“…I thought that I could not get back into nursing, shared reading has changed that…”

Mary has been attending shared reading groups for around 6 months. In that time she has connected with others and found new motivation, purpose and courage to move in the direction she wants her life to take. 

I used to work as a nurse, which I enjoyed. Since I stopped I have felt out of the loop. Nursing is a profession that is always moving forward and if you are not involved in practice it can leave you behind. As I would need to take new exams I thought that I could never get back into it. Coming to shared reading though has changed that. I realize that it might take some work, but it is possible. I have started reading more – I now read rather than watch TV at night time – I have started reading my nursing textbooks again. I have also started reading things that I have not read since school, poetry such as Wordsworth. I still don’t understand all of it but I am giving it a go. It’s like something has been opened that was closed. I have also started making more time to see family, I think after analysing what is important in the group. I have made friends and i feel like my mind is being stimulated. I feel challenged and I have been looking for that.