While reading about the shortage of nurses/nurse educators, I had a “light bulb” moment; why not see if retired nurses would be willing to help ease some of the burden for nurse educators? (“Oregon health care employers hamstrung by staffing shortage, as the state produces 3rd-fewest nurses per capita,” Jan. 15).

I am a retired RN with 35 years bedside nursing experience. While I would not be qualified to teach academically, nor would I care to invest in the time and education needed to do so, I could certainly aid and assist in simulation labs for students to learn bedside nursing basics. These could include such things as taking patient vital signs, patient assessment, patient transfers (bed to chair, etc.) and making an “occupied” bed, one that has a patient in it.

This could be a win-win situation. Students would benefit from working with a nurse who has “lived experience,” and the retired nurse could impart skills and maybe some words of wisdom to the nursing students. I for one, would be willing to help out, part-time, to further a profession that we all need.

Irene Neuman, Cornelius

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