Recently one of my coworkers shared this story with our facility:
During my second year of nursing school our professor gave us a pop quiz. I breezed through the questions until I read the last one. "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times, but how would I know her name? I handed in the paper, leaving the last question blank. Before the class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our grade. "Absolutely," the professor said. "In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello." I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy. - -Joann Jones, Guideposts
The impact this story had on my day was incredible. All day I found myself noticing the people working around me and realizing their contribution to the function of our facility and how that impacted my day. Like puzzle pieces, each person from the cook to the administrator added to create the whole picture. One missing piece leaves a hole that distracts from the completed picture. I saw individuals everyday but I did not know their name or job title. I made a conscious decision to learn at least one new name a week and have some contact with that person whether it is in person or on the phone. The result of these efforts has increased my job satisfaction because work is simpler and more enjoyable. It is amazing how much easier it is to get a request fulfilled when the person can put a name and feeling to a face.
Each member of ASPSN is a unique piece of the larger puzzle picture. Some members prefer to run for board positions, while others enjoy committee and task force work. Some members write for our journal and/or newsletter while other members enjoy the educational and networking aspects of ASPSN. No matter the level of involvement, each member of ASPSN is an integral part of the whole society. Your 2007 ASPSN board is committed to each and every member of ASPSN. We want to hear your ideas, suggestions, comments, and questions. We hope to inspire each member to increase his or her level of involvement in the coming year. ASPSN is a society made up of a variety of nurses representing the many fields of plastic surgery, each an integral part of the whole. With increased involvement in ASPSN, your satisfaction with the organization will increase and you receive the added benefit of getting to know all the individual members of our society. Look to the Web site for contact information and updates on our society.
We look forward to hearing from you.