Saying goodbye

[girloutnumbered]

I work in a 20 bed cardiothoracic intensive care unit, caring for both adult and paediatric patients.

In December, this unit closes and the adults move to a brand new unit in a brand new hospital. The paediatric patients are separating off and moving to the childrens hospital.

Has anyone else been through this?? Any tips for surviving??

Also, does anyone have any ideas for a closing ceremony for something special to mark the closure of a world renowned centre and the division of its staff and patients. As you can imagine, this is a very emotional and sad time for us all.

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

Sounds like you have a lot of happy memories of your work there. I hope things are as pleasant in your new facility :). It's normal for you to feel this sense of loss and stress at so much change, even when you're prepared for it.

Possibly an open house? (Or a close house, technically, I guess.) Newspapers often like these types of "human interest" stories. Encourage anyone who wants to submit memories of their time there (current and former staff, patients.)

[girloutnumbered]

We have decided to hold a final farewell lunch (everyone bring something to share) in the last week that we are open. Everyone has been invited to bring a flower to place in a vase. The following day, half of these flowers will be transferred to the new paediatric unit with those staff and then the remaining flowers will go with the other staff to the new adult unit.

Other ideas for closing the hospital as a whole include:

1. a memory book for all to write in

2. a timecapsule with something put in from each ward/unit which will be buried in the new hospital

3. everyone is invited to bring a rock to the last celebration and these will be collected and a stone cairn built with them somewhere on the old site.

4. all invited to bring a floating candle to light and float at the last ceremony

Some great ideas have come out