Nurses named Ambassadors of the Month

Submitted BY UNC HEALTH JOHNSTON

SMITHFIELD — UNC Health Johnston has recognized Lisa Hill, an endoscopy nurse, as Ambassador of the Month for August and Brittany Lane, an emergency department charge nurse, as Ambassador of the Month for September.

During a recent presentation, CEO Tom Williams said Hill is a solid nurse with excellent critical thinking skills. “She has an exceptional bedside manner and a great rapport with physicians,” he said. “She brims with initiative, volunteers to help in any situation and seeks resources as needed. She is honest and hardworking, and comes up with solutions when faced with challenging situations.”

Before coming to Johnston, Hill worked in outpatient and hospital settings, including pediatric and emergency departments, in Kansas, Oregon and Missouri. She and her husband, Jason, moved to Clayton five years ago to be near his family.

“I like the teammates and physicians I work with and I enjoy the fast pace of the endoscopy department, where you get to meet so many patients,” she said. “I feel really fortunate to work here at Johnston. I like the local small town feel.”

Hill grew up in Soldier, Kan. on the family’s dairy farm. She caught the nursing bug as a child after visiting her grandfather in the hospital and watching the nurses take care of him.

She and Jason have three children, ages 15, 17 and 19. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, working out and attending her children’s sports events.

During Lane’s presentation, Williams said Lane is a “powerhouse” in coordinating patient care in a busy emergency department. “She is knowledgeable and seeks out opportunities to learn and grow professionally. Her teammates admire and praise her leadership skills,” Williams said.

Lane joined UNC Health Johnston six years ago after graduating from Wayne Community College. At first she wanted to work with pediatric patients. But after enrolling in the new graduate program in the emergency department, she fell in love with the fast-paced environment. “It’s rewarding to help people,” Lane said. After a year and a half, Lane earned a promotion to charge nurse on the night shift. Lane says she’s always wanted to be a nurse. Before they retired, her uncle Ronald Hughes was a family physician in Whitakers, a small town in Edgecombe and Nash counties, and his wife, Toni, a nurse, practiced alongside him for many years. The practice is now affiliated with UNC Health.

While Lane enjoys patient care, she is particularly passionate about improving processes in the emergency department. As a clinical ladder project, she recently worked with providers to improve the code blue process (for cardiac arrests), identifying the need for more structured assignments.

“Brittany is a valuable resource to the team,” says Leah Garner, director of emergency services. “She has grown so much during her time in the emergency department and is a true leader.”

Lane grew up in the Stancils Chapel community and graduated from North Johnston High School. She and her husband, Hunter, live in Middlesex. In their spare time, the couple enjoys traveling to new places.

Through the ambassador program, UNC Health Johnston recognizes teammates who go above and beyond the call of duty. They deliver quality care, foster teamwork and offer excellent service.

In addition to a designated month-long parking space, Hill and Lane will each receive eight hours of paid time off.