Posted Nov. 24, 2020, 3:20 p.m. by Lieutenant Seraphina Walsh (Chief Medical Officer) (Katherine Dedul)
Posted by Lieutenant Commander Vanessa Lofton (Counselor) in CNS Office - CMO Checking In
<snip>Sera took a sip of her latte, “I suppose I wanted a change of pace, albeit a slight one. I’m used to running departments with seasoned officers under me, though I do get the occasional ‘green’ ensign. I found I enjoyed teaching those younger officers how to juggle what can sometimes seem like a horribly overwhelming job. If I can coach a few more good doctors to handle the demands of the job, I think Starfleet as a whole will be better off as well.”
~Seraphina Walsh~
Vanessa nodded along, flashing a brief smile. “That does seem a worthy goal.” She sipped her cocoa, contemplating the doctor’s statement before continuing. “Do you find the job ‘horribly overwhelming’ at times?”
Sometimes the way people phrased things could lead to things they didn’t consciously realize; it varied from person to person, but it was her job to help them determine that.
Lt. Cmdr. Lofton - CNS
“When I first started, yes,” Sera replied honestly, “It took some time to figure out a balance that worked for me and I’ve seen similar struggles among newer doctors and nurses that landed in my departments. I grew up in a starfleet family, but even I found myself surprised at some of the challenges of the job when I finished at the academy. I thankfully had a supportive department head who encouraged me to find ways to cope with the demands of the job, rather than just expecting me to be able to figure it out on my own. I try to offer the same attitude to those who serve under me.”
~Seraphina Walsh~
Vanessa nodded. “That’s good to hear,” she replied. “Medical sees more than its share of early burnouts. I sometimes worry you are burdened with too much responsibility out here in the cold.”
She took a last sip of the cocoa and set it aside. “What helps you maintain that balance?”
Lt. Cmdr. Lofton - CNS
“I always make time for hobbies,” Sera took a sip of her latte again, speaking in a thoughtful tone, “I play the violin, and I rather like horseback riding and hiking, which is usually what you find me doing on the holodeck. I also meditate, daily when I can, I find it helps to focus my mind, particularly being three-quarters Betazoid, I sometimes can be drained from sensing the more extreme emotions that often wind up in my sickbay during a crisis. If I’m in the middle of a crisis, if I can’t get away, I’ve learned that focusing intensely on one task at a time without thinking about the next task until it’s done helps to stop the overwhelming feelings. It keeps the stress level much more manageable when you’re just thinking of one thing or one patient rather than the several that are waiting behind your current concern.”
~Seraphina Walsh~
© 1991-2024 STF. Terms of Service
Version 1.15.11
RSS Feed