Saturday, January 9, 2010

It's hard to say Goodbye....

The new year is bringing big changes for me. I've know for sometime and have wanted to blog about it but until yesterday it was not common knowledge and I was keeping it under wraps. I am starting a new job Monday.... still working for the same surgeons but a totally new position. For 6 years I worked as a hospital scrub tech in surgery and for the last 7 years I've been a private scrub for a group of urological surgeons... so for 13 years I've been in the OR. Thirteen amazing years!

Surgery was a passion of mine. I didn't really want to be a nurse. I always wanted to be a surgical scrub tech. At the time I was checking into the position the hospital was hiring nurses to hold the positions of scrub techs so I decided to go to nursing school in hopes that I could get into the hospital OR that route. It worked and in '97 I graduated from nursing school and started my new "career" as a surgical scrub tech for the hospital.

Thirteen years is a long time. This morning I was thinking about that. That's as long as elementary school, middle school and high school put together. Remember being back in school those days and wondering if you would ever get to graduation day? That was a long time in years of your life back then. These 13 years in the OR just flew by.... How did 13 years just go by?

Some weeks back the doctors asked me to consider taking the position of surgery scheduler for the practice. There was no pressure whatsoever and I was told that if I choose to stay in the OR there would be no hard feeling and that was perfectly fine. I could make this a long drawn out explanation for you but to make a long story short... I decided it was time for a change in my life. I am excited and ready for new challenges. I will have one on one time with patients, working with them preparing them their surgical procedures, working with the hospital, etc, etc.

The hard part of all this was saying goodbye to my OR family. Yesterday was my last day in the OR. I tried to go around and personally say goodbye to the people I was close to but time didn't allow me to get to everyone. I'll miss them all. There are days when surgery can be long and stressful days. We have all leaned on each other during those times.

Most of the staff was gone for the day when I left yesterday. It was a good thing I was alone in the locker room because I was boo hooing like a baby cleaning out my locker.

Here's to a new year and new opportunities! I'll keep you posted.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on the new position. I just know you will be a blessing to the patients as they prepare for surgery!

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Congratulations on those many years of service in one place.I wish you a smooth transition to a new role and pray that it will be perfect for you or you for it.
Blessings,Ruth