Caught Caring

Simple things give our lives meaning and texture. Recently, I was in the NICU with two of my colleagues, Ron and Jason. We were discussing how, on a bad day, the littlest things can turn the entire day around.

An example is when my husband sets the coffeemaker. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but when I get up at an unspeakable hour of the morning to go to work, I have a fresh hot cup of coffee. My day gets off to a great start. This small token of love means the world to me. Ron's wife makes incredible candy apples - big, fat, and juicy! These yummy treats disappear in two shakes after being cut into pieces and distributed to the unit. Everyone has a much better shift.

Donna, one of the nurses in the NICU, brings "Better Than Sex" cake to work on Sundays, and the mood of the department is instantly lifted. FYI: There is a to-die for recipe from Paula Deen, the diva of southern cooking, on Foodnetwork.com. Yes, we respiratory therapists love to eat!

In our respiratory care department there is a board called the "Caught Caring" board. Anyone can leave a note on this board: an "atta boy" or a "thank you" to someone who helped you out. It is a celebration of teamwork. The "Caught Caring" board has evolved over the years. It started as a poster with sticky notes all over it like a really bad hair day. It has become a dry-erase board with bright colored pens and an eraser. It is looking much more slick and professional these days. Every week it is filled with notes.

When I hear the cry of a critically ill premature infant and I finally know everything is going to be OK, then in that moment I know I chose wisely in my profession - no matter how much chaos is going on around me. What keeps your department and colleagues going through a tough day? How do you recognize excellence? Drop me a line.