At the beginning of April, I knew I wanted to help support the pandemic response. I contacted the long-term care facility I used to work at in 2014 and asked them how they were doing. They told me they were experiencing a shortage of PSWs and nurses to support resident care, so I agreed to come and help them. I want to share my experience to offer a glimpse of what it was like during the pandemic and the meaningful roles that RPNs play in the lives of residents. When I walked into the lobby, a couple of residents came to me smiling. They had remembered me from when I worked there years before. “Will you be working on our floor again?” they asked. I was happy to be back.
The floor I was assigned to had one positive COVID-19 case when I started. I could tell the resident was so frightened, but when he saw me he started smiling. As I always do, I smiled back to show my compassion for the difficult situation he was in. I have always believed if we channel our emotions, we can help others manage theirs. This resident spent 14 days in isolation while I was there and every night, it was like he was waiting for me.
I was the only person who seemed to be able to talk to him and make him feel safe. Once he was cleared after his 14-day isolation, he took my hands in his and said, “God bless you. I saw your wings the first night you came into my room with your beautiful smile. I saw your eyes and I felt I would be OK.”
When he said that, I started to cry. I was overjoyed to know that I was able to make a difference in his life and offer him comfort when he needed it. Residents in LTC facilities need to feel love, empathy, and care. As nurses, our role isn’t just about administering medication and moving on to the next resident without feeling. We all need to be good listeners and show empathy toward each other. I am proud to be an RPN, to make a difference in peoples’ lives and help make them smile.
About Masomeh Toraby
Masomeh Toraby was born and raised in Iran. She became a nurse to help heal others. When she immigrated to Canada as an internationally educated nurse, she completed the practical nursing program and became an RPN. Masomeh is a proud nurse who always brings heart to the care she provides.
