I used to work in a very busy, urban medical center as a nurse in the operating room. I worked with highly educated people and some that were still in high school. I have never considered myself a super intellect; however I do feel I was blessed with some common sense. So placing all of us on even grounds I could not understand why we all could not just do our jobs to the best of our abilities.
It takes everyone-I don’t feel I’ve ever asked others to do what I would not do myself. Having started my career as a nurse’s aide in a local nursing home, I have never forgotten what it’s like to come up through the ranks. There was one person whom I learned so much from. Unfortunately, I have long since forgotten her name, however, I will never forget the lesson she taught me. I encountered her early in my career when I was a sophomore in college and worked as a nurse’s aide one summer. This individual was also a nurse’s aide and for some reason decided to take me under her wing to teach me all she knew. I can remember test questions on my board exam that I’m sure I passed because of her teachings and her sharing of knowledge. I also learned another very important lesson from her in that summer. She taught by example and imagined herself in her patient’s shoes. Once when we were making a bed together and repositioning a patient she was meticulous about getting the patient in just the right position. As we walked out of the room together she said that I should go home that night and place a wrinkle in my bed sheets I was to sleep on and see how long it took to become very uncomfortable. I did as she instructed and I never forgot to place myself in the other person’s shoes. That such a lesson was learned from one with minimum formal education, but tons of practical experience was the reason I swore that I would treat co-workers as equals and know that everyone has something to offer. All we have to do is take the time to look and listen to know what it is people have to offer. When is the last time you really tried to learn and listen to a co-worker that wasn’t on the same rung of the career ladder? We need to learn from everyone or else we’re missing out on a whole lot of learning!
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