Michele Saunders, registered nurse, works in the Freedom Wing of Menlo Park’s New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home. The Carteret resident trained at Middlesex Community College three years ago to become a RN. For the seven years prior to that she worked at the home as a certified nurses aid, skills she learned in her high school nursing program.

“Since 5th grade I wanted to become a nurse. My sister and a lot of family are nurses. This is what I desired all my life.” Saunders always wanted to fix things - cats, dogs, birds even stray cats.

Nursing requires lots of patience, gentleness, and “listening” ears needed most of all, Saunders explained.

“I still enjoy it,” Saunders smiled. “I think a nurse will stray away from being a good nurse if she doesn’t enjoy it. I enjoy my job and the residents. I like the people I work with.”

“I especially like to know I make a difference in residents’ lives!”

“It is very important to have good nurses around,” said Herb Robins. Herb and Sylvia recently celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary. Herb spends hours with his wife almost every day at the home. Sylvia, a resident at Menlo Park, served in the military in New Guinea during the Second World War, Herb proudly recounts.

“Michele is very good with the residents,” Director of Nursing Claire Brown said. “I choose her to orient new nurses to the floor. She is very professional, an excellent nurse who responds to residents staff and family well.”

Geriatrics can be a difficult field of nursing – dealing with the end of life. “The residents are not going anywhere,” Saunders explains. “Many residents don’t have long to live and we can make a difference in the end. We become an extension of their family. We are there for them.”

There are so many aspects of nursing. Working in geriatrics is Saunders’ niche. “It is satisfying once you find something you truly enjoy,” Saunders explained.

Sometimes we go back in time with the veterans, talking about the past. They will share with you things they have seen, places they have been, and things they have done. They bring in pictures, remembering their life.

True, you get very attached to some, Saunders remarked. “Fred Walace ‘Uncle Freddie,’ a 20-year resident, is like a family member. When I got married Uncle Freddie called my husband his new nephew. My son Joseph, nine years old, calls Freddie ‘Grandpa.’ Joseph volunteers here in the youth program for summer, helping with bingos, the millionaire game, and arts and crafts.

“We make this time as comfortable as possible for the veteran and for the family. The family develops good friendships with staff, we become an extension of the family.”