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Make an Impact With Small Moves
Improvements in both workflow and staff attitudes are part of a leader’s responsibilities, but your interventions in these areas don’t need to be major to make...
It's a wonderful life working in the OR, but 'tis the season to be jingling the bells, decking the halls and frosting the snowmen. With the holidays fast approaching, my wish to one and all of you is a healthy work-life balance. With apologies to Clement C. Moore, whose classic poem I have shaken and stirred, here's what the gift that every surgical team member dreams of might look like.
'Twas the day before Christmas and all through the place,
Three surgeons were working at their usual pace.
Staff's coats and their street clothes
were hung near with care,
As we hoped they would hurry,
though that would be rare.
All 8 of us nurses, in scrubs and bouffant hat,
Had visions of finishing in 8 hours flat.
Our cases had started right off the bat,
But since then, delays:
There was no chance of that.
Long cases, no breaks, late runs for supplies.
If we went overtime, it'd be no big surprise.
Schedules can change, that you can believe,
Even as you close in on the holiday's eve.
From the surgical suite, though,
arose quite a clatter.
PACU nurses sprang up
to see what was the matter.
To the OR door they flew in a flash.
You'd think they were running a hundred-yard dash.
What had just happened? What could it be?
The nurses all crowded the window to see.
The breast augmentation on the patient in 3
Was finishing shortly, much to our glee.
And then, what's this?
Did it actually appear?
OR 2 was closing, this was abundantly clear.
The surgeon in 1, too, was lively and quick.
We thought for a moment it must be a trick!
More rapid than usual, these closings came.
The 3 surgeons emerged
and they called us by name:
"Now Ursula, now Susan, now Paula and Pam,
Now Mindy and Haley and Amber and Sam,
"Get home to your families,
finish up at the mall.
We know that it's Christmas,
and we thank you all."
Their twinkling eyes and their nodding of head
Reassured us that we had finished the sked.
For these surgeons didn't waste time
in their work,
Hadn't dithered, dawdled
or behaved like a jerk.
They'd filled up recovery,
sent orders to PACU,
And gave Christmas wishes
to the Christmas eve crew.
Who'd have thought that
the spirit of Christmas lived here,
In a place that, at times, was devoid of all cheer?
Who'd have thought that Santa
would show up this year
In the form of 3 surgeons who got it in gear?
The surgeons checked out with a carol or whistle,
And then they were gone like the down on a thistle.
But I heard the last, as he walked out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all,
and to all a good night."
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