Imagine this: You begin having crushing chest pain. You are rushed to the hospital and the next thing you remember is waking up on a ventilator, feeling as if you are breathing through a straw. You open your eyes and are immediately greeted by a very soothing voice. Although you are struggling to remember, forgetful from anesthesia, soft words of explanation and reassurance are spoken in your ear, immediately easing anxieties. The voice of an experienced, trusted nurse, your advocate, by your side, anticipating your every need, eager to help while you begin to comprehend and digest this life-altering experience. Through education, laced with tender loving care, you and your family begin to gain understanding and realistically prepare for expectations of the days and weeks ahead. This compassionate scenario is the unmistakable voice and practice of the uncompromising and amazing, Lisa Hurst, RN, BSN, CCRN, of the CVICU Unit at UPMC Hamot!
After nearly 40 years, Lisa is not "just a nurse." She is a mentor, preceptor, colleague, and friend. She is the first person her coworkers look to when they need a helping hand for a patient who is at risk for a decline in status. She is an "open-heart specialist" who is admired by a multitude of disciplines, especially the surgeons and families. Lisa provides consistent, exemplary, holistic patient care and is always prepared to advocate for patients and their families.
Lisa transitions seamlessly through critical situations and complex patient assignments. Her co-workers know to come as fast as they can when she calls for help, as this often means a patient is in trouble. Physicians display the highest level of confidence and respect for Lisa's intuition, as she is a proven and trusted pillar of cardiac care at the intensive level.
Lisa's coworkers describe her as an approachable nurse with "a great deal of experience," and state that "others trust her judgment." She disseminates her wealth of knowledge to relevant staff in various ways and makes a tremendous difference in our patients' lives.
Lisa has been recognized many times by her colleagues via awards and nominations such as the Guardian Angel, Hamot Ambassador, "Pat on the Back," and The DAISY Award, among others. Despite the highest accolades, Lisa will be the first to state that she is "just doing her job."
Lisa's CVICU team idolizes her cardiac knowledge and her ability to provide world-class care for her patients while treating each patient and family as she would a loved one.
Lisa Hurst has walked the lifelong path of nursing. She received her diploma of nursing in 1980, from Mercy School of Nursing in Detroit Michigan. Following graduation, she worked in a surgical step-down unit at Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor Michigan. In 1981, Lisa relocated to Erie and for the next 22 years worked as a critical care nurse at St. Vincent's Hospital of Erie, PA. In 1990, she became a Critical Care certified nurse. In her earlier years of practice, she was a member of a variety of committees; credentialing, skin care, preceptor, recruitment and retention, and standards of care in the CVICU. Lisa pursued her BSN, and in 1994 she graduated from Edinboro University with a nearly perfect GPA.
In January of 2004, Lisa joined the Hamot Team, transitioned into a senior nursing role in the Medical Intensive Care Unit. Within her first year here she was recognized by peers as a strong resource, always positive, upbeat, and approachable, and always putting her patients first. She quickly became a chair of the unit education council and was recognized for her significant contributions which were attributed to driving the unit forward.
In an effort to share Lisa's gifts, she was encouraged to join the CVICU team. She has continued to influence that unit with her extensive knowledge. A strong resource and patient advocate, and an expert in that patient population.
Lisa has taken on the role as primary preceptor countless times throughout her career and is responsible for molding and helping many nurses become successful throughout the years. She is utilized to orient new nurses in caring for patients following open heart surgery, as she has a system and skill set that is exemplary. She continues to chair the CVICU Nursing Education and Research committee, helping to drive change and education. Lisa teaches several classes throughout the year, such as hemodynamics and ACLS, to new and seasoned staff.
In 2010, along with a co-worker, Lisa started a process that would change how we view and treat sepsis patients throughout the hospital. What started as an education presentation flourished. Lisa and her colleague created the "Surviving Sepsis" presentation. As a result, they created a monthly sepsis committee, worked on a Highmark initiative, implemented a sepsis tool and provided education in house and to local health care facilities. The work created 8 years ago, remains in place today and care for the sepsis patient is vastly improved because of Lisa's passion and dedication to improving patient care and resulting outcomes.
Lisa's contributions to nursing are too many to list, as are the countless people whom she has influenced over the past 36 years. She has been, and continues to be an advocate and a voice for patients, a reassuring voice for families, and a support for nurses. We cannot thank her enough for her dedication to nursing.