I Did It!!!

I turned 65 last week and retired from the hospital. It was a pretty hard decision to make, but once I made it, it was really hard to go to work. The last two weeks were busy with meetings and training my replacement. The corporation has re-structured the educator model, and all of the reports I was doing will still be the responsibility of the new educator, but other people will be doing them. The corporation also changed our "leveling" advancement, so some big changes came with that. Those level 15 (the highest level) will be responsible for many of the reports and meetings I used to attend. The educator will focus more on individual nurses and their needs, as well as the education for the department. She will have a specialist from the region who will help with the department education, which will be a good thing. All of the EDs in the region will have the same training. That will be a really good thing, but really different. You see, it was the perfect time to move out.On Dec. 3, the hospital sponsored an open house for me. It was scheduled for an hour, but we had folks coming in for another 45 minutes. I am posting a few of the pictures to show some of those who came.

Marian, Dora with Maclay, Evan with Jackson, Jaime, Kylie, Ryan, Jennie, Tamara (my niece) and Susan, my sister-in-law. All of my Utah children and grandchildren were there.
Evan and Jaime brought balloons, but the boys wanted to play with them.

The boys get the balloons. Grandpa is a pushover

Marla Frampton, ER Nurse and Bonnie Bateman, Financial Counselor

Dr Dean Shelton, ED MD. We have worked together since I started in the ED 25 years ago.

Left to right: Randi Abraham, risk management, Lori Bertelsen, Hospital Chief Nursing officer, former manager, and good Friend. Then Margaret and Kirk Mittelman. Dr Dean Shelton.

Jeannette and Jean, from UVRMC ED Margaret and Kirk Mittelman. (They teach EMT and Paramedic classes. He works as a Paramedic for Eagle Mountain FD and she is an RN. I have known them for many years also. ) In the middle is Daphne Thomas, my manager. Chief Marc Sanderson and Deputy Chief Dave Thomas (no relationship) from Pleasant Grove FD

Pat Roberts. She has retired, but continues to work 1 shift a week and covers for others frequently. She and I go back to the beginning of the ED. She was my manager several years ago. In fact, she gets called Ann and I get called Pat on a regular basis.

Stan Andreason, from Pleasant Grove Fire Department, Gary and Shirlee Best, former neighbors, as well as running ambulance with Shirlee for several years and in the ED for a few years. Dr. Lenard Brunsdale, ED physician. We have worked closely with ED and Scout activities.

Kristi Leaver, from Intermountain University. She is over all of the American Heart BLS and ACLS programs. I will continue to teach for her a few times in the next year (longer if she has her way!)

Wayne Watson adn Kathleen Merkley. They are from the corporate office, but I have known them and worked with them for many years.

My friend Ruth Caldwell. We went through nursing school together and worked together for several years. She is now the manager of the ED at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray.

The Hospital Administrator, Mike Olsen & Tami McDaniel from the business office. In the background is my replacement, Wynel Newman.