Posted by Captain Rende Asam (Commanding Officer) in Status Report

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Leah Hart (Nurse Practitioner/Counseling) in Status Report

Posted by Captain Rende Asam (Commanding Officer) in Status Report
Posted by… suppressed (10) by the Post Ghost! 👻
It had been a bit since Lt Hart had come on board. Their first meeting had been brief and focused on her XO, Cmdr. Alden. Rende decided it was time to check in.

So she made her way to deck 9 and sickbay to inquire about the new nurse.

Cpt. Asam, CO

Leah was sitting at one of the side stations entering notes from a patient. So far, her days seemed to be quite the mix between physical and mental health patients, which she had to admit she was enjoying. She loved working in mental health, but on the Sentinel she needed a broader approach and she had to admit it was nice to go back to her pure nursing roots.

One of the other nurses pointed Rende in Leah’s direction and Leah caught the motion out of the corner of her eye. She gave the captain a friendly smile, if strangely a it nervous. “Good day, Captain.”

~Leah Hart, NP

“Hello, Lt. I came to see how you are settling in,” Rende said as she came to a stop in front of the desk.

Cpt. Asam, CO

Leah took a measured breath. “Okay, I guess. It’s been quite busy, both with my specific patients, and with my duties in Sickbay. I like the team here though, and they’ve been really great.” Work was going well, even if she was still figuring out the nuances of working on a starship.

~Leah Hart, NP

Rende sat in a chair. “And how is Leah settling in to her new environment? This is your first ship side posting.”

Cpt. Asam, CO

Leah glanced at her screen for a moment, more to give herself the opportunity to decide how much she wanted to say or not. This was the captain after all, and the structure was vastly different here than at Starfleet Medical. She would never be having a conversation with someone so much higher above her in the chain of command. Or at least rarely.

At length Leah turned her head and looked at Captain Asam. “It’s been a bit bumpy, but these are still early days, yes?”

~Leah Hart, NP

Rende nodded, “They are. Bumps are okay though. It is how we grow, correct? If everything was easy, we would never have a reason to strive.”

Leah breathed out a snort, an acknowledge of the truth of the words even if they felt… actually, she wasn’t sure how they made her feel.

“A ship is much smaller and fewer people than working in any department at command. It can make some people feel very isolated,” she said knowingly. “You’ve had quite a lot dumped on you professionally.”

Cpt. Asam, CO

She dropped her gaze and Leah breathed deeply. For a moment Leah closed her eyes and then shook her head before she looked back up. “I’m really good at what I do, Captain. And I enjoy being here, and the people I work with. But I don’t have the support network I’m used to, nor the outlets that would help me cope with stress. The rules are different here, the expectations sometimes unspoken and I’m still trying to figure it all out. But you don’t have to worry, I promise I won’t let any of my personal issues interfere with my performance,” she said, squaring her shoulders. The nonsense with her family was included in that statement.

~Leah Hart, NP

“I have no doubt of that, Lt. Your service record is exemplary. And you have Dr. Kreed’s highest and fullest recommendation. That is no small feat.” Her voice was easy and reassuring. “Dr. Kreed is your direct supervisor and part of your budding support system, but I am part of that as well. I am a very hands on person. I don’t believe in sitting in the center chair and watching from a distance.”

Hart gave a small nod.

She leaned back in her seat, “I have no concerns or complaints about your work. But I do know you arrived here with a great deal of immediate responsibility. I just wanted to ask if there was anything professional or personal that you need.”

Cpt. Asam, CO

Leah wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, nor did she shy away from difficult things, but it was different when it came to herself. She was a great advocate for her patients and she was tough with them when she needed to be, but it was a lot harder to advocate for herself when she didn’t even know what she needed.

