Attention to Detail

Well All,

I've survived the Joint Commission "survey" (really known as 'inspection', and even the surveyor/inspector called it an inspection).  It was probably a less painful experience for me than for some clinics/personnel in the past.  Oddly, I learned a lot.  The opportunity to go through the clinic with a fresh set of eyes looking at the nuances of everything surrounding me helped me to recognize the little things most people don't pay attention to.  Despite all my previous angst, I found the process very useful.  The key, I think, was the inspector himself.  The fellow who came out was very approachable, and while he asked a lot of questions he was willing to answer many of them too.  And he was willing to teach.  This made a world of difference in the experience of the process.  The worst of it was standing on my feet for a couple of hours while he walked through the clinic, from room to room, opening drawers, talking to staff, etc. (I could physically feel my feet swelling with every passing minute...ah the joys of age...)  I, as his "escort", had to make sure I was with him wherever he went.

In the end, I was pleased that he had such favorable things to say about our military staff.  Most of them are very junior, but I was proud at how professional they were.  They took time to answer his questions.  These young Hospital Corpsmen (early 20's) were not nervous, or flustered.  They approached the task of answering his questions like they were teaching someone about the clinic and their daily duties.  They truly are a fine group of military, and I would be proud to serve with them anywhere in the world.

I imagine many people approach writing a blog as an avenue to vent or complain about society and the difficulties of day to day living, and I admit I do that also from time to time.  But today, I only find myself happy and grateful.  Happy to work alongside some of the finest our United States Military has to offer and grateful to work for an Officer in Charge (OIC) that I've come to admire and consider a mentor.  I think I will grieve some when the leadership changes hands, but I should remind myself to always give the next person a chance, just like I myself would want to be given one.  Still, it is hard to accept change when things seem to be working so well.  I will embrace it though, and go once more into the breech...

I will be traveling soon on a temporary assignment, and so I took the day off to rest/recover from the inspections and other evolutions that had taken over my life.  The Dissertation Proposal is submitted once more with all of its corrections and additions and I'm editing my presentation for the dissertation board and my IRB proposal application to reflect those changes so I can have them done before I go.  The International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) would like me to speak at their conference in Montreal in October, and so I've submitted my request and presentation proposal through the chain of command and hope I'll have approval to do it.  It will highlight my research while on deployment last year, and hopefully I'll have my findings completed by then.

Today was also a day to network and enjoy the company of a friend.  A fellow forensic nurse I know lives about an hour away from me.  We met at a small town on the beach (halfway between our homes) for lunch, and took time to converse about forensic nursing, processes in sexual assault care, course development of forensic nursing for local areas, and such.  What a pleasure to spend time talking face to face with such a beautiful mind and intelligent person (Thanks Jude!).  To be sure, the face to face time was buoyant for the mind/body/spirit, and I really needed that connection.  It has motivated me, and centered me, and made me feel 'connected' to the world.

Ah well...back to work!  May all of you find joy and peace in your daily lives, and may all of you find equally beneficial connections along the way...

~Cin