Climbing out of my comfort zone....again

Last week at work we were notified that one of our current coding coordinators has taken a temporary position back as a coder. This now leaves her position open on a temporary basis. Being I was one of 5 who applied for the 2 positions last Spring, my name was resurfaced as a possible candidate. I have been on the fence since reading that email. Trying to way the pros and cons of just taking that first step of applying.

Knowing what LeeAnn and Chris have been doing this past year, you definitely won't get a chance to code charts. Due to the workload that our coding coordinators have, I would have to give up training in the inpatient and daycare positions (I have trained an amazing 15 people since last May!! And I have been given feedback I was a good trainer too). I asked a few coworkers who's opinions I trust that I would receive a honest answer, plus two references from the study I just worked on. At first, I was pretty sure I was not wanting to try it - for starters I just got back from being away for 12 weeks!! But it was the positive comments I received such as that I am qualified and should try it. Coming with a background of low self-esteem that likes to creep up and you begin to doubt your capabilities - hearing that I would be qualified to take on this type of position felt pretty good. So then yesterday and this morning, I rethought about it more. I do have a "safety net" - the job is temporary - when it ends in March 2010, if I find that I am really not cut out to do this, I know that a coding job would be waiting for me and again the option if they want to me to go back to train new hires and cross train current employees as well.

One of the greatest weaknesses I will be facing with this position is public speaking. It is so not my cup of tea (though I have been told I am good at it). With everything it comes down to getting experience to feel that confidence of speaking in front of coworkers or even strangers. I know many don't know what coding/abstracting or Health Records Dept does other than store charts. Having been in this field since I was 16 as a file clerk where everything was paper (including our abstracting of data - quite the dark ages when you look back) and now everything is basically heading to be completely electronic!! This development will ultimately change my job description and responsibilities from what it is today. So looking ahead until "retirement" which is 20 years+, I figure I should take advantages to see what limits I am capable of reaching and what avenue that would bring me down too.

So this afternoon before the end of work - I just told myself - Go for it!! What do you have to lose? You can always decline it if offer to me. Remembering that it is temporary makes it not so scary as it is sort of a ticket out at the end of the tunnel if in the end I truly believe that is not the direction for me. I remind myself - if you don't try, you won't know will I?

So, one more expansion of my comfort zone - my move to Calgary 4 years ago has blessed me with opportunities to increase my confident level and self esteem that I did not know I was capable of having. Of course the support, encouragement and love from my family and friends behind me have been a blessing for me too. Thanks. I will keep you posted.