Long-time nurse in Blessing Hospital ICU retires after 44 years

QUINCY — Lisa (Ihnen) Surratt, a registered nurse in the intensive care use at Blessing Hospital, retired June 1 after 44 years of service.

Losing her mother when Surratt was 8 years old motivated her to become a nurse. Her career began at St. Mary Hospital in Quincy in 1978 after graduating from John Wood Community College’s nursing program. She earned her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Hannibal LaGrange College in 1991 and began her career in Intensive Care Unit nursing.

In addition to caring for patients and families, Surratt has shared her experience, skill and compassion as a preceptor to new nurses and nursing students in ICU.

Faith keeps Surratt positive in the face of the suffering of critically ill patients and their loved ones. Her education and experience allowed her to stay calm.

In a press release, Surratt said, “People don’t see what is going on inside my head. In intensive care, you are always trying to think ahead of what could go wrong. You know what is happening right then. But if you stop there, then you are going to miss something. I have seen a lot of changes in the nursing field, but the basic care and human needs of a patient and family member are unchanged. Those needs are what has kept me at the bedside all these years.”

A Golden native and resident of Mount Sterling, Surratt will remain active in retirement as a member of the Adams-Brown Nurse Honor Guard. She will serve at funerals of deceased nurses in the area, give talks on her passion for making end-of-life decisions and advocating for people to share their end-of-life healthcare treatment wishes with their providers and loved ones as part of the work of her non-profit, Hope Through Faith Ministries.