My name is Jill Henderson and I have been an RN for 37 years. I live in Jacksonville, Forida and work as a Nurse Educator at Mayo Clinic Florida in the Mayo Clinic Hospital. I have been a CCU nurse, a floor nurse, a school nurse, a college instructor and finally a clinical educator. My nursing career started in a delivery room when I was sixteen.
A friend’s father was a General Practitioner in the small town where I lived. He invited me and his daughter to watch a delivery at the local hospital after our shift as candystripers was finished. Gowned and masked, we stood in a corner of the delivery room while a woman struggled soundlessly to deliver a footling breach child. My eyes were glued to a nameless nurse who anticipated and assisted the doctor’s every need. That moment of birth was truly miraculous, especially considering the lengthy effort involved.
As the woman and her child were wheeled out, another screaming woman was wheeled in for what turned out to be a noisy but uncomplicated delivery. Again the nameless nurse, hidden behind her mask, was an integral part of a life process. I knew then that I wanted to be that nurse, in some way, shape or form.
Now, in my own way, I am.

Kathy, Neptune Beach, Fl

MY mother was a nurse, and my father said I needed to be able to support myself. I loved it from the first day, and that was 40 years ago. It was never the same from day to day, and when you work in a community you get to know the patient, family and friends. What you do and how you do it, really matters. I can’t possibly tell all the stories I remember, but I can laugh and cry over some of those memories. I still have contacts with those that mentored me, and still use their lessons. It is hard work, and at times you wonder how you made it through. It is always changing, and we must adjust our sails as new technologies emerge.

The one thing I know is that when people are sick they need the caring touch and expertise of a nurse, and they need to know that you care for them body, mind and spirit. I am proud to be a nurse it is a career not just a job!

I have been a nurse for 40 years and 36 years has been that of a surgical nurse.This however, was not my initial desire as a young high school graduate. I had my sights set high on being a creative hair stylist and paid my tuition to “beauty school”. My parents had higher hopes for me and literally led me by the hand to the admissions office of a local college and enrolled me in the nursing program. I can look back now and realize how fullfiling this career has been on life. I have had many mentors throughout the years that have inspired me both professionally and spritually. I have molded my professional career to emulate what I felt would make me a great patient advocate, a leader with compassion,and a role model for the “newbees” just coming into this profession.
My most memorable time in surgery was spent working with Michael DeBakey, in Houston Texas training for open heart surgery. Words can’t describe seeing this amazing surgery for the first time. I knew then that I was hooked and being a surgical nurse was my destiny.

Janice, Jacksonville Florida; USA
40yrs

I was a late bloomer, boomer. I had a BA,Ed (degree), but at age 27, was still not in a career. I worked and lived with nurses in Boston, and one day it just occurred to me—I can be a nurse.
From that day forward, I worked to make it a reality. What a wonderful decision. I have worked in many areas of nursing, but my most meaningful job was working with women with breast cancer in the early 1980’s. It was a time when not much was being discussed on this subject, and women really needed care and understanding. Education was key, and I was able to combine both my nursing and education background. I continue to this day to be a nurse educator.
I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and the knowledge I gained over the years has helped me personally to get through this-all because of a decision I made in one day.
Ellen
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Nurse 30 years

My mother and grandmother were nurses as are my sister and aunts. At my high school graduation in Vero Beach, Fl., the typical professional choices for women were teaching or nursing and of course with the influence of family members who were nurses, and my father being a physician, I attended a three year Diploma nursing program in Charlotte, N.C. I have been working in hospitals at the bedside for over 34 years in various services. It has always been for me, a heartfelt service, helping others who are vulnerable, that has brought me joy in my profession. By working in emergency rooms, ICU’s and then various specialty units, I have had the priveledge of sharing my patients joys and sorrows in their situations with health care. Even now at age 64, I have found a place that I can be useful and caring to others in teaching positions. What a comfort too in this ecomomy to know that my life skills are always needed and that I could find a niche that still brings me pleasure. I have been an encourager of this profession whenever possible and have not regretted ever the choice those many years ago. I dedicate this story to my parents who were role models; my mother who I have always loved and admired for all she was to me, and for all the support and encouragment she gave to me in my life and to my father who spent his life serving those in need.

Hi, I am Michele from Jax, Fla. and have the honor of being a nurse for 30 years. Wow-30 years!-I can hardly believe it! I chose nursing because I was so inspired in my Freshman year of college by a nurse.

Our professor had a heart attack right in front of the class. The college nurse ran in after someone called 911 and I quietly observed her calm and efficient demure and actions during the emergency. She saved the professors life and I found myself saying “I want to do that someday and be just like her”.

I promptly changed my major and the rest is history. I am so grateful to have been lead to the greatest profession in the world. What an honor to provide for the deepest human needs during illness both physiologically and psychologically. To have the courage to help ill people live and also to have the courage to be there when they die-to provide dignity and comfort to not only the patient, but their loved ones.

I am convinced a competent nurse can do anything! Thank you Florence Nightingale for leading the way, it is now up to us and those coming after us to continue to carry the torch. Nursing is a bright light, perhaps one of the only ones left in the health care arena. Hold your light up high and shine brightly.