She sighed. “Transitions take time. I know this. I walk patients through transitions all the time. But I don’t know what to tell you here, Captain. I like being here, and my work is fulfilling in the way that it always is, but something is missing and I’m not sure what. Maybe I just need more time, and maybe this is just a part of my adjustment process, but yes, it is isolating and I miss my friends back on Earth. I don’t…” She sucked in a breath. “I don’t have a very supportive family, and the one person who is usually my champion is back on Earth. I’m lacking the buffer from the usual sort of crap that gets dished my way. And I’m struggling to cope with that just now. But I know that there is anything you can do about that,” she said with a half shrug. It felt weird having said it aloud. To her captain. She as friendly with many of the attending back at SF Medical, but the upper decision makers? It just didn’t happen. Not with a Lieutenant.

~Leah Hart, NP

“I know something about that. My family was very much against me leaving home and exploring the galaxy. It can be difficult, especially when we still love them fiercely.” Rende knew what that was like. “It does take time, but that doesn’t mean you have to endure alone. I know it can be daunting to talk to your captain, and I’m not requiring you to do so. However, you can if you feel that you would like to do so.”

Cpt. Asam, CO

She rubbed the pad of her index fingers along the back of her thumb. Up and down, it helped give her a focus for her swirling thoughts. When Hart looked at Asam, nervousness swept through her eyes. “I’m… not used to someone that much higher up than me caring that much. It’s not that those in charge don’t care back at Starfleet Medical, it’s just that there’s so many of us.” She drew in a slow breath. “And I guess I’m not all that used to talking about myself these days, outside of a few people. It’s always about the patients.”

Rende nodded, “The size of command can provide a disconnect as well as anonymity and lots of activity.” She relaxed her posture more, “I’m guessing, but I would bet that you are the type to tell other counselors that it’s okay for them to need help. Someone has to care for the counselors too. You don’t have to be perfect and without your own burdens.”

A weary smile slipped onto Leah’s face. “Busted,” she said, a tiny chuckle slipping forth before it turned into a sigh.

“That being said, I guess I’m feeling overwhelmed and a little sad. Like I said, I don’t have my friend group handy, and I don’t have the same ability to do my hobbies in the same way. There are ways around it, but as social as I am, I’m not anonymous here, captain. People know me before I know them, and that’s can create a weird dynamic. I can’t just go dancing and set my cares to the side. I’m always on call here, even if only subtly. And my family… they are difficult, at best. The calls I’ve received since I got here have not made me feel better about the transfer, even though it’s what I wanted and I’m happy to go where I’m needed.”

~Leah Hart, NP

“First of all,” Asam said, “You don’t have to take their calls. It’s quite easy to say we are out of reach or your duty precludes a personal call at the time. No one here is going to say any different. You have the right to set boundaries. Which includes agreeing to take their call when you want to do so. Secondly, out here, we all are on call all the time. Yes we have shift rotations, but there is never a time where we aren’t on duty, even in our sleep. It takes time to adjust to that, so I will advise you to take what time you get. Don’t worry if people see you as ‘always on’. We all are. It’s a part of ship life.” Asam smiled reassuringly. “Easier said than done, I know. However, I guess that leads me into a question that has been brewing in the back of my mind. Social activities and morale for the crew. We can go quite a while without a stop. I know the crew has some regular things they do, but I’m not sure it’s enough. That’s what I’m hearing from you. Not enough time or chances to meet and socialize. You aren’t the only one who is super social. A lot of the crew are.”

Cpt. Asam, CO

“Would you tell them I don’t bite, then?” Leah said, sucking down a snort. “At… at Starfleet Medical, it was a different sort of situation. The people I treated were dealing with acute physical or psychological issues. There’s a whole different team that handles the day-to-day counselling. Here, I’m doing both, which I actually quite enjoy. But mental health practitioners are relatively rare on starships, especially those that serve farther away from the core of the Federation. I’m still in the early days where I’m trying to convince people that talking to me doesn’t count as a strike against them. But, I hear what you’re saying. What we need on the ship are more planned opportunities for the crew to bond. Something more than hoping there’s people in the galley to hang out with or that you can find people to have a dance party with.” She wasn’t ready to touch the remarks about avoiding her family.

~Leah Hart, NP