From left to right: Jeff Jaco, Will Jaco, Babie Jaco (Columbia), Team Member Holly Shaw, David Anderson and Team Member Michelle Anderson. Past RI Director David (Myrtle Beach) and Sarah Michaux also attended but escaped the camera, as did Team Leader (and mini bus driver) Rodney Spokes by taking the photographs.Monday, 6 July 2009
RI Convention Hospitality
From left to right: Jeff Jaco, Will Jaco, Babie Jaco (Columbia), Team Member Holly Shaw, David Anderson and Team Member Michelle Anderson. Past RI Director David (Myrtle Beach) and Sarah Michaux also attended but escaped the camera, as did Team Leader (and mini bus driver) Rodney Spokes by taking the photographs.
On the Host Hospitality Monday evening, Rotarian John and Gill Saunders of the Rotary Club of Leicester kindly opened their house and garden to provide a barbeque so GSE hosts from 7770 and team members could get together. Left to right: David Walker, Missy Walker, Team member Jane Maddison, District Governor Ann Walker and Lottie Menor (Myrtle Beach)
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
My Experience of Group Study Exchange
What a fantastic experience it was, spending four weeks in South Carolina as part of a team of four Healthcare Professionals and a Rotarian team leader who returned just over a week ago as very good friends.
The southern hospitality, warm welcomes and being made to feel a part of so many families was surreal. My new friends (extended family) have been able to keep in touch since my return with facebook, e.mail and hopefully in the future the odd visit.
Now that i am back at work my enthusiasm to implement changes that i have observed whilst in the USA is immense. I have had the opportunity to have several conversations with my manager who was a great support to me prior to this trip and is as keen to listen to my ideas as i am to talk.
A few interesting differences in the hospital facilities which i am sure could be a success here!!! were the valet parking, the spacious private rooms with en-suite facilities and and flat screen TV's on the walls. The phrase 5* hotels came to mind several times, during our visits.
Customer care played a vital role in the nurses day, the 10-2 rule was outstanding if you are in a corridor and within 10ft of someone you acknowledge them i.e a smile if you are within 2ft you speak i.e. good morning etc. Each nurse i spoke to felt they were valued by the hospital management and was proud to be a nurse within their hospital.
We were very privileged to be able meet with the Chief Executive Officers and the Directors (Matron's) of each department in the hospital and to share our healthcare systems. To meet with our counterparts in the USA and to be able to share our profession ensured that they learnt from us as much as we learnt from them and this we both found to be an immensely valuable experience.
This opportunity took me out of my comfort zone. The confidence, team building and leadership skills i have gained will have a positive impact on my career, personal and professional development. This Exchange is definitely a once-in-a-life time opportunity that i would promote and recommend to any young professional.
The southern hospitality, warm welcomes and being made to feel a part of so many families was surreal. My new friends (extended family) have been able to keep in touch since my return with facebook, e.mail and hopefully in the future the odd visit.
Now that i am back at work my enthusiasm to implement changes that i have observed whilst in the USA is immense. I have had the opportunity to have several conversations with my manager who was a great support to me prior to this trip and is as keen to listen to my ideas as i am to talk.
A few interesting differences in the hospital facilities which i am sure could be a success here!!! were the valet parking, the spacious private rooms with en-suite facilities and and flat screen TV's on the walls. The phrase 5* hotels came to mind several times, during our visits.
Customer care played a vital role in the nurses day, the 10-2 rule was outstanding if you are in a corridor and within 10ft of someone you acknowledge them i.e a smile if you are within 2ft you speak i.e. good morning etc. Each nurse i spoke to felt they were valued by the hospital management and was proud to be a nurse within their hospital.
We were very privileged to be able meet with the Chief Executive Officers and the Directors (Matron's) of each department in the hospital and to share our healthcare systems. To meet with our counterparts in the USA and to be able to share our profession ensured that they learnt from us as much as we learnt from them and this we both found to be an immensely valuable experience.
This opportunity took me out of my comfort zone. The confidence, team building and leadership skills i have gained will have a positive impact on my career, personal and professional development. This Exchange is definitely a once-in-a-life time opportunity that i would promote and recommend to any young professional.
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Reflections of a Rotary Exchange
Having been home just over a week now it is fair to say not only am I missing the great southern hospitality, my great team mates, and warm weather well just about everyting about the exchange. Give me a case and plane ticket and I would be packed and ready in 10 minutes! ( Well may'be 20 mins it takes alot of consideration what to pack for a month in the states!).
Three twelve hour night shifts were enough to re-affirm my feet on English ground and to reflect on my exchange to South Carolina. So many great things to remember and great to keep in contact with friends through facebook and email.
I have been able to share with my colleagues some of the interesting differences in ER nursing I observed whilst on exchange and hope to implement some of the ideas I believe will benefit patient care in the department I work in. The vocational visits were immensley valuable in gaining an insight and understanding of my profession in another country so much so I am considering working abroad as part of my professional development.
I feel very privelledged to have met the vast variety of health professionals we were fortunate enough to meet and share with them our experiences of health care.
I have made many contacts I hope to network with to benefit both sides of the pond in terms of sharing professional information. It was also good to know that we share the same kind of challenges!
The leadership skills developed as being part of a team, time management and the public speaking endured on many an occasion with palpitations before my turn !Will be invaluable and no doubt follow me through my professional career and life! I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be choosen for a Rotary exchange and would advocate it as a positive and life changing experience.
Three twelve hour night shifts were enough to re-affirm my feet on English ground and to reflect on my exchange to South Carolina. So many great things to remember and great to keep in contact with friends through facebook and email.
I have been able to share with my colleagues some of the interesting differences in ER nursing I observed whilst on exchange and hope to implement some of the ideas I believe will benefit patient care in the department I work in. The vocational visits were immensley valuable in gaining an insight and understanding of my profession in another country so much so I am considering working abroad as part of my professional development.
I feel very privelledged to have met the vast variety of health professionals we were fortunate enough to meet and share with them our experiences of health care.
I have made many contacts I hope to network with to benefit both sides of the pond in terms of sharing professional information. It was also good to know that we share the same kind of challenges!
The leadership skills developed as being part of a team, time management and the public speaking endured on many an occasion with palpitations before my turn !Will be invaluable and no doubt follow me through my professional career and life! I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be choosen for a Rotary exchange and would advocate it as a positive and life changing experience.
Monday, 6 April 2009
Leaving party
Friday night we had a great farewell party at Alison's house joined by host families, friends and rotarians we had met along the way including the out going 'GSE' team and Anne Walker District Governor. We were spoilt with the great food everyone had brought, and Marshall made the most delicous margaritas ( thanks for the headache the next day and for loaning me your umbrella during the very English like rain!). We were presentede with some gifts and made some farewell speeches. We all had a fab time but were sad knowing we were going home tommorow leaving the great state of SC and our 'awesome' new friends. Thank you all for the fantastic opportunity of GSE and making it such an amazing time.
Saturday, 4 April 2009
Rain!!
Thursday: A previous Team Leader (no names mentioned) had told us it had not rained whilst he was in District 7770. But on Thursday we had 3.5 inches of rain - the normal total amount for the whole of April. A change of plans and whilst Steve went to meet the quality team at the Medical University of South Carolina (and returned weighed down with books) and Michelle went out with a nurse led home care team, Holly, Jane and Rodney visited the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (Photo). Pat Campbell took us for an interesting visit to the exhibition and a break in the rain to visit the flight deck. A great party in the evening with "bring and share" food which would have fed the entire neighbourhood - joining members of the Rotary Club of East Cooper at the home of Paul and Anjie Curry.
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