Marilyn's Holiday Story
It was many years ago, but I still remember my first Christmas working as a new graduate nurse on a general surgery unit in Edmonton...
When I arrived for my 12-hour shift, I discovered we had minimal staffing and only the very sickest of patients remained on our unit. Those who could make it home for Christmas were already gone on a day pass to join their loved ones. Their absence made my footsteps echo loudly as I made my way down the hallway to Mr. J’s room.
Mr. J — I remember his name and I will never forget his face. He was all alone in a two-bed room and was far too ill to travel home to his small community in Northern Alberta. He and I were both far from our families and he was so alone when he needed them most. I was glad to be there with him. His condition deteriorated rapidly. He lost consciousness. His oxygen levels were so low. I called a ‘code blue’. Mr. J was in cardiac arrest.
I made my way home later that night with a much heavier heart and I sat a long time with my roommate who was a pediatric nurse and had worked that day too. As we sat together in our apartment, we stared at the walls and shared the sadness of our first Christmas shift. As nurses, we understood the struggles of caring for the seriously ill and dying while the world was celebrating a season of joy.
I am reaching out to you today to ask you to help ARNET provide much-needed support to the nurses who willingly shoulder this burden of caring for our sick and dying during their very first Christmas shifts … and every shift that follows.
Help us Keep Nurses in Nursing.
How can your donation help? Your donation will provide much-needed funding for continuing education, workshops, specialty courses, and other advanced education programs. Your donation will help nurses best prepare to manage unimaginable life and death situations. Your donation will give nurses the support they need so they can give patients the care they need.
Over the holidays, ARNET will be sharing stories about our nurse researchers and what they are working on to make a difference in healthcare for Albertans. We are so proud of our nurses and want to share their stories with you as we ask you to join us in our efforts to Keep Nurses in Nursing.
Thank you in advance for your holiday gift. This will be a gift paid forward to patients every hour of every day by nurses throughout Alberta.
Please donate here
Thank you,
Marilyn Wacko, RN
Executive Director
Alberta Registered Nurses Educational Trust (ARNET)