Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.
Issue link: http://outpatientsurgery.uberflip.com/i/443984
2 1 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 | O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E top-notch. I recently attended a week-long conference and the week leading up to my departure was nerve-wracking for me. Could my assistant handle the patient registration load by herself? Could my nurses and techs manage the surgeons effectively? What if we ran out of something? The Friday before I left, my assistant finally looked at me and said, "You can go now." My incessant worry and double-, triple- , quadruple-checking everything was driving her nuts — and she didn't even know about most of it. And you know what? They did just fine … even after they ran out of coffee. I like to think this "worry" aspect of my job description helps make me good at it. But at some point, you have to trust that the processes that are in place for patient care at your center, the staff you work with, and your managers are all work- ing for the greater good as well. Certainly issues that arise are an opportunity for any of us to improve our practice — from clinical staff to administration. Dwelling on things that don't affect the big picture — or that you have no control over — simply creates distracting chatter in our minds. 5. Feed your mind. You've carved out some time for yourself by find- ing hidden gems here and there and cutting down on obligations. You've set some boundaries and started to prioritize some work and family obligations. You've stopped obsessing about small things over which you have no control. Great job! So, now what? Now that you have the ability to create a peaceful mindset for yourself and have regained some direction over your own schedule and distractions, you have the opportunity to use that time and space to "feed" your mind. Maybe there is a hobby or activity you've always wanted to try. Maybe there is a community college course you've always wanted to take. Maybe there is an old friend you've lost touch with. Connecting to your interests can help alleviate some of the stress that comes from