How did you first learn about Signallamp?

After my relocation to Miami, I discovered their listing on Indeed. I had not heard of Signallamp before, or any company really that does what they do. I was intrigued, and now I’m impressed.

What do you like the most about your job?

I love being able to build relationships with the patients by really spending time with them. Any other job I’ve had has always been much more limited in the one-on-one time I can spend with patients. Signallamp encourages us really care by connecting with our patients.

What is the best career lesson you have learned so far?

The ability to listen is the best assessment skill I could have as a nurse. More than anything else, people just want to be heard. Our patients don’t need an answer, opinion, or other “quick fix.” Our world is always changing, never slowing down, so it’s a special treat to let them be heard and let them feel like what think or feel matters. This simple gesture can be a generous gift while providing a tremendously valuable service.

Compared with day one, how has Signallamp grown?

There’s not one specific improvement I could reference for Signallamp, because since I’ve started there’s been a continuous flow of changes and improvements. I feel like Signallamp is open and adaptive as a company, especially with the need to change based on needs from patients, staff, facilities, etc. My company’s willingness to change for the outcome of patients and staff alike is something that makes Signallamp stand out.

If you could select one co-worker to mentor you, who would you pick and why?

There are so many people with admirable traits and skills, not just in the Tampa team but across Signallamp as a whole. However, I would probably pick Joy because she always shares such unique situations in our meetings. I feel like she would be a great resource for insight when addressing unusual concerns.

What do you like to do when you are not working?

I love spending time with my husband and kids. Our kids are spread all over the country – Texas, Colorado, South Carolina, Alaska, and here in Florida! My youngest daughter is only one still home, so the three of us are often doing something together. Whether we do anything or nothing at all, so long as it’s with my family that is always my favorite thing to do!

What is a fun fact about you many people may not know?

I get up at 2 in the morning to workout with my husband, even though I am literally the most non-morning person on the planet!

Tell us about the craziest experience you have had with a patient:

There have not been a lot of “crazy” experiences since I started at Signallamp, but I am often surprised with my patient’s lack of knowledge about their chronic health conditions. I cannot count how many times a patient has been surprised by what I would consider basic knowledge of their health. They often respond, “No one has ever told me that before” and provide a great segue for education.

Share a success story from your time in CCM:

There was a very sweet patient who had lost her husband several years prior and since then had been struggling with depression to varying degrees. She was given an urgent referral to pysch after admitting to her PCP during a routine visit that her depression had worsened greatly and she was experiencing suicidal intentions, even having a recent plan for suicide. Since she was adamant, she not active intentions at that time they allowed her to go home and sent me a message to follow up with her and get her a psych visit. I was able to get her in with someone within a couple weeks. Since that didn’t seem soon enough to me, I made sure to call her multiple times until her appt date came around. The tone change in her voice was enough to let me know she was struggling. While reviewing her chart I found she had gotten a psych referral for her depression over a year prior, but she reported that no one had been able to line up her appointment where they’d accept her insurance. She cried thanking me for finally getting her an appointment. I was disappointed I couldn’t get her one sooner, but here she was just profoundly grateful someone had gotten her one at all! She had begun to lose hope that anyone could help her and felt too ashamed of her feelings to reach out to anyone. I’m glad to say she is now doing great, improving with medication and therapy. This definitely laid the foundation for our relationship, and now she calls me anytime she needs anything between our routine calls. She knows I will help her any way I can.