Humankindess at Work: Leisa Eubank, Emergency Room Nurse

In the bustling, often chaotic environment of the emergency room, there are individuals who not only deliver expert medical care but also offer a profound sense of humankindness.

Leisa Eubank, an emergency room nurse with twenty years of experience, embodies this spirit, radiating warmth and compassion to everyone who crosses her path. Splitting her time between St. Luke’s Health-Springwoods Village and Lakeside Hospitals, Leisa is the quintessential ER nurse – adept at everything from intake and triage to providing spiritual and family support, navigating any challenge that walks through the door.

Leisa’s journey to the ER is rooted in a family legacy of caring, inspired by her hospice nurse stepmother and NICU nurse sister. But it was the dynamic, fast-paced world of emergency medicine that truly called to her. As she describes it, the freestanding ERs she works in see everything – sniffles, sneezes, heart attacks, etc. With smaller teams and facilities, Leisa emphasizes the critical need for teamwork and mutual reliance. This environment, however, allows for a more personal touch, a space where genuine connection can flourish.

For Leisa, the heart of her role lies in meeting people at their most vulnerable. "We see them at their worst," she explains, and her deepest fulfillment comes from helping them "feel comfortable or walk out with a smile." Even in the face of sad situations, Leisa offers comfort, assuring patients that "there is someone that knows how they feel and they’ll get the help they need."

Leisa firmly believes that a positive attitude is paramount to the daily success of the hospital. "Everyone is going through something," she reminds us, and insists that any negative feelings be "hung up at the door." For Leisa, the ER is a place to "provide a service with warmth and kindness and not judgment." She understands the rapid spread of negativity and consciously strives to help people see things in a positive light, recognizing that "life is difficult already."
Her leadership extends beyond patient care; as Chairperson for the Hospital Outpatient Department Unit-Based Council across multiple hospitals and freestanding emergency rooms, she actively addresses concerns for both staff and patients, always with an eye toward improving the patient experience.

Leisa is particularly proud of her time at St. Luke’s Health, where she cherishes the camaraderie and teamwork. She proudly states, "The people here really care – she sees it inside and outside the hospital." She considers herself part of the family, jokingly referring to herself as the crazy aunt with the purple hair.

What makes Leisa so successful? Her ability to reach people that can’t be reached, cracking through outer shells with a personal story or a joke. Her mantra, "They may not remember your name but they will always remember how they made you feel," guides her every interaction.

Outside of work, Leisa finds joy and renewal cruising with her husband, cherishing time with her four grandchildren, and teaching Sunday School. But even in her personal life, her commitment to kindness and serving others shines through.

Leisa Eubank is more than just an emergency room nurse; she is a beacon of humankindness. Through her unwavering compassion, her empowering leadership, and her genuine desire to make a difference, she embodies the very best of healthcare, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps and embrace the core principle: do your best, and if you can’t, keep trying.