Some of you know that along with being a photographer and business owner, I’m also a Registered Nurse. Before I started my business and during the first few years after I launched, I was also working as a critical care staff nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital. When I left the hospital to take my business full-time, I began working as needed for Henrico Schools. I’ve kept up my license and continuing education because being a nurse is part of my heart. Nurses are one of the most deeply respected professionals, have vast knowledge of the human body, and are bred to help others heal.

Last year, I wasn’t able to accept many assignments in schools as my business saw tremendous growth. It became very difficult to juggle those jobs, my growing list of clients, my volunteer work with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep and Lab Rescue, and not to mention my home and family. Although it saddens me, I’ve decided to step away from school nursing. I will miss the children at the schools I worked at as well as many of the school staff members.

I’ll certainly miss all the times I got to have lunch with Noah when I worked at his school!

This decision has me feeling a bit of relief from that responsibility, but mostly, it’s made me question who I am as a professional. Can I still say “I’m a nurse?” After talking with a friend and thinking about it for a while, I can definitely say I am STILL a nurse. I use the skills I learned in nursing school and on the job to lovingly care for my clients, family, and friends. I can’t help but be a nurse when I take a service request for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. I’m 75% nurse and 25% photographer when I walk into a hospital to serve a grieving family. I’m a nurse when we take in a foster dog who has medical issues. And I’m definitely still a nurse when I hear, “Oh, you’re a nurse! Do you know what this is…?”

I’ll never say that I won’t return to patient care. I never know what the future holds. What I do know is although I may not be working in a clinical setting, I’ll always be Laura Matthews, RN.