Skip to main content

Coming back home

In my previous posts, I alluded a little to a career change. I am writing this for myself as a reminder to always stick to where your heart is at...

1 year ago, my liver transplant program had to go inactive and it was very stressful for me. I had to find new transplant centers to list my patients and had to have some very hard conversations. Some of my patients did not have the financial resources or transportation to go to another city to get their transplants. 

When you are a transplant coordinator, you become more than a nurse to your patients. You become a sort of a familial extension. You learn about their extensive social history, marital struggles, their grandchildren, their addictions, their sacrifices, their blood pressure, and everything in between. A transplant is more than surgery. It is a lifestyle change. I always explained to my patients that preparing for a transplant is like pregnancy, the surgery is like birth, and then you have a life of taking care of that organ. 

Leaving transplant made me cry many tears, but looking at my career timeline - it seemed like a good time to transition to something where I would be using my master's degree. So I moved over to a corporate role as a Quality Improvement Specialist. I remember ugly crying in my boss's office when I told them I would be leaving. Maybe that was a sign I was making a poor choice in hindsight...

This year I have learned so much about data, hospital metrics, the inner workings of running a hospital, and leadership. I have been thrown under the bus, made to feel inadequate, made to feel like a snake (I do many audits....). It has been equally humbling as it has been growing for me as a professional. 

Not a day goes by that I don't wonder about my transplant patients, and miss working with my team who were truly like a family. Coming to work was like home. 

So when 2 weeks ago, my former boss asked me to come back to transplant, as he is hiring a Quality Improvement Nurse for the transplant team - it was impossible to say no. When I told him I am pregnant, and he perhaps may not want me - his response was of great excitement followed by him telling me "You can work remotely. Whatever you need to do..."

My current role does not hold such flexibility. My current role wants me doing leadership rounding on covid units, despite being pregnant. I get 9pm text messages telling me I have to come in for an emergency 7 am meeting the next morning. I always wondered "how will I do this when I'm a Mom?" 

So it is with great relief, happiness, and excitement I announce that I officially signed my offer letter to return to the transplant team as a quality specialist. Win win as I will be using my masters while working in an area of medicine I am so passionate about! I will join the team during a very exciting time, as we have been "inactive" for livers and hearts over the past year -- and will be re-opening those programs with the goal of having the best quality. I can't wait to be a part of this exciting adventure, and to work with people who are like family. 

And, I get to work from home and work out a flexible work schedule so Baby Namaste will only need to do a few days/week of daycare! 

Comments

Lisa's Yarns said…
Yay!! Mom, dad and I were just talking about how we were wondering if you have gotten the job yet. I am so very happy for you. I hope this is a role you can settle into for a long time! Since becoming a mom, I have learned how important work/life balance is and working for a company that respects the role of parents. I would say I have a demanding job but they have been so understanding during my pregnancies and I have a generous maternity leave and vacation time. Being able to work from home will be great, too. Life is really hectic when you are trying to get out of the house with a baby. So it will be good to not have such a crazy morning schedule. As much as I miss working in the office, I don’t miss all of us rushing out the door at 6:50!!!
Marlys said…
I am elated that you landed this job and all the good things that are happening in your life recently! I know how you loved your transplant family and it must feel like “going home.” How perfect that you can use your education and apply it to an area you are passionate about. Here’s cheers to you!
Lizzie G. said…
This is awesome news!!!! I'm so happy for you!! What a perfect role for you💕💕💕
Anne said…
I'm a new reader, but so appreciate what you shared here. After several career... detours, let's call them... I finally realized what MY passion is not what other people think it should be. (I'm actually on the academic side, which I know is not your favorite from reading other posts...:>) Anyway, so glad to say that you will be able to connect what you've learned in the last year + with your passion and career home.

Popular posts from this blog

One Confused Lady

Yesterday morning was packed with a session of cross training.....rushed home to shower and get professional-looking....headed across town for an interview.....kicked butt at my interview...."bopped" over to our house to see the progress of the build......headed to the "design center" to sign more paperwork.... (Side note: I cannot get over just how much paperwork is involved in building a house. Holy Hannah. And we haven't even closed !!! Iy-yi-yi....Those lovely people in history who got law-suit-happy.....God bless 'em.) Yesterday was a good day! So here's a little humor for your Thursday. A little thought. A little depth.....( A little cynical rant ) Afterwards, I decided to head to one of my favorite places to peruse.... Target. But my experience at Target was far from fun, relaxing, or pleasant. Just confusing. Loud. Crazy. Despite many screaming children-temper tantrums.... Which is common and un-escapable. Although screaming chi...

A weekend of the great outdoors

As I am preparing for my return to the real world tomorrow, I feel a strong sense of dread. As I won't have a weekend or free week for a long while! Instead of focusing on that.......I'm sharing a few snapshots from our awesome weekend! This weekend we were in Big Lake, AZ -- which is about 20 miles from the New Mexico border (just 5 1/2 hours from our house). (last weekend we were in Parker Canyon...which I will blog about another day) We camped from Friday-Monday, which was the perfect length of time. The temperatures were a great escape from hot Tucson. In fact...it was VERY cold at night. It was in the low 30's at night, 60's during the day. The trout fishing was incredible. Here's a few snapshots: Home Sweet Home for the weekend! Look at the giant tree I cut down!!! Wow!! (Okay, this was posed...) But...Ryan did teach me how to use a wood-saw! There were tons of dead/fallen trees lying around. So we cut all our firewood for the weekend! I felt very ...

Winter Storm hits the desert?!

Happy New Years Eve to all. I hope everyone is able to celebrate with family, friends, or loved ones tonight! And -- I hope everyone has a safe evening!! Be careful out there! We are finally experiencing some "weather" here in Tucson. I use "quotation marks"...because this "weather" the Tucsonan's are FLIPPING OUT over is just a "chilly October Day" in North Dakota (where I came from) Yesterday morning...I was getting off work. I could hear the wind blowing, and the rain falling throughout the night. There were moments where...I kind of want to crawl into one of the hospital beds and take a snooze. When 7:30 am rolled around, I was very anxious to go home after 3 nights on. I was ready to BOLT out the door.... ...when I was stopped by an oncoming shift coworker, who stated, "Abby, maybe you should stick around until the weather clears up. It's pretty bad out there...." FEeling concerned, I asked, "Really? Are th...