Pat Pinkard | Behind the Mask Employee Spotlight

7/19/2021

Pat Pinkard | Behind the Mask Employee Spotlight

Behind the Mask with Pat Pinkard

Licensed Practical Nurse

Today’s Behind the Mask features Pat Pinkard, who has been with Newberry Hospital for over 24 years!

Read on to learn about the vital role Pat plays in helping new parents bring their babies home and what she does when she’s off the clock.

 

What does your job entail?

I care for newborns from delivery to discharge home with their parents. I teach and assist new moms in caring for their babies so that they are competent to care for them at home. When a sick baby is born, I work in conjunction with the physician to stabilize the infant and prepare the infant for transfer to NICU in Columbia.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

My favorite thing about my job is assisting and teaching new moms who are scared and unsure how to best care for their babies. The moms have only 24-48 hours before taking their baby home, so they have a lot to learn in a short period. To see “a light go on” when the mom realizes that she can do it and knowing I made a difference is very satisfying.

What do you like about working at Newberry Hospital?

I love working at Newberry Hospital because of the family atmosphere. I feel like I am a part of a family. Most of the employees know each other at some level. New Beginnings is a very small unit and is my family away from home. We all have each other’s backs.

What would you do for a career if you weren’t working as an LPN?

I can’t think of anything else I would rather do than nursing. It is a very satisfying career.

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

When I am not working, I love to read and do jigsaw puzzles online. I spend time with my husband of almost 42 years. We have two children, Kim and Ben, and a 1-year-old granddaughter, Landri. For the last 5 years, we have traveled to the Caribbean every January with my brother and sister-in-law. Of course, this year, due to COVID, we were unable to go so we went to Marco Island, Florida instead. We had a blast.

Where’s your favorite place in the world?

My most favorite place in the world is Hawaii. We lived there for 7 years when my husband was in the Army.

What’s a fun fact about you many people may not know?

One fact about me that most people don’t know is that I spent 3 years in the Army as a Dental Hygienist.

If you could have any superpower what would it be?

If I had one superpower, it would be to be able to bring peace and love to the world.

How has your job changed during the pandemic?

My job has not changed tremendously during COVID. Mainly we have had no visitors, which has been hard on the patients.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned during the pandemic?

COVID has made me realize that you need to be RIGHT with God at all times because you don’t know what tomorrow holds. I lost an aunt and uncle within 5 days of each other. I also lost a cousin.