child situated close-by, I begin an assessment.  Once a nurse, always a nurse.