3rd Place (2005)

What I Tell Children Who Want to Know What it's Like to be a Nurse?
by
Sherry Nolan, RN

What should I say to little you
Asking me for advice
When you grow up, what should you do?
What career would be really nice?

Do you like people and helping out?
Do you think you are strong of heart?
What do you think you’re all about?
Are you caring, and strong and smart?

Can you learn to keep an open mind?
You know, everyone’s not the same!
Would you like to meet folks of every kind,
Even if you can’t pronounce their name?

Are you willing to sometimes love and lose,
if it hurts you to the core?
This will affect the job you choose.
But, wait! There’s so much more!

Can you get up early and stay up late
And come to work with joy?
(Once in awhile you’ll miss a date
with that special girl, or boy.)

Do you want a job that makes you whole
And not just work for pay?
A job that touches the heart and soul,
That doesn’t end at the close of the day?

How about a job that will keep you sane,
And drive you crazy, too.
A job that will be an emotional drain,
Yet fills you, through and through

Are you ready to learn your whole life long?
Does a challenge appeal to you?
Are you sure you know what’s right from wrong?
If so, I know the job for you!

Not a doctor, or lawyer, or Indian chief,
or all the other careers abounding.
Not a movie star like Omar Sharif,
but a job holding challenge resounding!

If you’d like to know, when all’s said and done
That you chose for better, not worse…
That you left this world a bit more in the sun,
Then, my dear, you should be
A NURSE!