story8016.xml

story8016.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-20

I am a registered nurse and was on duty during the attacks on September 11, 2001. I am charge nurse responsible for 50-60 elderly residents in a long term care rehababilitative nursing center. There is a television in one of our residents lounge areas across from the nurse's station and next to where I usually have my medication cart during my morning med pass. That is what I was doing that morning and preparing to go to our 9:00 a.m. morning discussion of all pertinent new information regarding our residents. All of this was unexpectedly interrupted as one by one staff members were stopping to watch the news bulletins or what was taking place in our country. Several of us hugged and cried as we watched in horror and disbelief the massive destruction that was happening before our eyes. For me personally it was a day I will never forget and I have been changed in ways I'm still finding out one year later. These events took place fairly early into my long 12 hour shift. I needed to compose myself and carry on to deliver medications and reassurance to my residents. Many of them were quite aware of the situation as most of them have televisions in their rooms. My day stretched ahead filled with much uncertainty and an overwhelming feeling of needing to see and be with my loved ones. The best I could do about that was take a few minutes to call my children, husband and mother. That did help me once I was able to speak with them. When you are responsible for the wellfare of other people it does help you to focus on what you need to do. Still as the day and events and stories unfolded I felt helpless that I could not do more. I'm sure many other Americans had similar feelings that day. Thankyou for this opportunity to share my story. Maryanne