Why A Scrub’s Life?

So, today is a milestone for me.  It’s my birthday, and I have been writing this blog for four years this month.  To honor the occasion, I thought I would switch it up a bit and be a little reflective.

I didn’t really start writing the blog four years ago.  It was more like three months earlier.  It took a bit of courage to actually launch it.  Several months of courage in fact.  But I knew I wanted to reach out to people like me, maybe offer them some insight, tips, and share things I had learned along my career.

I wish I could tell you that I was destined to be an ASC leader.  I was not.

My career grew out of necessity and practicality.  I started  college at night as a young mom.  I had worked as a practice manager and occasional scrub tech during the day, and decided to pursue nursing.  I applied for nursing school, got accepted, and began nursing in the Emergency Department.  After a year there, having no time for family or sleep, a colleague told me about the ASC nearby, where you could work without call or weekends.  I applied and got the job.  I started in the PACU, and learned everything I could.  I loved it.  I learned how to circulate, became Risk and Quality Manager, then Nurse Manager.  A couple years in, I packed my life up and moved to Atlanta, got my Bachelor’s and continued learning and doing, and managing centers.  I loved what I was doing, but felt like I was in a silo.  I only saw peers at meetings, but did not feel much support or resources from people like me.  The idea for my blog began.

My first subscribers, other than family, were people I worked with.  Slowly, over time, more people found out about the blog, and my followers grew.  Then Dan O’Connor reached out to me after reading my blog about my brother and I, and our never ending dishes war, and published it in Outpatient Surgery Magazine.  I had all the feels.  Here is the “Don’t Soak The Pans” blog if you didn’t see it.

Starting Cases on time: Don’t let the pans soak…

Since I started writing the blog, a lot has changed.   I had a good number of requests from peers needing help with a policy, a challenge or a process.  I found myself mentoring a lot, then getting referrals requesting help with an upcoming accreditation survey, a leadership change, and I loved it.   I had been there, and I loved providing the support.   A bit over a year ago, I grew to full time on my own terms, through my growing business.  I now have clients that are building new centers and running small and large facilities.  I’ve joined forces with a couple of like minded ladies who are awesome, built an education website,  and I’m learning and doing new things every day.

Some of you have been along the journey with me since the beginning.  Some of you are newer.  I am grateful to you all, that you take the time to take a minute out of your day to read this.  Hopefully, I’ve given you a smile, a laugh, an insight or a perspective.

So, as you continue to survive and thrive The Daily Adventures of Managing Surgery, I’ll hopefully continue to say hi every couple of weeks and share some of my adventures as well.  I hope you don’t feel siloed, but if you do, know that I’m here.  And on this milestone day, I thank you.  For being here and all you do.

~Leslie