Providing nursing anytime...anywhere

Community nurses are expected to visit patients anytime and anywhere. When I say anytime, I mean they are expected to see patients regardless of the weather, the season, or the time of day/night. When IV pumps need to be restarted, community nurses are paged to see the patient even if there is a snow storm or a heavy rain. Good driving in the dark is a must for community nurses because oftentimes they are called to see a patient even if it is in the middle of the night. Community nurses cannot choose whom to see. For them, a patient who lives in a wealthy neighbourhood is the same as that patient who lives in a dilapidated bungalow in a dangerous neighbourhood. Community nursing is not an easy job...but it does get easier after drinking that hot chocolate drink which Mrs Smith (my patient who requires wound dressing) specially prepares for me.