This is an extremely difficult goodbye for me to make. Given the current state of the department, it may seem as if I’m bailing from a slowly sinking ship. However, I assure you that my departure has nothing to do with you. Prior to arriving at our department, I was unsure whether I would connect with my team on the same level as I did with my old family at the IMAX. Moreover, going from a happy-go-lucky movie theater to a level 1 trauma hospital was an intimidating transition. After four and half years of working alongside you as a sterile processing technician, I am now in a similar position as I wonder if my next adventure will be as pleasant as the one I shared with you.
Our world of sterile processing is extremely fascinating to me. We literally work on a floor called the “Sub Lower Level” that is two stories underground and sees no natural light whatsoever. We are mainly in support of the OR who work directly above us and are essentially gods to us as they heavily influence how our days go while they work their miracles. We take on their mess of bioburden and transform it into purity so that it can help save another life. Yet, it is a thankless job from the outside world. I have never had the pleasure of being personally thanked by a patient who was helped with the thousands of instrumentation I maintain and care for. However, this is understandable and entirely expected. We do not directly help the patient, but rather we help indirectly. When my mom makes me a bomb meal, I do not tend to thank the farmers. I thank the chef.
Nonetheless, I believe that sterile processing technicians deserve dramatically more respect than they get. Our jobs require us to follow a strict protocol to ensure the sterility of instrumentation for the safety of the patient without the presence of the patient. I have an IMMENSE amount of respect for the OR, however, it is easier to work in the best interest of the patient when you are directly working with him/her/them. The way in which we help the patient is similar to someone adding money into a tip jar without being recognized for their generosity. Of course, I am not going to say that every sterile processing technician follows all the protocols all the time and is intrinsically motivated to do the right thing for goodness sake. After all, it is a job and it can be said that we just do it for the money. But to persevere in a thankless job when you are someone motivated by external reward can be an extremely difficult thing to do. For this reason, I think those of us that have lasted in this position must by nature be generous and self-sacrificing souls.
That being said, there still poses a problem for me that is contradictory. Why is there so much negativity in the department? I have been thinking about this for a long time and I think I have an idea. This wouldn’t be a Wilby post without one last psychology lesson!
So there is this idea called embodied cognition. It argues that our thinking and cognition are influenced by what our bodies physically go through. What you do with your body day in and day out helps shape the way that you think. The yogi that stretches each day not only makes herself physically more flexible but their mind as well. How does this apply to our job? A big chunk of our jobs revolves around monitoring for bioburden and eradicating it. Bioburden, to us, is a big no-no. It is a source of negativity, a source that unfortunately we have trained ourselves to constantly be on the search for. I can’t help but think that this daily search for bioburden has influenced us to look for negativity in other parts of our lives with similar tenacity. It seems to me that we’re quick to notice the flaws of our coworkers and environment but fail to give that same energy to the good that surrounds us. I honestly do not think I worked a single day this year where I did not hear at least one employee state “I want to go home,” in a lethargic way.
Our thankless jobs and enhanced sensitivity to negativity can be a dangerous combo if left unchecked. I think the spiritual balance is completely out of whack. It is entirely up to you to combat this pessimism with honesty, optimism, and gratitude. I challenge you all to become curious and search for the good and beauty that is everywhere in SPD. I challenge you to not make blind assumptions regarding the behavior and character of your peers. I myself have always tried to see the good in you all and it is absolutely present in everyone. I cannot stress enough how much I have grown and blossomed working alongside you and it is because of the brilliant and beautiful souls that surrounded me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I wish SLL the absolute best. I represented my old job the IMAX every single day at the hospital with my lanyard, so you best believe I will be representing the SLL every day in my next chapter. So long, SLL.
People I’d like to thank:
Miriam, Lindsay, Kylie, Jacoby, Dakota, Lex, James, Natasha, Eden, Erik, Bob, Alex, Nana, Morty, Carmen, Zach, Steph, Shawna, Sommer, Keia, Megan, Gooch, Mike, Jodi, Cathy, Jen, Donna, Berto, Robin, Matt, Darline, Atiya, Adrielys, Courtney, Sam, Al, Casey, Tom, Khadijah, Angel, Arianny, Janette, Yonette, Michelle, Ruben, Angie, Chelsea, Brooke, Jose, Anne, Jessica, Maggie, Felicia, Josh, Julie, and anyone else who has made me smile as I wore scrubs.
Cosmic Latte 