Liz Walker
February 2020
Elizabeth
Walker
,
ASN, RN
Ambulatory Surgery Unit
Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center
West Islip
,
NY
United States
I first met Liz in 2004 in an LPN to RN bridge program. Liz was very generous in sharing her knowledge with the class, and in doing so was educating all of us as we were in various departments. Liz was always dependable in her personality and what I mean by that is she was always kind, caring, informative, interested, and supportive to the entire team of us students.
During our schooling, Liz and I were in a study group and it was my turn to host the group, so they all came to my house. At that time, my father was living with me with end-stage respiratory disease. Liz was the first one to get up and assist him during our study group. We all graduated together and worked alongside each other as new registered nurses. What a thrill to be now working with fellow students.
I then went on to another department at GSH. Often times we meet our patients in the ASU department pre-procedure. What struck me most about Liz, who was admitting our patients for either Mastectomy or lumpectomy of their known breast cancer, is the way in which she not only cared for our patients but the families too. I saw Liz discharging a surgical patient and, on her way, back collected the spouse of a newly diagnosed cancer patient. He was waiting in the waiting room to be called back to see his wife, Liz escorted him from the waiting room to the ASU cubicle to see his wife post-op. The spouse, the patient, and the nurses were all crying with the gratitude this man had to Liz for assisting him in finding his wife. I will never forget that moment.
Liz has had personal tragedies, but she continues her high standard of practice and puts everyone else first, most especially the patients and their families. Liz is a team player and is always happy to share her knowledge obtained with all nurses. Liz's high standards of practice serve a role model for all who work with her daily. I have had several patients compliment, Liz, during our post-operative courtesy call, on her genuine kindness and caring that she exudes. The patients feel safe and well cared for with Liz at the bedside. She is an expert in her clinical skills but most importantly, she is an expert in the care of all around her and makes Good Samaritan Hospital a better place daily.
During our schooling, Liz and I were in a study group and it was my turn to host the group, so they all came to my house. At that time, my father was living with me with end-stage respiratory disease. Liz was the first one to get up and assist him during our study group. We all graduated together and worked alongside each other as new registered nurses. What a thrill to be now working with fellow students.
I then went on to another department at GSH. Often times we meet our patients in the ASU department pre-procedure. What struck me most about Liz, who was admitting our patients for either Mastectomy or lumpectomy of their known breast cancer, is the way in which she not only cared for our patients but the families too. I saw Liz discharging a surgical patient and, on her way, back collected the spouse of a newly diagnosed cancer patient. He was waiting in the waiting room to be called back to see his wife, Liz escorted him from the waiting room to the ASU cubicle to see his wife post-op. The spouse, the patient, and the nurses were all crying with the gratitude this man had to Liz for assisting him in finding his wife. I will never forget that moment.
Liz has had personal tragedies, but she continues her high standard of practice and puts everyone else first, most especially the patients and their families. Liz is a team player and is always happy to share her knowledge obtained with all nurses. Liz's high standards of practice serve a role model for all who work with her daily. I have had several patients compliment, Liz, during our post-operative courtesy call, on her genuine kindness and caring that she exudes. The patients feel safe and well cared for with Liz at the bedside. She is an expert in her clinical skills but most importantly, she is an expert in the care of all around her and makes Good Samaritan Hospital a better place daily.