In early 2020, while working in the Allergy and Immunization Department at Yale Health, Lindsay Azulay was assigned as the lead nurse on the Campus COVID-19 Resource Line (CCRL). It was an intense experience through which she gained valuable leadership skills. She applies those skills as a clinical nurse manager, supervising a team of nurses, clinicians, and medical assistants who support the Student Health and Athletic Medicine departments.
| Title | Clinical Nurse Manager, Yale Health |
|---|---|
| Years in Position | 2.5 |
| Started at Yale | 2014 |
How would you describe your current role?
I supervise the Student Health and Athletic Medicine departments at Yale. Six nurses and five medical assistants report directly to me, along with several per diem registered nurses (RNs). I also manage the clinician staff (10 providers) for Student Health and Athletic Medicine, and I oversee and act as a board advisor for Yale Emergency Medical Services (YEMS).
Student Health is the primary care department for the student body of Yale, providing appropriate medical care as needed. Athletic Medicine is the primary care department for our varsity student-athletes.
YEMS is a registered undergraduate organization and a state-licensed emergency medical services (EMS) agency, providing EMS standby coverage at select sporting and campus sanctioned events. YEMS members are Yale students who hold Connecticut state certification at the emergency medical technician (EMT) level or higher, and an executive board manages the program. I coordinate how other groups on campus utilize this service, maintain their budget and resources, and provide additional guidance to the board.
Did you always want to be a nurse or work in health care?
From a very young age, I wanted to be a nurse. My parents pointed out that I had an empathetic and compassionate demeanor, even as a child. I was often the first to assist anyone in my immediate and extended family, regardless of the issue; it was instinctive.
Tell us about your training and early career.
I graduated from Rhode Island College with a B.S. in nursing in 2012. I then got a job working the night shift at a long-term, sub-acute care facility. The position was close to where I lived, and I knew I'd gain valuable experience there. I worked with some fantastic nurses who trained me. The program's director was a role model and mentor who had empathy, patience, and compassion in abundance.
While there, I put what I learned to the test, administering medications and injections, wound care, and other clinical tasks. I also experienced the patient-facing piece of nursing, advocating for my patients, interacting with their families about care coordination, and navigating the different layers of healthcare. You don’t always learn the complex layers of healthcare in school; you are exposed to these layers firsthand on the job.
What brought you to Yale?
Before starting at Yale, I worked on a medical-surgical floor at Bridgeport Hospital. I went there hoping to gain more experience caring for patients with different and more complex medical challenges. I administered intravenous therapy, provided medication, dressed wounds, drew blood, administered blood transfusions, and cared for patients on telemetry. It was there I got my first management experience as a charge nurse. A charge nurse is assigned to every shift and acts as a point person and lead nurse on the floor, overseeing operations of the nursing unit while also working alongside the medical team. A friend recommended Yale Health for additional work experience, and in 2014, I began a per diem position here. I started with data entry for incoming student immunization, then administering immunizations at flu clinics. In 2015, I got a full-time nursing position in the Allergy and Immunization department.
What is your biggest professional challenge?
The COVID-19 pandemic was a significant professional challenge that ultimately led me to my current role at Yale Health. Being assigned to the CCRL and COVID-19 Resulting Team was an intense experience, and every day was filled with multi-tasking and meetings with stakeholders while pivoting to meet constantly changing guidelines and disseminating that information to the community.
The current challenge is COVID-19 fatigue, which created a ripple effect within the healthcare industry. The pandemic was a difficult, draining time for healthcare workers; many are still trying to rebound from it. Working through the pandemic was a lifechanging event for individuals in the medical field and a turning point for healthcare. Some people retired; others left for different professions all together. We are working on innovative ways to strengthen our teams and to continue to promote a positive work environment, all while retaining current staff and onboarding new employees. Enjoying where you work and striving to be the best organizational citizen you can be is key to success.
What do you like best about working at Yale?
I thoroughly enjoy what I do and the people I work with. I am supported and have developed strong relationships with colleagues within and outside of Yale Health. I take pride in those relationships and the collaborative work we provide to our patient population. I appreciate the comradery of so many colleagues, and the work ethic of my departments. Being an advocate for our patients as well as the staff is something I cherish the most about my role at Yale Health.
