Nursing graduate serves as director of nursing at PHS
After graduating from Park High School in 2001, Lindsey Paitich, 35, enrolled at the University of Minnesota and earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Architecture four years later. While striving to build her new career in architecture, Lindsey eventually determined something crucial was absent from her working life.
“When I was a teen and through college, I worked as a lifeguard, taught swimming lessons and worked at a YMCA day camp,” she said. “After going to school for architecture and working in that field for four years, I realized that I missed working directly with people—more specifically children. I began volunteering at Children’s Hospital in St. Paul.”
Lindsey decided she wanted to work as a pediatric nurse. She left the architecture field and enrolled at Inver Hills Community College to pursue an Associate of Science (A.S.) in Nursing. She graduated from the Inver Hills Nursing program in 2012 and soon discovered her calling as a home care nurse at Pediatric Home Service (PHS).
“After graduating from Inver Hills, I found Pediatric Home Service on an Internet search,” she said. “The mission and values of PHS matched what I was looking for in my career. Everything at PHS centers on taking care of the child at home where they belong. I was also able to work directly with children once again.”
Lindsey advanced at PHS, serving as a nurse preceptor/trainer, skilled visit nurse and case manager/nurse supervisor before taking on her current position, director of home care nursing. In 2018, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Metropolitan State University via the Minnesota Alliance for Nursing Education (MANE) program.
More about MANE…
The mission of the Minnesota Alliance for Nursing Education (MANE) program is to increase baccalaureate prepared nurses in Minnesota through transformative educational strategies while preparing professional nurses to promote health and meet the evolving and complex health care needs of our communities.
The goal of MANE is to make baccalaureate nursing education available to students across the state, allowing qualified students to graduate with a baccalaureate degree within four years on every partner campus.
The Inver Hills MANE Nursing program admissions process admits you to both the Metropolitan State University Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Inver Hills A.S. in Nursing programs.MANE Nursing Application
Application Deadline: February 1, 2019
Start Date: Fall Semester 2019
Lindsey Paitich Q & A
What experience at Inver Hills most prepared you for your current leadership role at PHS?
The Nursing program at Inver Hills offers nurses the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills that they need to become a nurse in two years. The program is fast-paced, focuses on critical thinking and the expectations of students are high. I feel that the Nursing program at Inver Hills prepared me for my current leadership role as the real world is fast-paced, requires good critical thinking skills, and expectations of nurses and nurse leaders are high.
Inver’s Nursing program also offered a wide variety of clinical experiences that students needed to adapt to. In home care nursing, nurses are faced with a variety of experiences since they are not working in an institution. Going through the Nursing program at Inver helped to prepare me to be able to easily adapt and respond appropriately in a variety of situations with the patients and families that I work with.
What advice would you give the next graduating class of Inver Hills A.S. in Nursing students regarding employment options?
As a nurse you have a degree that you should be proud of as well as the choice to work in a variety of settings. Research various types of employment and find one that will be a good fit for you. For me, allowing medically complex children to be at home with their families is incredibly important. Working at Pediatric Home Service allows me to be a part of keeping these children at home where they belong.
Wherever you decide to work after graduation, make sure you find the training and support that you need to be successful as a nurse. I find that to be a tremendous strength of Pediatric Home Service as we often hire new graduate nurses to take care of complex children in their homes.
What is your nursing philosophy?
My nursing philosophy is to provide high-quality nursing care that focuses on the goals of the patient and family to ensure they are able to live their best possible life.
“The two best days of working in home care are 1) when a patient is able to discharge home from the hospital with home nursing services, and 2) the day they graduate from home care nursing services.”
— Lindsey Paitich, RN, Director of Nursing, Pediatric Home Service
What do you like best about working at PHS?
Everyone at PHS is focused on taking care of the child. It is incredibly rewarding to know that what you do on a daily basis allows for children to be at home with their family where they belong. Because of the mission to take care of the child, the culture of the organization is positive and warm. When you walk in the door at PHS, you feel welcomed and you become a part of the PHS family.
What are your most important director of home care nursing responsibilities?
- Overseeing nursing practice and patient care procedures for Home Care Nursing.
- Overseeing orientation/training program, activities, and ongoing education for all departmental staff.
- Coordination of home care nursing referrals.
- Assists in marketing, recruitment and retention efforts, as well as business planning for the Home Care Nursing Department.
- Fostering relationships with patients and their families.
What is one thing every nurse should know?
Every nurse should know how to focus their care around the goals of the patient and family. It is important to listen to patients and their families so that they are a part of developing, implementing and following through with their care plan.
Words that describe you as a nurse:
PATIENT AND FAMILY-CENTERED. EMPATHETIC. RESOURCEFUL.
What attributes do you look for in nurses entering the field?
Critical thinking is important as a home care nurse. You are taking care of medically complex children in their home, which is a tremendous responsibility. It is important to be able to think on your feet and respond to a child’s medical needs.
Communication skills are also very important. You need to be able to effectively communicate with a variety of patients and families as well as other nurses, providers, therapists, teachers and community members who are involved in the care of the child.
What advice would you give future nurses?
All of the hard work in nursing school is worth it and helps to prepare you for a rewarding career. The hard work never ends, but it is worth it to see the difference you make in the lives of the patients you take care of.
What is the most rewarding aspect of a nursing career?
When you help a patient reach their goals. Many patients that we take care of at PHS have the goal of remaining at home as a family. Being a part of keeping them at home and achieving that goal is the most rewarding aspect of my nursing career. The two best days of working in home care are 1) when a patient is able to discharge home from the hospital with home nursing services, and 2) the day they graduate from home care nursing services.
