Dr Bernard was in his office discussing with his wife when he heard a noise at the hospital reception. He wanted to ignore it but when it became persistent , he decided to step out to see what was going on.

“What’s causing the noise,” he asked.

“Sir, this lady told me that she needs employment. I told her to drop her curriculum vitae and go, with the promise that we shall get back to her. But she refused. She insisted that she must see you today. After a while, she started dusting the chair. Few minutes later, I don’t know how she got the broom and started sweeping. I had to tell her to stop . She quickly rounded up. They just brought in a sick person; as the nurses were trying to carry her into the ward, she ran to help. I told her not to bother herself but she refused. The worst was that she told them that her name is Nurse Eliza. It made them to start assuming that she is a nurse that is working here. That is why I insisted that she must go,” Ngozi the receptionist narrated.

“Madam, who are you?” Dr. Bernard asked.

“Good afternoon sir. I am not a madam, sir. I am a young lady. My name is nurse Eliza.”

“Are you Eliza or Nurse Eliza?” Dr. Bernard asked.

“Sir, I am Nurse Eliza,” Eliza responded.

“It’s that what your parents named you or because of your profession?” Dr. Bernard asked her

“My mother calls me nurse Eliza,”Eliza quickly answered.

“But that’s funny,” Dr. Bernard noted

“Thank you sir,” Eliza responded with smiles.

“Please can you tell me what transpired between you and the receptionist?”

“When I came here, I told the receptionist that I needed a job and would like to see you. She told me that I can’t see you today. I decided to wait because I really needed to see you. Then a patient came in and started complaining that the chair she was to sit on was dirty. The receptionist was trying to argue with her and prove that the chair was neat. I felt that there was no need to argue because of the saying that customers are always right. I believe in pampering customers. I quickly used my handkerchief to clean all the chairs. After that, the woman started complaining that the floor was dirty.”

“It’s a lie,” Ngozi quickly interrupted her.

“She was complaining to me because she thought that I am a staff. Looking at the floor, it was actually dirty. I decided to help by sweeping it. I remembered that I saw a broom when I went to ease myself. I waited till the women went in to take her injection so I quickly decided to clean up this place. But the receptionist and one of the nurses was not happy about it. As I was still waiting, they brought in a sick person. They were calling one of the nurses to help to carry her in but she was delaying. I offered to help. That was the issue.”

“It’s okay, please see me in my office,” Dr. Bernard told Eliza.

“Thank you sir.”

When they went back to the office, Dr. Bernard asked Eliza what she wanted.

“Please sir, I am nurse . I need employment.”

“Are you a certified nurse?”

“I don’t understand what you meant by that but I did my nurse training at Ekendu community health centre,” Eliza answered.

“Really?”

“Yes sir. I learnt how to give injection. If you have any injection there, I can practicalize it on you , ” she was moving close to Dr. Bernard as she was talking.

“please move back to where you were standing,” Mrs. Bernard quickly told her.

“Okay ma.”

“Eliza..” Dr. Bernard called.

“Nurse Eliza sir,” Eliza quickly corrected Dr. Bernard.

“Whatever. The challenge is that we don’t have a vacancy for now. Maybe you should drop your CV. We shall contact you.”

“Apart from my work in the hospital, I will also be helping mummy at home during week ends. The former place that I worked, I normally help the madam at home. She is actually begging me not to leave but I explained to her that nursing is my talent.”

That statement caught the attention of Mrs. Bernard.

“But I have already told you that there is no vacancy” Dr. Bernard explained.

“My dear, please let’s listen to her . she is actually passionate about her job. I think we should give her a chance. You can employ her as a cleaner,” Mrs. Bernard suggested.

“No ma. I am a nurse. If you employ me as a nurse, I will sweep, clean wash clothes, make sure that everywhere is clean. I will also work for you at home. But that title of a nurse should not be taken away from me. The nurse in our compound was insulting my mother. She told her that none of her children can be a nurse. That was why I decided to go for nurse training. ”

“My dear please, let’s consider her,” Mrs. Bernard pleaded

“No problem, she will be employed. But let her not go near my patients. She should just be coming until I figure out what to do with her. Eliza did you hear me?”

“I am nurse Eliza sir . Thank you sir.”