Dublin Blogger Opens Up About Working As A Detox Nurse
A Dublin blogger has opened up about working as a detox nurse for the homeless community.
Speaking to Humans Of Dublin, Sarah Hanrahan, also known as I Come Undone, revealed some of the challenges of her previous job:
"I spent years working 12-hour-shifts on my own, at night around people with addiction issues. These charities have to save wherever they can so they didn’t provide a security at night. The official policy was, if something happens, you lock the office door and call the police. That was it. And even if you called the police they were slow to come because they were sick of acting as our guards. I had to wait three hours once while a client was trying to kick the door in on me. I was attacked with a knife by a hallucinating lady who was detoxing really badly after heavy alcohol abuse, and I was threatened in many occasions."
Hanrahan says that while it was dangerous at times, she really enjoyed working there.
"I got to meet and listen to stories from some very unlucky but wonderful people and it taught me a lot about life."
Sarah added that the job gave her a better sense of the city we live in:
"I remember when the blog started taking off, I was going to these glamorous events where everybody is beautiful and right after, I would start my night shift assisting people with seizures after coming off alcohol and drugs… It definitely gave me a better sense of the spectrum of Dublin and its people.”
Sarah Hanrahan is nominated for 'Best Dub' in 98FM's Best Of Dublin Awards 2018 alongside Anthony Flynn - CEO of Inner City Helping Homeless, Michael Daly of Cystic Fibrosis, Colm Fogarty from Bridges Of Hope & Dermot Richardson from Tallaght Adventure World.
Voting has now closed. The winners will be announced at our exclusive awards ceremony on May 31st in Royal Hospital Kilmainham.