Lancey has spent nearly 26 years at Providence, first as a part-time radiology clerk while her kids were young, then as an ICU nurse, and for more than 15 years as Clinical Coordinator of the Cath Lab. Ask her why she’s stayed so long, and her answer is simple. “Providence is a place where every opportunity is available,” she says. Here’s how “opportunity” has shown up for her.

Continued growth and learning

Lancey didn’t set out to become a Cath Lab coordinator but instead followed a path there of continual growth and learning. She started at Providence as a new mom looking for part-time work while she pursued her RN credential. She spent a year and a half in the ICU, then moved to the Cath Lab in 2008—and it felt like the right fit because it provided exciting opportunities to cross-train in areas like stress testing, cardiac rehab, and cardiovascular pre- and post-procedure care.

Through the Clinical Ladder program, she could also share her expertise more broadly, including teaching other departments about topics like vascular access. “There’s a lot of area for cross-training,” Lancey says, “and lots of opportunity for growth and education.”

Support that shows up when it counts

In 2015, Lancey was diagnosed with breast cancer. She went through chemotherapy and multiple surgeries — and received care at the same hospital where she worked. “I absolutely felt supported, not only by my department, but also by the physicians and support staff here,” she says.

During treatment, she made the decision to go back to school for her bachelor’s degree. Providence helped with tuition and focusing on school gave her something positive to work toward during a difficult time — something she says helped “clear the brain fog.”

That sense of support is also part of everyday life in the Cath Lab. Nurses and techs work closely together, rotating through circulator, monitor and scrub roles. After particularly challenging cases, the team debriefs together, talking openly about what went well and what they could do differently next time.

The team watches out for each other in every way. For example, when one of the charge nurses became pregnant, they adjusted her responsibilities to limit her radiation exposure while keeping her involved in cases. “We’ve really celebrated her and protected her,” Lancey says.

Caring for the North Coast community

Lancey is a fifth-generation Humboldt County resident, and she loves that she can give back every day to the community that raised her and continues to feed her soul with redwood trails just minutes from the hospital, summers on the rivers and a thriving local arts scene. It doesn’t hurt that her commute is short enough that when a STEMI page comes in at 2 a.m., she can be at the hospital within minutes.

For her, Providence in Northern California offers a combination that can be hard to find: meaningful work, room to grow, and a close-knit community surrounded by some of California’s most beautiful landscapes.

Interested in working with us? We serve NorCal communities at:

• Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital
• Providence Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna
• Providence St. Joseph Hospital Eureka
• Petaluma Valley Hospital and Healdsburg Hospital

“Providence is a great place to work, and if you’re looking for opportunity, it’s the place to come,” says Lancey.

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