A sign the move is a positive one.
Today, at my new job as a "Spiritual Care Coordinator" (a funny word for chaplain) for VistaCare Hospice, my supervisor out of the blue told me I could start a knitting group, as part of my methods of providing pastoral care. She added, "you know, like at the nursing homes you visit." And she told me I should also be playing my violin--also as part of pastoral care.
I knew there were going to be positive aspects to the new job!
There are no other knitters, as far as I can tell, among those who work at this office, though there are many people I haven't met yet. They've all been somewhat impressed by the meagre knitting I have demonstrated so far (namely, the red-and-yellow scarf featured in my last post). I'm actually suprised by how few knitters I've encountered at this job. At my last job, I knew a whole bunch of knitters. Of course, that was a much larger facility, and there was much more insanity, and we all know that where there is insanity, there are knitters too.
Its been a bit of a tough transition. I don't think I like working 5 days in a row. And I don't particularly like orientation. From my second day there I started begging, shamelessly, for anybody to take me out of the office. Finally on day 4 they listened to me and sent me out with a nurse to visit some folks. (I think they got tired of listening to me whine.) The nurse did all the driving so I got lots of knitting done that day.
And then today I followed the other chaplain, Diane, for a few hours. She's pretty new, too, having only been with VistaCare for about two months, but she has an impressive command of the really confusing paperwork and a lovely way of relating to everyone she meets. I am looking forward to working with her more often. She plays the piano really well. When we arrived at the nursing home today she sat down at the piano in the day hall and led an impromptu sing-a-long, which endeared her to all the staff there immediately. It made me so happy to sing along with her.
This was much more fun than the other work I've been doing. This is mostly sitting in the conference room, filling out form after form, reading the "Spiritual Care Coordinator Guide to Orientation" handbook, looking for the answers to the multiple-choice exam based on said handbook, and watching training videos, which are mostly a product of the VistaCare propaganda machine and not very educational.
Well, tomorrow I have my first "Interdisciplinary Group" meeting--meaning, a meeting of the whole team, and I am excited to meet the rest of the folks. Wish me luck. I will be bringing donuts to create a good first impression.
Oh and I want to post more pictures of the weekend. I am hoping Ryan will send some from out trip to Kirkwood. So Ryan, if you read this, send pictures, 'k? Please?
I knew there were going to be positive aspects to the new job!
There are no other knitters, as far as I can tell, among those who work at this office, though there are many people I haven't met yet. They've all been somewhat impressed by the meagre knitting I have demonstrated so far (namely, the red-and-yellow scarf featured in my last post). I'm actually suprised by how few knitters I've encountered at this job. At my last job, I knew a whole bunch of knitters. Of course, that was a much larger facility, and there was much more insanity, and we all know that where there is insanity, there are knitters too.
Its been a bit of a tough transition. I don't think I like working 5 days in a row. And I don't particularly like orientation. From my second day there I started begging, shamelessly, for anybody to take me out of the office. Finally on day 4 they listened to me and sent me out with a nurse to visit some folks. (I think they got tired of listening to me whine.) The nurse did all the driving so I got lots of knitting done that day.
And then today I followed the other chaplain, Diane, for a few hours. She's pretty new, too, having only been with VistaCare for about two months, but she has an impressive command of the really confusing paperwork and a lovely way of relating to everyone she meets. I am looking forward to working with her more often. She plays the piano really well. When we arrived at the nursing home today she sat down at the piano in the day hall and led an impromptu sing-a-long, which endeared her to all the staff there immediately. It made me so happy to sing along with her.
This was much more fun than the other work I've been doing. This is mostly sitting in the conference room, filling out form after form, reading the "Spiritual Care Coordinator Guide to Orientation" handbook, looking for the answers to the multiple-choice exam based on said handbook, and watching training videos, which are mostly a product of the VistaCare propaganda machine and not very educational.
Well, tomorrow I have my first "Interdisciplinary Group" meeting--meaning, a meeting of the whole team, and I am excited to meet the rest of the folks. Wish me luck. I will be bringing donuts to create a good first impression.
Oh and I want to post more pictures of the weekend. I am hoping Ryan will send some from out trip to Kirkwood. So Ryan, if you read this, send pictures, 'k? Please?
posted by Unknown | 8:49 PM
2 Comments:
I'm happy for you about the fun changes! After you wade through the orientation process, will your job mostly be about spending time with people?
Angi,
Spinningdoula
Congratulations on the new job - and the opportunity for knitting as public theology.
I loved the Thanksgiving photos, by the way. Alex is so adorable. I'm really glad that he's doing so well.
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