I was dismissed for aiding a puzzled older gentleman with dementia who thought his athletic shoes were “escaping.” I believed my kindness had ruined my career. However, when the chief nurse took credit for my good deed, those escaping shoes revealed her dishonesty in a completely surprising manner.
After working at the clinic for three months, I had become accustomed to Karen watching my every action closely. As the lead nurse, she seemed to enjoy finding problems with all my work.
I would try to dismiss it and continue working. This position was not my ideal job anyway.
I always wanted to work in elder care — I had finished many specialized courses in this area — but there I was, avoiding Karen’s harsh comments while trying to stay professional.
“Your paperwork is untidy again, Pam,” she would comment, or “We don’t follow that method here, Pam.” Her tone always had that small hint of pleasure, as if she was storing information for a future disagreement.
The night that transformed everything began poorly and declined further.
The coffee maker was not working, leaving staff without caffeine and cranky. I was exhausted after working for 12 hours, and my night shift replacement called to say she was delayed in highway traffic.
“I’ll need at least one more hour,” she said apologetically on the phone. “There has been a crash.”
I was collecting my belongings, ready to leave when she arrived, when an older gentleman walked slowly through the entrance.
He was wearing a neatly pressed suit that somehow made him appear disoriented, like he had stepped out of a different era completely.
“Hello sir, may I assist you?” I asked.
“There’s a… a… my shoes are untied.” He looked directly at me. “Can you tie them for me, Margaret?”
Something was clearly wrong. My shift had ended, but I could not leave this man standing there, clearly confused, and by himself.
“Certainly,” I answered with a smile. “Please follow me.”
I led him to a quiet area and helped him sit down. Then I quickly went back to the station to get him some water because I didn’t know how long he had been wandering around.
Rules stated we could not treat patients who hadn’t been properly registered, but this man showed dementia signs I couldn’t disregard. I needed to help him.
I gave him the water cup, and he immediately poured it over the fake plant.
“All done!” He smiled proudly. “My Margaret usually waters the roses, but she’s visiting her sister in Toledo.”
“That sounds wonderful! Should we call Margaret to tell her how well the roses are doing?” I suggested, hoping this approach would get him to contact his family.
“That’s why I’m going to the bus station, but,” he looked down at his feet, suddenly worried, “my shoes are untied!”
I looked down to see his shoelaces untied, spreading across the floor like tiny serpents. “They’re attempting to escape again. They always behave this way when Margaret isn’t home,” he said anxiously. “Someone must catch them!”
“Please don’t worry, we’ll secure those sneakers before they travel too far. They can’t outrun both of us, right?”
I leaned down and pretended to capture imaginary sneakers while the elderly gentleman alternated between encouraging me and begging me to hurry before they got away.
Just as I convinced him I had caught his escaping footwear, I heard sharp heel sounds behind me.
Karen’s voice sliced through the silence harshly. “What are you doing here?”
I rose slowly from securing his laces, my pulse racing. “This gentleman requires assistance. He is disoriented and—”
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