Lisette Wannemacher, RN, first realized her calling to be a nurse in high school. Her teenage cousin had a serious car accident and was taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Children’s is one of the largest pediatric healthcare systems in the country with two of the only dedicated pediatric trauma centers in Georgia. Seeing this skilled emergency care team in action shaped Lisette’s plans for the future.

“When I saw how the team helped my cousin, it was a like a lightbulb went off,” Lisette says. “I knew I wanted to be like them. And it became my dream to become a Children’s nurse.”

That’s exactly what she did. Lisette has been a nurse in the Children’s Scottish Rite Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for 11 years, helping thousands of kids just like her cousin. Along the way, she has supported her team in numerous roles, including rapid response nurse, charge nurse and assistant nurse manager.

“In each of my roles, I was encouraged to do things that prepared me for the next position. Each role built upon the other,” she says. “I have had tremendous support from my manager and director, as well as my peers, to pursue these advancements in my career.”

Currently, Lisette serves as an Administrative Resource Nurse focused on promoting safety and quality on her floor. “My job is so fulfilling,” Lisette says. “I love caring for kids, and I’m passionate about promoting safety and quality. I’m thrilled this role allows me to do both.”

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A Typical Day: Administrative Resource Nurse, PICU

4:30 a.m. Lisette rises before the sun. She sets her alarm early to fit in a morning workout before preparing her three young children for the day, while her husband, Blaise—a high school football coach—heads to morning practice. Then, with coffee in hand, Lisette is off to Scottish Rite, one of Children’s three hospitals. On the way, she tunes in to an upbeat podcast to set her mood for the day.

6 a.m. At her office, Lisette fills up her constant companion—a 16-oz. tumbler—with more coffee. She checks in with the night shift nurses, and then it’s time for a morning huddle with her team. During the huddle, she makes note of any patients who may need her attention. “My job is to help our PICU nurses identify and address safety concerns before they become an issue. That way, they can stay focused on caring for their patients,” she explains.

8 a.m. Lisette dials in to the Daily Safety Engagement (DSE) call. During the call, representatives from departments throughout the System report on safety concerns for the day. At Children’s, we always aim to deliver the highest quality pediatric care—and our clinical teams are hyper focused on preventing harm events like a medication error, as well as hospital-acquired infections. “I’m proud of our unit’s work to prevent hospital-acquired infections,” Lisette says. “It’s really a testament to our teamwork and focus on patient care.”

11 a.m. Lisette joins up with a multidisciplinary infection prevention team to visit high-risk patients on her floor. During the rounds, she consults with a bedside nurse who is concerned about the integrity of her patient’s peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line—a form of intravenous (IV) access. Then, she works with another teammate to try out a new wound care product for a difficult case. Afterward, she meets with a family whose child is ready for discharge, counseling them on at-home PICC line care. “I love rounding,” Lisette says. “Spending time with our patients reminds me why I love my job and keeps me connected to our mission to help make kids better today and healthier tomorrow.”

“Spending time with our patients reminds me why I love my job and keeps me connected to our mission to help make kids better today and healthier tomorrow.”

1 p.m. After lunch and a coffee refill, Lisette gets to work on paperwork, documenting quality improvement initiatives for her unit. Today, she focuses on a write-up about an app her team uses for continuing education. By demonstrating superior nursing standards and a commitment to excellence in the delivery of quality patient care, Scottish Rite has achieved Magnet status. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) awards Magnet designation every four years, and Lisette is contributing to Scottish Rite’s current redesignation process.

“To me, working for a Magnet-designated hospital means putting value in nursing and all the great things that we do every day. We work collaboratively with others to provide better care to our patients,” she says. “One of the best things about working at Children’s is that there is an avenue to raise a concern and be heard. We have seen especially over the last few years how powerful the nurse at the bedside is and the impact we have on patients and their families. It’s nice to know that Children’s sees and acknowledges the value of nursing and other disciplines that make the care we provide possible.”

2:30 p.m. Lisette heads to the Children’s Support Center for a weekly huddle with other critical care administrative resource nurses. “Meeting allows us to collaborate and share best practices across different units and campuses,” she says. “We’re all about breaking down silos and learning from each other.” When the meeting is over, Lisette is on her way once again—this time to pick up 8-year-old Pace and 6-year-old Palmer for baseball practice and dance lessons, with 2-year-old Annie in tow.

9 p.m. After a quick dinner, homework and the kids’ bedtime routine, Lisette takes some time to catch up with her husband while she packs lunches for the next day. Then, she programs the coffee maker for the morning and heads to bed. “We do a lot of juggling around here,” Lisette says, “It can feel challenging at times, but I’ve learned which balls are plastic—and which are glass. My experience at Children’s has shaped me into a better leader, for my patients and my family.”

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