Nursing: Lifelong Learning and Opportunities

Lindsey Pibal ’23 graduated from Mount Marty with a degree in nursing last May, and she didn’t have to go far to live out her passion caring for critical patients. She took a job right after graduation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, just across the street from the Mount Marty campus. “Avera’s mission aligns with my values,” said Pibal. “Avera truly values and supports its nurses, and that is something that goes a long way in a job.”

When attending Mount Marty for nursing school, Pibal originally thought she would be an oncology nurse as she has family who were affected by cancer and is passionate about that care. So, she applied for an internship junior year on an oncology unit and had the opportunity to discover other specialties while working. “During that internship, I was able to experience another specialty of my choice: I chose ICU. I was captivated and excited the whole time. Fast forward to my senior year where I accepted a preceptorship in the ICU at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital and immediately fell in love. From then on, I knew it was exactly where I was meant to be.”

She loves the impact she gets to make on not only her patients but also their families. “I love the intimacy and the rawness I experience with my patients and their families. I have so much appreciation for the doctors who work closely with us as they truly listen to the nurses and their patients. The critical thinking that comes with my job excites me, and being able to visibly see my patients’ conditions and well-being improve because of the impact from my care is extremely rewarding.” Pibal has had patients come back to the ICU unit after they are well to thank the staff involved in their care. “It is amazing seeing our critical patients have successful outcomes.” Moments like these remind Pibal she is exactly where she is meant to be.

Since graduating a year ago, Pibal has accepted another opportunity to continue in her life-long learning as she is currently training to be an ICU float nurse. She is orientating to the Medical and Surgical unit, Women’s and Children’s unit and Emergency department. “I am excited about switching up my day-to-day routine and expanding my knowledge by being a float, but my ‘home’ unit will remain the ICU as that is where my passion lies!”

Pibal has learned so much in her year post-graduation, and her advice to current nursing students is to, “absorb all the knowledge you can, and apply for those internships and preceptorships. It goes a long way when you have that experience to add to your future.”

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ABOUT MOUNT MARTY UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1936 by the Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery, Mount Marty University is South Dakota's only Catholic institution of higher education. Located along the bluffs of the Missouri River in Yankton, with additional locations in Watertown and Sioux Falls, Mount Marty offers undergraduate and graduate degrees focusing on student and alumni success in high-demand fields such as health sciences, education, criminal justice, business, accounting, and more. A community of learners in the Benedictine tradition, Mount Marty emphasizes academic excellence and develops well-rounded students with intellectual competence, professional and personal skills and moral, spiritual and social values. To learn more, visit mountmarty.edu.