It takes a certain level of dedication and courage to set aside retirement and return to the workforce as a volunteer infection prevention nurse at Kent Hospital. Barbara Boyle has that courage.

Hospitals are at capacity as COVID cases continue to spike across the state. The field hospital on Sockanosett Cross Road in Cranston admitted its first patients on Monday, and by week’s end, 10 to 20 COVID patients will be occupying beds. Gov. Gina Raimondo has called on retired healthcare professionals to return to the workforce as volunteers in hospitals and other healthcare settings.

Some, including National Guard medics, community volunteers, and Women and Infants nurses, have answered that call. The Pawtucket Firefighters have offered their assistance as well, although they have yet to be called upon.

“We are extremely grateful to the nurses who have made the decision to come out of retirement to help Kent Hospital care for our community,” said Robert Haffey, president and chief operation officer of Kent Hospital, in a statement.

Boyle, who has been a nurse since 1979, said it was an “easy decision” to go back to the workforce. “They called me, and they said ‘Can you come back?’ and I thought why not. It was an easy answer because they sounded desperate.”

Boyle, now 66, started at Kent Hospital as a licensed practical nurse after finishing her Associate’s degree. At Kent, she worked in the medical surgical unit, the intensive care unit, dialysis, and the recovery unit. From there, Boyle spent some time as a traveling nurse in Arizona and New Hampshire, which she says was “a really good learning experience.” Boyle recounted her time working in a psychiatric hospital for children in New Hampshire. “I couldn’t get them out of my head when I left.”

Boyle retired this past March, just before the pandemic really took hold. She described a “lovely summer” spent lounging by the lake, but “once things started to go south again, there wasn’t anywhere I could go or anything I could do.”

Her son Alan, who works at Lifespan as a phlebotomist, was originally against his mother returning to work. “I told him and he said ‘What? Now? No!’ and he was worried I’d get sick. But anyone can get sick at anytime, so I might as well be doing something useful.” The decision was easier for Boyle to make, since she doesn’t have to care for anyone at home, just her dog and her cat.

Returning to Kent now, Boyle says she’s “kind of happy” to be back to work. “I just feel bad for all the nurses who gave been doing this while I’m retired. They’re working hard. It’s a scary time to be in the medical field,” she said in an interview. “It’s a great group of people, and I give a lot of credit to the nurses on the frontlines. They’re young people, they have to go home to their kids.”

Boyle isn’t working with COVID-19 infected patients; instead, she is assisting with data entry, symptom tracking, and working alongside the Department of Health in contact tracing. She describes a very different hospital setting from what she was used to before retirement. “There’s no visitors, there’s no people in the gift shop. It used to be more alive. Now it’s very different in that way.”

Boyle, who is working per diem, says she “really [is] taking things one day at a time.”

“After this, I really don’t know,” she added with a laugh, “Maybe it’s the home.”

For now, Boyle says she’ll continue to wear her mask, wash her hands, and take her temperature.

For those interested in filling the staffing need at Kent Hospital or one of the field hospitals, can visit www.skillsforri.com or contact Ryan LaFrance at (401) 737-7010 x35447.