ASSIGNMENT GA3-240202501-AA2-EV03 - ADAPTING, OVERCOMING, AND GROWING -

Dear Readers, in this post I'd like to talk about sharing life experiences. Based on key aspects of  my professional background, I will tell you a story from my workplace where I had to be flexible and adapt to a new situation due to a change in the process. As part of this reflection, I will answer three important questions:

1.  What was the result of the experience?
2.  How did your flexibility and adaptability help you to deal with the situation?
3.  Would you change anything in order to deal in a better way with it?

So pay close attention to this story I'm about to share with you!

 

MY FLEXIBILITY AND ADAPTATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

One time at work I was flexible and adapted to a new situation or a change in the process was when During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was working as the chief emergency physician at San Paco Hospital in Cali, Colombia. Due to a severe shortage of staff, I had to take on additional responsibilities beyond my original role. Although I remained the head of emergency medicine, I also had to act as the head nurse supervisor for the emergency area.

This unexpected situation required me to adapt quickly. I had to coordinate nurse’s shifts, manage the distribution of patients across different emergency cubicles according to triage levels, and oversee medical supplies and inventory. I was also responsible for deciding which patients should be referred to the COVID area and assigning patients to different doctors.

At the same time, I continued with regular duties, which include evaluating the performance of resident doctors, making clinical rounds with the medical team, reviewing diagnoses, and ensuring proper patient follow-ups.

 What was the result of the experience?

The experience had a very positive outcome despite the challenges. The emergency area was able to continue functioning under extreme pressure, and patients received the care they needed. By taking on both medical and nursing leadership roles, I helped maintain a reduced staff. The hospital valued my commitment, and I gained respect from both nurses and doctors for my support and leadership during the crisis.

How did your flexibility and adaptability help you to deal with the situation?

My flexibility allowed me to quickly step into a new role and take on responsibilities that were not originally part of my job. I adapted by learning how to coordinate nursing tasks, manage logistics, and support both patients and staff. Instead of focusing only on my medical duties, I became a link between all parts of the emergency service. This helped reduce confusion, improved communication, and kept the team united during a very stressful time.

Would you change anything in order to deal in a better way with it?

If I had the chance, I would try to set up a small emergency support team to delegate tasks more efficiently. Doing everything myself was very exhausting and sometimes overwhelming. Having a group of trusted assistants or team leaders could have helped share responsibilities, reduce pressure, and improve decision-making in real time.

Still, I’m proud of how I managed the situation with the resources we had. Facing a crisis like this for the first time pushed me to try to stay in control of everything, instead of delegating certain tasks. During this time, more than ever, we were dealing with the loss of lives and an uncontrolled epidemic, a situation that truly had all of us feeling afraid. But we had to show strength in front of others. 

Yes, dear readers, the COVID era was a very tough time that changed all of us as human beings in many different ways. 

And how did it change you? Let me know down below in the comments!