Lindsey McMahan
August 2021
Lindsey
Mcmahan
,
MSN, RN
ICN
Duke University Health System
Durham
,
NC
United States
I cried most days while having my son in the ICN, but Lindsey seemed to always know when I needed someone to talk to, to vent to, and to cry to.
My son was born 13 weeks early at Duke University Hospital. Being a nurse myself, I knew my husband and I were about to go through a lot of sleepless nights worrying about our son being so premature, but I did not realize how mentally exhausting it was about to be. Although I would like to say that I became close to so many of the wonderful nurses in the ICN, Lindsey McMahan, RN is one nurse who far surpasses what and whom any nurse should imitate. The first night of my son's NICU stay was when I first met Lindsey. I was recovering from a c-section, so I was not feeling well enough to visit my son for the evening. Lindsey was assigned to him and had just completed her assessment when I called. She reviewed her findings and thoroughly went over everything, including what I could expect going forward. After our initial conversation ended, I felt M was in good hands. For the next 89 days of my son's stay in the ICN, Lindsey was assigned to be one of his PM primary nurses. I typically stayed about 8-12 hours every day those 3 months and every PM shift Lindsey was working, I was so relieved to know he would be treated with the best care possible, and he would be loved by her as if he was her own child. It did not take me long to realize how special Lindsey was, but through our course of stay, there were nights where she was the only one who could get me out of my depression, fears, and anxiety. I cried most days while having my son in the ICN, but Lindsey seemed to always know when I needed someone to talk to, to vent to, and to cry to. Lindsey never made me feel like my (many) daily questions were dumb, and her response to every question was so thoroughly answered. The nights Lindsey was assigned as the charge nurse, it did not matter, because she always came by to check on me and my son. Lindsey is an exceptional nurse, but there are things nursing school cannot teach you, and those wonderful qualities are what Lindsey possesses. The Duke ICN is very lucky to have Lindsey McMahan, MSN, RN as one of their nurses. I am so incredibly grateful to have met such an amazing person.