Lyndsey is the epitome of a nurse who positively impacts the lives of her patients and their families. It's the way she takes care of them and the way she does it. She makes her patients feel comfortable, she makes them feel secure, she makes them feel safe. I'm in awe of how Lyndsey combines psychology, spirituality, wisdom, common sense, love and health care to her patients. Lyndsey shows compassion and caring not only to her patients but to their entire family as well. While taking care of the very important medical needs of her patients, she never forgets that they are people first. Lyndsey helps her patients and their families make sense of everything that is happening to them and going on around them.
Recently, Lyndsey took care of a 25-year-old patient with an extensive history of drug abuse and whose child was in the custody of foster care. Because of the drug abuse, the patient had ESRD and needed dialysis. During her hospital stay, a Permacath was inserted as the plan was for the patient to have dialysis set up as an outpatient. The patient's sister was extremely concerned the patient would abuse the Permacath using it for IV drug use. Lyndsey was also concerned and advocated for the family and patient. Not only did Lyndsey ensure a Psych consult was ordered, she paged multiple physicians to ensure this was the right plan of care for this patient. Renal informed Lyndsey without access and dialysis, the patient would die. Lyndsey took the time to sit down, hold the patient's hand, talk to her about her lifestyle choices, future consequences, and her child. She took a potential negative and chaotic experience and guided it into an experience that was filled with kindness, empathy, and understanding.
Although Lyndsey has only been a nurse for eight months, her dedication to caring for her patients is without measure.