AS I REFLECT ON my 30-plus years as a nurse, I realize that nursing has influenced every part of my life. Even at an early age, I wanted to help others and work in a profession that was versatile, unpredictable, and full of diverse challenges. Nursing fulfilled those desires. It wasn't just a profession, but a life calling.
Call to action
A defining moment in my nursing career occurred during the 2 years that I worked with a disaster preparedness team when I lived on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. I vividly remember the day a call went out for volunteers to be part of a disaster relief team traveling to the neighboring island of Dominica following Hurricane David in 1979.
By the time I arrived, the local medical staff had kept the patient population safe, discharging those they could and using the undamaged section of the small hospital to temporarily house very ill patients. Our team of nurses, physicians, and a member of the administrative staff was able to not only provide relief for the local staff, but also help organize and set up temporary hospital quarters.
The level of warmth and hospitality we experienced was humbling. People who had nowhere to go were taken in by kind neighbors. We witnessed frequent occasions when innovation, resilience, and versatility won the day.
Unexpected challenge
We faced an unexpected challenge when word came of a small community on a hillside that was inaccessible by land or sea because of damage caused by the hurricane. The village could be reached only by helicopter. The plan was to send a team of two nurses to evaluate the villagers' health needs and I was one of the two nurses who volunteered.
As we approached the village, we had to be lowered by cable to the ground below. Once safely landed and detached from the cable, we were greeted warmly by a welcoming party of grateful villagers who'd turned out to meet the two-nurse team. Using the community center/church building as a health center, we were able to meet the community's immediate health needs by providing vaccinations, wound care, and other basic healthcare services.
Another opportunity
Returning home to St. Lucia, where I worked as a charge nurse for the community hospital, I resolved to build on what I'd learned from the trip to Dominica. I joined other members of our healthcare team to improve the disaster preparedness plan for the island.
The following year, Hurricane Allen devastated the fishing village of Dennery in St. Lucia. Fortunately, despite widespread property damage, there was no loss of life.
Once again I witnessed the community's resilience as those who were able took in those who'd lost everything and worked with us to ensure that the sick and injured were cared for. Government response was slow, and I witnessed the power of community resourcefulness. Without the help and cooperation of members of the community, we wouldn't have achieved such positive outcomes.
These experiences made my work as a community health nurse one of the most rewarding and memorable of my career. It influenced not only my future career choices but also my attitude toward the people and families I've had the privilege to care for.
More than a career
I expected to be challenged during my nursing career. What I didn't anticipate is that nursing would be a building block, a cornerstone, a very significant aspect of my life's journey. Over the years I've experienced times of questioning, reevaluation, and dissatisfaction. There were times when searching for purpose in my life has been necessary. The result has been a reinforcement of the need for a servant's heart as I serve others in this versatile profession of nursing.