A glimpse of nursing through community eyes
A few of you may be in for a surprise
Each day we drive far and wide
Using a map as our guide
Visit homes of every shape, colour and size
Today we will all have six hours on the road
Everyone raises complaint about the load
After all can’t you all see
There won’t be time for coffee
Also no lunch in view of our big workload
The first visit that will be on today’s list
Is just a dressing on a woman’s right wrist
She had a fall just outside
Couldn’t stop although she tried
She is glad that a head injury was missed
Now I’ll be off to a house down by the shore
It is plain to see they’re certainly not poor
Two full leg dressings later
His legs look so much neater
With my layered compression bandages times four
The next client is one I have been dreading
Every visit shows squalor that is spreading
After a verbal exchange
And a quick catheter change
I sure wish she would at least change her bedding
Two hours down and now there are only four more
At the next house I don’t know what is in store
A risk assessment to do
And drainage measurement too
In a week she will not need us anymore
At Alf’s house there is no answer at the door
I looked in and there he was upon the floor
Telephoned his next of kin
Who then came to let me in
Ambulance is on their way just to be sure
I reach the next man thirty minutes later
Once there I have to wait for the translator
Have education to do
And some observations too
I must watch how he uses his inhaler
After that I attend a PICC line dressing
Though I try I find that it is not flushing
I try every trick I know
Everything is a ‘no go’
So I send her in for some troubleshooting
The last visit of my day started at three
At the little yellow house by the gum tree
She will be at home for sure
And as she opens the door
She will say:” You’re just in time for some hot tea”
I am tired because my day it was so long
Everything that could go wrong did just go wrong Documentation to do
And some rehydration too
As they say ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you strong’
What will make me come and do it all again?
What does motivate me now as it did then?
It’s the profession I love
No other job I dream of
So I’ll be here day by day ’til God knows when’!
