His story

After 40 years of service in the health care field, with 32 of those years as a registered nurse, I still awake each morning amazed that I have spent the majority of my adult life as a nurse.

Like many men in nursing, it was not a career path that I ever envisioned for myself. But life has a tendency to serve up unexpected twists and turns in our paths. As a young man just starting out, I felt confident that teaching would be my profession. I thought teaching history would be the perfect fit.

However, when our country became involved in a “conflict” in Southeast Asia I suddenly found myself in the service of our country. Even more surprising, I found myself assigned for training in the medical field. I thought a mistake had been made by our military since I had no particular fondness of hospitals, nurses or doctors. As a matter of fact, as a child I developed a healthy aversion to nurses and doctors as they always tried to figure out how to give you a “shot.” Even to this day, being on the receiving end of a needle remains one of my least favorite activities.

My military experience, while unintended from my perspective, exposed me to the nursing field. More importantly it led me to a transformational self discovery. In the pain and suffering of others I found in myself compassion, I found empathy and I found my calling: service to others.

For me nursing is not a job, it is a mission of service, an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. While the majority of my career has been spent in some form of leadership, it was my years spent at the bedside that defined the fulfillment of my nursing career. One of the most memorable events in my nursing career was caring for an elderly woman who had been hospitalized with a terminal illness. We soon found it necessary to request her family to come to the hospital as she came close to death. Realizing her family wound not reach her bedside in time and not wanting her to be alone, I had the privilege to be with her, holding her hand as she passed away. I will never forget her or her family’s appreciation that she was not alone.

As I find myself observing the new generation of nurses at Truman that will replace my generation, I find myself encouraged. I see enthusiasm, professionalism and commitment. I see nurses that understand that nursing is not a job, but an art that is perfected at the bedside with the heart of a servant and the mind set that continuing education is not a destination, but rather a life long journey.

“His story…” Yes, I will eventually complete the circle and become a teacher. But for now, in this moment, I am thankful that being a nurse has been one of the most important aspects of my life.

George Williams, RN, works at Truman Medical Center.

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