Humankindness at Work: Lamont Cline, Supervisor & Charge Nurse

For nearly 11 years, St. Luke’s Health-The Vintage Hospital has been fortunate to have Lamont Cline as a cornerstone of its nursing team. With an impressive 40-year career in healthcare, Lamont embodies the spirit of humankindness and dedication that defines CommonSpirit.

Lamont's work at The Vintage is a testament to his versatility and commitment. As a hybrid employee, he seamlessly navigates two critical roles. He spends part of his time as a part-time House Supervisor, overseeing the intricate operations of the inpatient hospital. This involves ensuring patients are in the right place, coordinating transfers, addressing off-the-clock surgeries, and managing the business aspects of nursing. The other part of his work week sees him serving as a part-time Charge Nurse in the ER, where he tackles staffing concerns, addresses patient issues, and optimizes patient flow efficiencies.

Interestingly, Lamont initially pursued a different path, earning an undergraduate degree in Economics and even contemplating an MBA. However, the call to serve proved stronger, a calling he first answered decades ago as an EMT in 1985 and a paramedic in 1987. "My dad was a fireman, so I started in the Houston Fire Department/EMS/paramedic," he shares. "I retired as a captain. It wasn’t a huge learning curve to transition into nursing; it was continuing to take care of people, always being there for them in their time of need. Nursing was a better call for me."

What truly fuels Lamont's passion is the opportunity to mentor and guide younger nurses. He recognizes the challenges new nurses face, the desire to appear competent even when navigating unfamiliar territory. He makes it a point to be consistently available, offering his cell phone number to everyone and even taking graduate nurses out to lunch for safe, open discussions.

Lamont's impact extends beyond official mentorship. "Don’t talk about it – you must lead by example." He prides himself on being the experience of the department, a steady hand in moments of chaos, always striving for excellence in patient care.

One of his most cherished memories involves connecting with patients facing mental health crises. He endeavors to make them feel heard, not just managed, offering compassion and guidance.

Outside of work, Lamont is an avid golfer and enjoys flying RC model airplanes. He is a proud father of five children, one of whom is now a pilot for Southwest Airlines. His personal journey, however, has also been marked by profound loss; his middle daughter passed away during her freshman year at UT in November 2012, a poignant event that led him to start nursing school in January 2013.

Lamont attributes his success in his role to one special skill: "the ability to listen and hear what people are saying, not just the words, but the message." This applies to both staff and patients, fostering deeper understanding and more effective care. Ultimately, he believes in accountability. "If you make a mistake, own it, learn from it, learn the lessons and move on," he advises. "Don’t place blame – acknowledge your mistakes and come up with a solution to make sure it doesn’t happen again."

Lamont Cline’s dedication to humankindness is evident in every aspect of his work. His profound commitment to patient care, his unwavering support for his colleagues, and his personal philosophy of leading by example make him an invaluable asset to The Vintage and a true inspiration within the CommonSpirit family.

As he wisely states, "An indication when I need to leave this profession is when I can no longer care about people in the same way I’d want to be cared for." Thankfully, for The Vintage, that day is still a long way off.