Introducing… a registered practical nurse
Lindsey Hornblower is a registered practical nurse on the Behavioural Health program at St. Peter’s Hospital (SPH). She has been working at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) for one year.
Tell us about your first day at HHS
My first day at HHS really starts with a lack of sleep. I was so anxious and nervous to be going into my role and felt rather inadequate to be a nurse. I was blessed with the opportunity of a Nurse Grad Guarantee (NGG) with HHS. This is a role created for new nurses who work along side and under a more senior and confident nurse who mentors them for a 3-6 month period.
I met my mentor Lynda on that day. She knew immediately how I was feeling and she silenced all my fears and doubts. She introduced me to the team she works with on a regular basis, who ended up becoming my work family from then on. First impressions hold a lot of value, I loved my job from that first day. It is the best environment for me.
What made you enter your field of work?
I took a mission trip to Guatemala a few years ago. I worked in an orphanage and saw how these nuns willingly gave up their lives to serve others. Something in that spoke to me and awakened my passion for the health care system. I’m especially interested in nursing overseas in developing countries. However, at this time I can not see myself willingly leaving my behavioural unit, we are a good fit. It’s the ying to my yang.
Do you have a best friend, mentor or confidant at HHS? Tell us about him/her
I have two yes.
Lynda, my mentor, who is the person who I try to make my nursing most like. She was just awarded her 40 year pin for service at SPH and she is the best. She made me the nurse I am today because she invested so much into me.
And Mona. She can always put the smile back on my face if I’ve lost it. She has taught me true confidence and how to be happy with yourself- a good skill to have in nursing.
It takes a whole village to make a good nurse though, there are many who encourage me, help me, teach me, and motivate me in my work field.
It’s the little things that sometimes make the biggest difference in a patient’s day
What do you wish you had more time for at work?
It’s the little things that sometimes make the biggest difference in a patient’s day such as – painting nails, listening to music, having a long conversation.
Sometimes time in nursing is unforgiving. There will always be something that takes precedence over those little things. But I assure you those things impact not just the patient’s day but their over-all health. The nurses on our unit are great, we do those things every chance we get and we have really awesome team of therapeutic recreationists who are just fantastic at their job.
Then you know you have made the right kind of impact.
What are your favourite ways to spend your free time?
With my loved ones and friends. That is one of the less glorious sides of nursing: 12 hour shifts as well as rotating days and nights. It sometimes leaves little time for our loved ones. So when a day comes that you’re off and it’s a Saturday, you love to spend it with your loved ones. Shout out to all families and friends with nurses- that support we get from you is vital.
Tell us about your most gratifying experience at HHS
The most gratifying thing for me to experience in my job is when a patient of family member recognizes me. Then you know you have made the right kind of impact. Then you know you’ve not just done your job but you did your job in the best way.
What are your short and long term career goals?
My short term goals are to continue gaining experience and confidence in my nursing practice. I strive to keep finding opportunities to gain skills and educate myself. My long term goals are to finish my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, to become a registered nurse, and then seek opportunities globally to use my nursing practice.