Take 5 with Amanda Thompson

Amanda Thompson joined WakeMed in August 2018 and is the leader for WakeMed’s Heart & Vascular procedural, diagnostic, cardiac nursing and critical care units. Here, Amanda tells us a little about her career, her favorite fall traditions, how COVID-19 has impacted her, and some exciting innovations coming for heart and vascular patients.

Q: What are some of your favorite fall traditions?

Fall is my very favorite time of year – I love the crisp cool air, football (especially Appalachian State), game night with my family, coffee with a little pumpkin spice, and anything made with crisp mountain apples. I missed the North Carolina State Fair this year as it’s a favorite tradition, but instead we’ll enjoy making new traditions and being so thankful for what we have been given, the gift of time and family!

Q: Tell us about what you do every day.

My job is to ensure our exceptional staff have the tools they need to do what they do best – care for our patients. I am a servant leader, a problem-solver, a partnership-builder and a cheerleader. Making sure my teams know they are supported, valued and respected is one of my top priorities. Finally, and most importantly, although my work isn’t at the bedside – putting our patients first and at the center of every decision we make is what I love most about what I do every day.

Q: Tell us about your career path into nursing leadership.

Ironically, when I was younger – my dream was to be an accountant. Today, I know that I would have never made a good accountant. In my early career, I worked in a 20-bed cardiac intensive care unit and learned from some of the best nurses who have supported and mentored me during my career. In that role, I began to understand that nursing really is a calling.

Throughout the years, I transitioned into leadership – a role I love for the perspective it provides. As leaders in healthcare, we all come from a different point of view – whether it’s as a nurse, a doctor or another member of the team. We get together around a table and solve real problems that make a difference in people’s lives and that’s very rewarding.

Q: What is something that excites you about your job today?

There are so many things, but right now I’m thrilled we’ve just established a major collaboration with Siemens Healthineers that will provide us with the most advanced technology available to provide the highest level of care to our heart and vascular patients across the system through the use of robotics, advanced 3D imaging technology, artificial intelligence and workforce
training.

I traveled to Germany with the Siemens team and I am in awe of how far technology has come in just the past few years. This agreement will bring equipment and training that is currently only available at very few centers in the country – reiterating WakeMed’s commitment to leading the way in heart and vascular innovation.

Q: How has COVID-19 affected you both personally and professionally?

Personally, it’s taught me to slow down and spend more time with my immediate family. Time is very precious, and I believe that many years down the road, this is what I’ll remember and treasure most from this year. My grown children both work in healthcare, so we’ve been able to spend time sharing our perspectives and challenges, which has been helpful for all of us during this difficult time.

Professionally, it has given me a renewed faith in our healthcare team. There have been many challenges that our teams have endured over the past six months – and through it all, they have remained so incredibly resilient through months of constant change, professional and personal stress – and their commitment to our patients has never wavered. I couldn’t be prouder of them!