WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A retired nurse in Winston-Salem came back to work to help with the COVID-19 surge that is straining health care systems nationwide.

Sharon Clayton retired from her 45-year nursing career in October but returned to work in mid-December to help administer COVID-19 vaccines.

Novant Health established “Operation All In,” where team members could volunteer for various roles to help support staff dealing with patients, and this included recent health care retirees like Clayton.

She's been administering COVID-19 vaccines since she's returned to work, which is helping free up clinical staff.

Clayton has been back at work for about two months now and doesn't regret it one bit.

"I worked at the hospital for so long, it just felt like I was going back to home and where I belonged," Clayton emphasizes.

Clayton says she doesn’t have a timetable of how long she’ll be back, but realizes it will be several months at a minimum.