CAREERS IN NURSING: LACY’S LEADERSHIP – EMERALD SQUARE ASSISTED LIVING

CAREERS IN NURSING
LACY’S LEADERSHIP: EMERALD SQUARE ASSISTED LIVING

by Vickie Jenkins – Writer/Photographer

Welcome to Emerald Square Assisted Living where you will find gracious residential living in a home-like setting. With a dedicated and knowledgeable staff available 24 hours a day, they will meet personal needs of each resident.
Whether for you or a loved one, you can rest assured that at Emerald Square, you will be provided with a caring atmosphere, an active community and a comfortable, secure life for the residents.
Meet Lacey Kyser, LPN, Director of Wellness, a pleasant, outgoing individual that stays busy with her many duties. She has been a nurse for 9 years, working at other Assisting Living facilities. Now, she is working at Emerald Square Assisted Living. “I enjoy working here and getting to work with the staff members, and CMAs on the floor. There are about 15 that work under me. I love every minute of my job,” Lacey said.
Growing up in Cushing, OK, Lacey soon moved to OKC, graduating at Platt College in Moore, OK. “I felt like it was my calling to be a nurse. I have always liked taking care of people and I’m pretty sure it was because I felt like I needed to be in charge,” she said. “There were several incidents in my family and at one time, I took care of my sister, and then my grandfather. I helped take of them the best way I knew how and I am pretty sure that is what motivated me to be a nurse,” she said.
When asked what qualities make a good nurse, Lacey replied, “A nurse needs to be compassionate and have a real desire to care for others. They need to have patience and make sure to follow through to the end, going far and beyond to make it comfortable for the other person. Always follow your heart. That is what I have learned to do,” she added.
Lacey’s favorite part of her job is the fact that she gets to know all of the residents. “I love getting to know each individual, and listening to these little eighty and ninety year olds tell their stories as they reminisce from their past. It always makes me feel so good and I know the residents get a real kick out of telling their tales,” she said with a smile.
I ask Lacey what her biggest challenge is at Emerald Square. “I think the biggest challenge is getting the staff and residents on the same level sometimes. Where both sides need to meet in the middle and compromise on a few things,” she replied.
Asking Lacey to describe herself, she said, “Oh, I am very outgoing and outspoken. I’ve always been like that. I have a good sense of integrity and I pride myself in always following through to the end, never giving up on anything. I think that is why I consider myself a leader,” she said. “Oh, also I am a fun person, just ask anyone,” she laughed. “In all fairness though, I am a very compassionate, caring person and I love being a nurse for several reasons, all good reasons,” she added.
“My biggest PLUS at work is my staff. I know that I couldn’t do anything without the staff and the incredible job they do. I admire all of the CMA’s and the others that work so hard. They all work together and it is very important that we have teamwork, which we do,” Lacey stated.
“We are making quite a few changes in Emerald Square,” Lacey said. “We are doing incentives for the staff members. We are changing a few rooms around and making sure everything is clean and fresh and making sure everything runs smooth on a daily basis,” she said
Lacey has three children, 2 sons, 15 and 16 years old and a 13 year old daughter. Lacey’s hobbies include camping, reading and watching Walking Dead as much as she can! She has three pets; 2 cats, Glitch and Clara and a doggie named Sunshine. Her favorite TV medical show is The Good Doctor when she gets a chance to watch TV, very rarely when you have a job as a nurse.
Do you have any words of wisdom or words you like to live by? I asked Lacey. “Well, I will always remember what my grandfather said to me, long ago, The grass is always green on the other side but sometimes, the other side is full of Astroturf.” I know that’s not the best of words, but I will always remember that saying and think of my grandfather often,” she replied.