Pediatric Home Service was ranked #2 for midsize Minnesota employers on the Star Tribune list: 2017 Top 150 Workplaces.
What do you consider your toughest challenge in life?
My toughest challenge in life is finding time to get everything done! It is busy being a mom and working full-time as a nurse. I make sure that finding balance between work and home life is always a priority.
Your greatest accomplishment so far?
I am proud of my three children. My oldest was born during my third semester of nursing school at Inver Hills. The two younger children were born during my first years working at PHS. They work hard, are kind, and they are so much fun! They watched and supported me as I earned my BSN through Metropolitan State University. I believe that my children seeing me work hard professionally and in earning my degrees has instilled in them the importance of education and a good work ethic.
Your highest goal?
A significant goal that I reached this year relates to advancing my career at PHS. I went back to school to earn my BSN to open up more opportunities at PHS. This year, I was promoted to director of home care nursing, which has been an amazing experience. I learn new things every day, and I get to work with an amazing team of individuals who all share the goal of taking care of medically complex children at home.
More about Lindsey…
Originally from Cottage Grove, Minnesota, Lindsey resides in Woodbury with her family: husband, Reed, a mechanical engineer at Wold Architects and Engineers (they first met at work) their sons, Riley, 7, and Mason, 5, their daughter, Brynn, 3, and the family dog, Miko, a rescue lab/coonhound.
When she’s not working at PHS or taking care of her family, Lindsey enjoys curling in the wintertime at the St. Paul Curling Club. She enjoys a number of outdoor activities as well, including walleye fishing and riding bicycle.
“I also love watching my children play sports,” Lindsey added, “including hockey, football, baseball and dance.”
Mpls.St.Paul Magazine 2017 Outstanding Nurses
In December 2017, Lindsey Paitich was featured in a Mpls.St.Paul Magazine article by Suzy Frisch titled “Meet Our 2017 Outstanding Nurses: Here, we introduce 16 of the most exceptional nurses in the Twin Cities.” The article listed the winners of the magazine’s sixth annual Outstanding Nurses Awards, reporting:
“Nurses play a critical role in making our health system work. Some of these professionals feel driven to master fresh medical research to create better outcomes for patients. Others live on the frontlines, working closely with patients, addressing critical needs, and finding ways to engender better health and wellness. Still others teach up-and-coming nurses or guide multilayered teams in large health systems. We are honored to celebrate the 16 winners of our sixth annual Outstanding Nurses Awards. These nurses, and other listed finalists, have been nominated by peers, colleagues, and patients. They stand out in a field filled with individuals who have dedicated their lives to caring for our community.” ¹
More about Pediatric Home Service…
Taking Care of The Child®
An independent children’s home health care agency, PHS is here for one reason: helping kids with medical complexities live as fully as possible – at home, with their families, where they belong. We do this by providing comprehensive pediatric home care services across Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Our team has been partnering with health care professionals, payers and family caregivers for nearly 30 years. From insurance and technical support to hugs when things get overwhelming, PHS offers complete support for families.
Since we opened, thousands of kids have outlived expectations and successfully transitioned to adulthood. ²Learn more by visiting Pediatric Home Service.
Lindsey Paitich | 21 Answers
- Favorite season: Summer
- Favorite natural feature (e.g., waterfalls, oceans, mountains, etc.): Lakes; I especially like Rainy Lake on the border with Canada
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Curling and road bicycling
- Your national bird if you could have one: Bald eagle is a good national bird
- Place you would most like to visit: Banff in Alberta, Canada (We have a trip planned to go there in August 2019.)
- Favorite holiday: Christmas
- Your national mammal if you could have one: Goldendoodle (designer cross between a golden retriever and a poodle)
- Favorite actor or actress: Robert Downey Jr.
- Favorite band or performing artist: Lumineers
- Your personal motto if you had to have one: “Work hard and be kind.”
- Coolest thing in the world: Children—their energy and wonder is amazing!
- Scariest thing in the world: Heights
- Favorite all-time TV show: Who has time for TV?!
- Favorite all-time movie: I don’t have an all-time favorite, but a recently watched favorite is The Fundamentals of Caring.
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Serving others
- Most valuable material possession: Our home
- First thing you would buy if you won the $1.5 billion Powerball: A fishing boat
- Dream occupation: Registered nurse
- Person you would most like to meet: Sheryl Sandberg
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: I played violin when I was a child, and I have been wanting to pick it back up and master it.
- Humankind’s greatest challenge: Global health inequities are a significant challenge for humankind.
Health Care Job Fair
Sponsored by the Center for Career Development and Community-Based Learning and the Nursing department at Inver Hills, the Health Care Job Fair offers opportunities to meet with a variety of employers in the health care field.
Questions? Call 651-450-3241 or email.
WHAT: Health Care Job Fair
WHO: Employers in the Health Care Field
WHEN: Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Noon to 2 p.m.WHERE: Science Building (First Floor)
Inver Hills Community College
2500 East 80th Street
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
To learn more about the Nursing program at Inver Hills, contact:
Diane Elifrits
Interim Director of Nursing
651-450-3470
Admissions Team
College Center
651-450-3000
To learn more about the Health Care Job Fair or Center for Career Development and Community-Based Learning at Inver Hills, contact:
Emily Johnson
Director of Career Development
Inver Hills Community College
651-450-3241
¹ Courtesy of Mpls.St.Paul Magazine
² Courtesy of Pediatric Home Service
