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Jan and husband, Jim, at Kagawa
Un School of Nursing |
I spent
a few hectic weeks corresponding with my colleague, Professor Kimie Tanimoto, from Kagawa School of Nursing, and preparing my first HUG Your Baby presentation in Japan. Hoping for a show of 15 faculty and students, and happy to chat with 10, imagine my
surprise when Director of Nursing, Dr. Shimizu, welcomed me and 82 others!
 |
| Professor Kimie Tanimoto |
Since faculty from all areas of nursing were invited to my presentation, Kimie
had suggested a broader (than just newborns) topic for discussion. Kimie
also willingly served as IT expert, logistics director and translator as I,
phrase by translated phrase, began “The Nurse as Innovator: HUG Your Baby as
One Example of What Nurses Can Do.”
 |
Kagawa Un School of Nursing faculty &
students get the first HUG in Japan |
While
discussing the expected steps to reaching a dream (set goals [and write them
down], research, take action, share goals and collaborate, evaluate and
redesign), I discussed some of the more tender and challenging moments for me
in the birth of HUG Your Baby: recognizing and addressing my internal
insecurities and resistance, choosing carefully those to share my dream
with initially,
dealing with failure, committing to small steps even when the goal seems quite
unattainable, and being open to discovering new passions and skills in myself.
(Who knew I would LOVE to tell stories?!)
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Nursing students from Kagawa
enjoy getting The HUG! |
The
obvious language barrier, and a cultural hesitancy to share feedback openly in
a group setting, made it difficult for me to access how well (or not) this
topic and my style were received. But, the joy of meeting colleagues
internationally has inspired me to push myself beyond my comfort zone and to
see what the world has to teach me!
