I was a child once, I have 3 children of my own, I have been around children all of my life, and it seems that we are primed for teamwork at a very young age. When we are just toddlers we are told to take turns, to share, to cooporate, to listen, to "use our words," to follow the rules, to consider others feelings, and that there are consequences to all of our choices.
The best example of team work I have ever been part of, happened 3 years ago and all i could do is watch.
I was in the hospital, in labor with our youngest child. By all accounts the labor was running smoothly and consistent with my last 2 deliveries.
The doctor came in to break my water, and when she did, the umbilical cord, came out. To all of our surprise, we had an emergancy on our hands. (The umbilical cord is a life line to the baby, if it is cut off, the oxygen is cut off.) This is called a Prolapsed Cord.
Instantly, my doctor was on the bed with me, she began talking softly and camly, explaining exactly what was happening-she told me that she had to keep her hand on the baby's head as to keep it from cutting off the oxygen for the baby. My doctor told me to keep my eyes on her and to stay calm. (yeah, right)
The nurse who had been taking care of me had already jumped into action. I was moved onto another bed (along with the doctor who was attached to me) and being wheeled to the O.R. very quickly. Everything seemed so fast paced that I couldn't process what was happening quick enough.
The nurse was yelling orders to the team of other nurses as they were rushing around prepping for my c-section.
I noticed that my nurse was THE ONLY ONE speaking. My doctor was with me on the bed, and looking at my face, she only spoke to me calmly and quietly. The nurse seemed rushed and anxious but TOTALLY in charge.
We arrived in the O.R. and the anaesthesiologist greeted me, keeping his voice soft and calm. He told me what was happening and held my hand.
After what seemed like 15 seconds, my doctor was off the bed, hands washed, gloves on, medical apron on, hair in ponytail and cutting me open to save my littlest one.
I remember thinking "She was just "elbow deep" holding my baby's head in place and now she is cutting me open-not to mention wearing a ponytail!"
I blinked a couple of times and our baby was born!
A tiny and sweet little girl. Healthy.
11 minutes from the time my doctor has broken my water.
Leadership lesson?
Take initiative. See what needs done and do it! Had the nurses waited for the doctor to bark orders we might not have had a better outcome. The nurses knew that the doctor was concerned about ME and that they had to do the grunt work.
The doctor and the nurses knew the seriousness of the situation, she also knew that if I (the patient) saw her panic that things could get worse.
That day, nobody worried about who was most qualified, or who was in charge, or how they appeared to others. Ego was nowhere to be found.
While the doctor was assuring me, the nurses took charge and made things happen! From the moving me to another bed to the Doctor's ponytail, this was a team that worked together and had the same END in MIND.
Safety and wellbeing of Patient and child.
Job well done.
It is amazing what we can do when it doesn't matter who gets the credit.
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