For those that have been reading my blog - you know that I was working in a ICU for a rural hospital and also worked as an adjunct clinical instructor for a community college. Most also know that I am rounding out the completion of my graduate degree in nursing education. Whew! Ok - that helps me set the stage because I recently (almost 6 months now) accepted a position as a Nurse Educator for another rural hospital. The hospital never really had a nursing education department, so I was charged with the responsibility of developing this department from scratch.
In my humble opinion - how can a hospital exist without a nursing education department? For obvious reasons - I really can't go into any major detail about what happens when a hospital does not have a nursing education department. Suffice to say - bad things really do happen. Anyway, now I am charged with the responsibility of developing a fully integrated nursing education program of learning that includes the establishment of a nursing orientation, new graduate program and a program of on-going continuing education. It is very exciting, but also very overwhelming. It seems like they had no nursing education and now that they have a nurse educators, every educational need is urgent and a priority. That is the overwhelming part. The best part - being able to construct a nursing education department from the ground floor up and knowing that what you are doing is really laying an infrastructure to help nurses given patients better care. That is pretty awesome!
I will keep you informed of my journey. It should be very interesting to say the least.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Teenagers
Okay - so I am a parent of three teenagers. My youngest is 16, my middle is 17 and my oldest is 19. Soon, the months will all collide and they will be 17, 18 and 19. All through their life, it was a challenge. They were all born so close together that managing all their individual needs was pretty tough. But, through it all, I felt like a competent parent that did a great job. As a single father, there were times when I felt like I needed to give them more of me than I had, but always seemed to find the energy.
As the years past, I always felt connected to each of them; watching their budding personalities and seeing them grow into some really wonderful people. This bliss all ended when they turned 16.5 years old. Suddenly, I became this uncool guy that had "unreasonable" rules. I was mean, yelled alot and expected that they act like people that had manners. I mean, asking them to put a dish in the dishwasher was like congress declaring war.
Today, I find myself wondering why I became a parent. I was actually very happy to have children until the aliens came down from afar and stole them from me. My Friends tell me that they will return soon, around age 20. I am starting to see the return on my oldest who is on the verge of 20. Our relationship is almost back to normal. I asked her where she went and her response was "it is a secret - no parent is allowed to know where we go because they always return us." She said, you went their too when you were 16.5 and returned home when you were 20 but they made you forget." Perhaps she is right - I do remember times when I thought my parents were pretty uncool and wanted to spend every waking minute with my awesome and cool friends. I guess I never realized how traumatic it was on my parents or those that cared about me.
Anyway - I have made a decision as I journey through this right of passage as a parent - I will be glad when it is done and I have my normal kids back. I know they will be adults then, but at least I can see what they have become. I wonder though - will I still like them? Wow - that's a thought. I do know that I am ready for the teenage years to end. I only hope when my kids are parents and they have teenagers - they get to experience everything they have helped me experience as a parent of teenagers. I guess mom was right - pay back is really a bitch.
As the years past, I always felt connected to each of them; watching their budding personalities and seeing them grow into some really wonderful people. This bliss all ended when they turned 16.5 years old. Suddenly, I became this uncool guy that had "unreasonable" rules. I was mean, yelled alot and expected that they act like people that had manners. I mean, asking them to put a dish in the dishwasher was like congress declaring war.
Today, I find myself wondering why I became a parent. I was actually very happy to have children until the aliens came down from afar and stole them from me. My Friends tell me that they will return soon, around age 20. I am starting to see the return on my oldest who is on the verge of 20. Our relationship is almost back to normal. I asked her where she went and her response was "it is a secret - no parent is allowed to know where we go because they always return us." She said, you went their too when you were 16.5 and returned home when you were 20 but they made you forget." Perhaps she is right - I do remember times when I thought my parents were pretty uncool and wanted to spend every waking minute with my awesome and cool friends. I guess I never realized how traumatic it was on my parents or those that cared about me.
Anyway - I have made a decision as I journey through this right of passage as a parent - I will be glad when it is done and I have my normal kids back. I know they will be adults then, but at least I can see what they have become. I wonder though - will I still like them? Wow - that's a thought. I do know that I am ready for the teenage years to end. I only hope when my kids are parents and they have teenagers - they get to experience everything they have helped me experience as a parent of teenagers. I guess mom was right - pay back is really a bitch.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)