Last week at Connecticut Children's Medical Center

This is my last week at Children's. It's an odd feeling. On one hand I am ready to be done working, I have so many odds and ends to finish up in the next few weeks that work is just getting in the way. On the other hand, I have worked there an awfully long time and its familiar and comfortable. I know the players, the culture and what's expected. I think about starting over in a new place with a truly different culture, housing situation, job, and essentially nothing familiar. I'm excited and nervous. 

I can't believe I've worked at Children's almost 13 years (12 years, 10 mons). I started there with one year experience as a staff nurse. I know this may sound cheesy but I feel like I grew up there. The circumstances at the hospital weren't to different from what they are now. I had just completed orientation, when it was announced we were having financial difficulties. They were closing a med-surg unit and there would be house-wide reorganization. The staff from the unit they closed was going to be divided up between the other two med/surg floors. I had almost learned the names of staff I was working with and now a whole new group of people were coming. Thankfully things aren't that precarious but times are still tough.

It was a hard time for everyone, lots of change in leadership and structure. It was good to experience those situations as a staff nurse and now as a Director. The ironic part, when I arrive at Cure I'll be the new leadership. I'm the last "change" to arrive. The entire leadership team, expect for one (chief of surgery) will be new. Change happens more frequently in Afghanistan, but it's still hard. 

I'm reading a book on building teams. Jamie S. gave it to me a while ago. The title, "Becoming a Healthy Team, 5 traits of vital leadership" by Stephen A. Macchia. The 5 essential traits are trust, empower, assimilate, manage and serve. An interesting point was the discussion how many of our analogies about teams have to do with sporting events which is about competition. And being on a team should be about encouraging one another to do their best not compete with each other. If everyone isn't working towards the same mission and is more concerned about individual success then the team won't succeed long term. Hopefully I'll pick up some tips that I can implement into my future adventures.

For now, I need to get back to packing. How does one person acquire so much stuff? I challenge you to walk around your house and think about what you would take with you for two years and all's you have is 2 suitcases and a carry-on. Ok, it helps to know that your new housing situation will be furnished. How do you decide what gets to come?

Keep Smiling,

Jen