Finding a sense of purpose as a nurse

When Lacy Eynon started working at Ascension nine years ago, she felt like she was at home. “The people in our unit are so welcoming. I spend so much time with them and we feel like we’re making a difference in the world,” she said. “I actually get nauseous at the thought of ever leaving Ascension Seton Williamson!”

The work is about meeting the mission and caring for all, she said, but sometimes it’s the little things. “For instance, there are several nurses that can braid hair – so that it doesn’t get matted or knotted – to make the patient feel better. And recently we received a letter in the mail from a patient that thanked Kiko, patient care technician, for making a legally blind patient feel safe,” Lacy said. “Kiko had a calming presence and the patient didn’t feel like he was going to fall.”

About educational opportunities at Ascension, Lacy said, “I’ve taken advantage of certification reimbursement, advanced competency for ICU classes (which are amazing) and classes offered on site by vendors,” she said. “I’m also starting my doctorate in nursing practice in September, and Ascension is paying for that benefit. The degree focuses on executive policy and leadership.”

Lacy talked about how her career has progressed at Ascension. “There are so many different trajectories for growth,” she said. “I was a bedside nurse in 2013, I was PRN house supervisor in 2016 and in 2017 I became a house supervisor part time. I made so many connections and friendships in the hospital and learned about the workflow of many different roles, and also trained in the ED,” she said. “As 2020 progressed, I became manager of ICU – this helped me strengthen my leadership qualities while still having bedside work, which was a great experience.”

About the sense of teamwork or belonging at Ascension, Lacy said, “My dad used to say, ‘you can only find lifelong friends in college.’ Well, my lifelong/longtime friends I met at Ascension. And going through COVID-19 together, I think of it as finding my Band of Brothers. It’s more than just trust – I feel that no matter what happens, someone has my back and I don’t have to worry about it.”

Going through a pandemic can certainly test a nurse’s resilience. “Nursing in general has really tapped into our emergency stores,” Lacy said. “With Covid, we were pushed to the brink mentally, physically and emotionally. I’ve never been prouder of who I work for and whom I work with. Sure, there were tears, frustration and curse words but at the end of the day, our team kept their focus on the most important thing - our patients.”

Lacy said recent experiences in healthcare have only reaffirmed her choice in her career. “I have a sense of belonging and renewed interest,” she said. “I believe my career was a calling from God, and He continues to confirm every day, every week that I made the right choice.

“Recently, we had our first Covid patient come back to visit us,” she said. “We had endured so much of people dying or not knowing what their long-term prognosis was. About a year and a half after being in the hospital, this patient was able to come back and thank us and it was at just the right moment. He revitalized the whole team. Knowing that you’ve helped someone just gives you a sense of peace in the body.”