March Ambassador finds 'profound joy' in pivotal moments with patients
If you spend any time talking to nurses, you’ll often hear inspirational stories about the events or people in their lives that called them into the profession.
But that wasn’t the case for Amy Selby.
She made the decision to pursue a nursing career after being told during vocational school she was good with patients.
“It was the best decision of my life,” said Selby, an RN and Reid Health’s Ambassador for the month of March. “Often throughout my life my mom has said, 'I don't know how you do it.’ I’ll be honest, sometimes I wonder how I do it. It hasn't always been easy.
“Nursing is hard on your body – the time on your feet, the lifting and pulling on patients, and the 12-hour shifts. Sometimes being a nurse breaks your heart. You see things you can't unsee or unfeel, but there are pivotal moments when you offer love, comfort, or peace to a patient or their family and it’s in these moments you find profound joy.
“You hold on to those moments, they're what keeps you coming back shift after shift.”
Selby has been a nurse now for 26 years, most of that time in various roles at Reid. For the past six years, she’s served as a case manager for Patient Resource Services in the Connersville Emergency Department.
“When we have an influx of patients, a trauma, or a cardiac arrest comes in, the ED nurses must focus their attention on that critical patient. In these moments, the rest of the ED doesn't stop – the triage bell still rings and ambulances still arrive. It's moments like these where it becomes all-hands-on-deck,” Selby said.
“I help where I can to keep the department running for the patients, nurses, and ED providers. For me, it’s the best of both worlds – case management as my role but when necessary, being able to give back with my emergency experience.”
That willingness to pitch in whenever needed hasn’t gone unnoticed by her co-workers.
“Her proactive attitude, teamwork, and commitment to patient care greatly contribute to the efficiency of the Emergency Department and create a supportive environment for both staff and patients,” one person said.
“She demonstrates what true collaboration looks like and sets a strong example for others. We’re fortunate to have her as part of our team.”
A native of Connersville, Selby still lives in the community today, with her husband, Clint. They have two children (Tucker and Josey) along with three dogs (Dutchboy, Franny, and Stanley), 10 chickens, and a geriatric turkey named Gertie.
“Aside from spending time with my family – which is my favorite thing to do – I love to read, hike, and travel to the beach,” Selby said. “I love to be home playing with the dogs or watching the chickens peck. I really feel like a simple life is the best life.”
When Reid’s new campus in Connersville opens in a few weeks, it’ll be a bit of deja vu for Selby.
“I worked the very last shift of the ED at the old Richmond hospital and transitioned to the new hospital there. Now, I work at the Reid Connersville location and will transition to the new facility. Not many people can say that,” she said.
“Being able to see all the growth and expansion of Reid throughout the years and now seeing and being part of it in my hometown is really special.”