I had to give TB tests to my team this week. The small task was definitely outside my normal management routine. I have worked in nursing education for the past fours years, so while giving injections is nothing new to me (I do have clinical oncology experience), I would say my clinical skills are definitely not the sharpest they’ve been.

I’m not going to lie. I had a bit of anxiety before administering the injections. Thankfully, my two nursing degrees and many years of experience prepared me for this little clinical re-entry moment. Yes, it’s rather comical. A rush of information flooded my mind, and I heard my Junior I Nursing Fundamentals nursing professor guide me through each step. I can still hear her encouraging, cheerful voice now – “Bevel up!”

In actuality, my fifteen minute stent as an occupational health nurse was no big deal, and, oddly, it actually felt really good to draw up a medication and administer it. My first colleague had no issues rolling up his sleeve for the test. My second colleague jokingly asked, “Now, when was the last time you did this?” I was able to joke back but honestly say, “Oh, about ten minutes ago.” It made me laugh the rest of the day, and it also made me think about that professor that made such an impact on my career.