Thursday, December 3, 2009

Good news is good news

I unexpectedly had an awesome day at work today. Right now, the hall I work on is packed. I've been losing my mind dealing with high-maintenance clients, their unborn children, their abundant baggage, and their developmental, substance abuse, and mental health issues.

But today was the best I've had in months. All my residents got along! I had productive meetings! There was laughter! There was news of a bonus (holla!) that I wasn't expecting! There was an encouraging conversation with my supervisor, when she told me she understands second-shift burn-out, and is willing to put out 'feelers' for me on some potential new grant-funded positions!

On a high from all of this positivity, I agreed to be the agency's Substance Abuse Coordinator. It's not a new job or a promotion - more of a title I'm taking on for grant purposes (I tell myself this over and over to ease the fear that I'm taking on more responsibility without more compensation. Again). I'll continue to do the substance abuse work I've been doing since I started: dragging reluctant and sometimes kicking-and-screaming women to NA meetings, administering a drug/alcohol assessment tool to new residents, convincing (read: bribing, pleading, begging) residents to attend their recommended treatment classes day after day after day.... And pee testing.

So a little good news may be a dangerous thing. But I still want to celebrate.

2 comments:

  1. Sigh. I wish they would come up with a cheap alternative to the pee test. It's one of my least, least, least favorite things to do at the crisis pregnancy center where I volunteer. You're doing wonderful work, Karen!

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  2. I'm just thankful that I no longer have to supervise UA's daily, like I did at the center where I worked in Portland. I had to see a lot of pee. (...And I think I may have stumbled upon the long lost lines of a never-before read Dr. Seuss book.)

    Thanks for the encouragement, Hannah.

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