Share the Spirit
Give the gift of warmth and welcome to new and returning nurses

By Barbara Brown, Ed.D., RN, FAAN, Editor, Mountain West Edition
December 17, 2001

For many, nursing has been a lifetime career. You probably have practiced in different areas and even different places in and out of the country. For others, nursing is a career entered into following a different career. At a recent career fair in Phoenix, the two speakers came to nursing from other careers-architecture and teaching. Another nurse talked with me about re-entering nursing after an absence of several years. She was so enthusiastic that I only hoped she would be welcomed back into this wonderful profession.

A major concern is how do we welcome these individuals into nursing? Do academic settings recognize credits from previous education in other disciplines,or does the individual have to start over as a "freshman"? Marquette University in Milwaukee, my alma mater, has a master's entry-into-nursing program that builds upon previous education. The major should be in the sciences to maximize graduate placement, but at least the individual coming to nursing as a second career is treated separately from the high school graduate entering a nursing program.

With the worldwide nursing shortage, we need to welcome all into nursing practice.

Many nurses have selected a second career in various fields, in which their human relations skills are valued and used in different ways. For me, it is journalism, which I now spend all my time doing. Writing and communicating have always been a love throughout my nursing career. My great-great uncle, Vicktor Rydberg, was poet laureate of Sweden. Now, members of my family have developed wonderful talent in poetry. My eldest son, Bob, started writing poetry at an early age and recently his daughter wrote a poem for all to enjoy, especially those who are grandmothers.

A Memory Last
by Jolene Marie Brown

The winter sweet snow
The brittle cool air
The sunny day in a glow
The trees beautiful and fair

I run, I play, and of course,
Stayed all day!
Thirsty, hungry, tired, or even cold,
I always had that person to hold.
She would read me Winnie the Pooh, as most wonderful grown-ups do.

The beauty oh so splendid
The happiness in her heart
The laughter always extended
The friendship won't ever depart

This memory I do not delete!
Where am I?
Who is this place so sweet?
Grandma's house-No lie!
As I sit here eating pumpkin pie,
I remember … being such a small kid,
I'm thankful for my grandma, for all she's done and did!

I share this as my gift to you during these most stressful times. I know that every nurse plays a heroic part in what is being done for and with people every day. Have a wonderful, blessed holiday season from all at NURSEWEEK.

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