Lisa Laughlin of Mason, Ohio, is a registered nurse at TriHealth. She works with Mohammad Sheatt, MD, in his pulmonary hypertension clinic and is a nurse navigator for Omar Hasan, MD, and Andrew Vogel, DO. Laughlin and her husband Tim have five adult children and a daughter-in-law. She is excited about becoming a first-time grandma near Christmas. The family has a dog and two cats.
I didn’t have a background in PH, but I remember the first time it registered with me. I was working at Bethesda North Hospital in Cincinnati when I heard an IV pump beeping in a patient’s room. My first thought was to flush the line or stop the pump, but my nursing school education kicked in immediately. We’re never supposed to do anything with medications we’re unfamiliar with, and I had no idea what IV treprostinil was at the time. Instead, I found the nurse assigned to that patient.
Many years later, I learned more about PH when I applied to become a PH/endobronchial nurse navigator. I didn’t know a lot about PH or endobronchial valves at that point, but I decided to apply since I had worked with Dr. Sheatt in the ICU years before.
During my interview, I was surprised when the hiring manager said it probably would take me at least two years to gain in-depth PH knowledge and learn the role well. Hearing about the long learning curve worried me, but the interviewing manager gave me hope. She explained that my ICU cardiac background and heart catheterization experience would be helpful.
I have been working in this position for a little more than two years now. I certainly know huge amounts of information compared to my first day, but there is always more to learn.
Becoming a volunteer
I became a PHA volunteer this year after the previous support group leader, who had PH, felt she couldn’t lead the group anymore. Our Cincinnati North PHA Support Group meets the second Wednesday of most months from 6-7:30pm. We regularly have around 12-14 people attend.
The thing I find most rewarding about being a PHA support group leader is seeing the participants open up about a common topic presented by an educational speaker. The members all have PH, but they represent diverse backgrounds, ages and experiences.
It’s great seeing the PH community come together, share common experiences, learn new info and support one another.
Our first support group speaker this year (who has PH) charged those with PH to regularly interact with other people who have PH. She pointed out that only those with PH can truly understand what it’s like to live with the disease, no matter how much their husbands, moms, sisters, etc., love them. That was a powerful lesson for me since I don’t have PH.
One of my patients inspires me in every aspect of my life. That patient is extremely positive and grateful all the time, despite being very sick much of the time. Whenever I find myself complaining or not being grateful for all I have been given, I think pray for inspiration to be just like that patient.
Why support groups matter
PHA support groups are so important. Committing to joining or leading a support group can be difficult, but remember that we never do anything alone. If you can’t drive yourself to support group, and you think you are burdening your daughter every month by requesting a ride, see if a friend or neighbor could take you to some meetings.
It’s the same with leading. You don’t need to lead alone. PHA will help you with any needs/concerns, and you can share responsibilities with a co-leader. Or consider asking another member to lead for you when you have a conflict or need a break.
Being all in is good, but being partially in can be less anxiety-provoking and help you see the benefits of why we have PH support groups. Please come to a meeting. You don’t have to attend all meetings. Just plan to attend one and see if you might want to attend another after sharing the experience with others who experience many of the same things you do.
