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WILKES-BARRE — Michael Walsh made a decision a few years ago to follow his dream.
Walsh, 37, of Pittston Township, decided he wanted to become a nurse and his reasons were both simple and admirable.
“I like to interact with people — help people,” Walsh said. “It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do.”
Walsh has been a registered nurse at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Plains Township since September 2017. Before that, he was an RN at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Walsh said his main responsibilities include direct patient care, answering questions patients may have, dispensing medication and helping with the coordination of care.
Walsh formerly worked in the media doing “behind the camera stuff” at WBRE. He also worked at Mohegan Sun Pocono casino on the horse racing part of the business.
Walsh said he always wanted to get into health care because he enjoyed helping people and he wanted to enter a field where he could really help the people he cared for on a daily basis.
“I can honestly say I really enjoy my job,” Walsh said. “Being a nurse is all about helping people. It gives me great satisfaction to be able to care for patients who come in with all sorts of issues and then seeing them leave in much better shape.”
Walsh said patients often are feeling down when they first arrive at the hospital.
“I like being there for them when they are at a low point,” Walsh said. “And it’s great to be able to lift them up and care for them. That’s the most gratifying part of being a nurse for me.”
Walsh said he is the first member of his family to work in the health care field.
“I am absolutely glad I made the move,” he said. “I have never looked back.”
Walsh said nurses do get admiration and respect from public and deservedly so.
“Nursing is one of the more noble professions out there,” said Walsh.
He was “very humbled” to learn that someone nominated him to be honored for his work.
“It really does feel fantastic,” Walsh said. “But it’s not what I look for as I do my job. But it’s great to know that my work is appreciated, as all nurses should be.”
Walsh said he looks forward to going to work every day. There are always new challenges, but he said having the responsibility of caring for people drives him to do his best.
“It’s the best job I could ever have.”
