While I have never paid much attention to pageants, I couldn’t help but to be drawn in by one particular story that arose from this year’s Miss America Pageant. Kelley Johnson was crowned Miss Colorado 2015, and named second runner-up for the national title in September 2016. The reason I’m telling you about her is that Kelley shunned tradition and took a risk. For her talent instead of singing, dancing, playing an instrument, or any of the more traditional talents, Kelley chose to give an original monologue. You see, Kelley is also a nurse. She catalogs her interactions with a particular patient- Joe- who has Alzheimer’s Disease. He also has the ability to demonstrate to her just how important her job is.
Everything that she talks about is true for nurses as well as all other professions in the Health Care field. Listening to her monologue, I was struck by how much of it pertains to the work that our Caregivers do on a daily basis. Kelley often referred to herself as “just a nurse”, as I’m sure some of you may think of yourselves. You may downplay your position because of the things you cannot do for your clients, but never forget all that you ARE able to do for them. Caregivers are the reasons that our clients are able to remain in their homes, eat home cooked meals, and have a better quality of life.
There was some critiques of Kelley’s performance after the fact, mocking her “talent” and calling her uniform a “costume”. To those people I say, how fortunate that you have never been in a situation where you or a loved one has been in need of that level of care. Because if they had, I would hope there would be more understanding of the hard work and dedication, both physical and emotional, that goes into personal care. It requires a balance of tenderness and caring along with having a thick skin. It requires skill, in conjunction with the desire to learn more. If it wasn’t a talent anyone could survive in this field.
Every time that you show up to a shift you are making a difference in another person’s life. Remember this, and be proud of the work that you do.
