Meet our July Nurse of the Month: Peggy Abrahamson-Syverson

Back in the early days of the pandemic, Tribal Health put together a Critical Care Response Team program. Our teams traveled all over the US, training teams in the protocols necessary to treat patients with COVID-19. Peggy was an integral part of our first CCRT team – and now she is back again with Tribal Health, helping to launch nursing programs at a new hospital. We are thrilled to benefit from her expertise once more.

So Peggy, how did you get into nursing?

When I was young, I wanted to be a marine biologist. In college, I signed up to take general courses. But life happened in our family and being the oldest, I stayed to assist my family. I worked in our small community hospital, working in housekeeping, dietary, and laundry.

We had a family friend named Cheryl who was a public health nurse. She inspired me – everyone loved her, and she cared about people in general. When I saw her in action, that was my first inclination to go into nursing.

Then there were my grandmother and grandfather. They had a snowplane. They would transport  the doctor to house calls when roads were impassable in the winter.  One snowstorm, my grandmother delivered a baby as they were closer than the doctor and she just did what she had to do. My mother worked in our hometown nursing home until age 80 and it was her passion for others that later on struck me.

So really, it was nursing all along, I just did not realize the mentors right in front of me the whole time until much later. To me, it is service to others who are in need no matter the circumstance.

 What did you do after nursing school?

After nursing school, I worked in a rehab unit in Fargo, caring for patients, from amputees to stroke victims. I started investigating different areas of  the hospital like the critical care unit. I interviewed for a position and landed that job with zero critical care experience. It was then that I was introduced to another amazing mentor (my manager) – she took a chance on me and the rest is history. The fact that I was surrounded by giants in nursing in critical care allowed me to be raised up in the critical care arena. I loved every minute of learning new things.

We went through three corporate takeovers. In 2000, I followed the physicians I had grown to trust to start a brand new start-up hospital; I was one amongst 10 nurses originally hired to assist in  the complete start up of the hospital and that was a challenge and great honor.

I challenged myself  in many ways and was the IABP (cardiac assist device)  instructor. I created the program and taught the classes and mentored at the bedside. I spent years as a charge nurse and learning all of what ICU had to offer with Neuro, Trauma, Cardiovascular, Organ Donation, and so much more.

I spent a year at a free-standing Rehab hospital as Quality Director, and soon became the CNO, Employee Health, Infection Control, Risk Manager, staffer, and scheduler – and I covered several 24 hour shifts to cover “no show staff” during COVID.

What an amazing career. How did you connect with Tribal Health?

My husband had surgery and  I took 2 months off. Tribal Health recruiter called me in January 2021; at first I thought it was a scam. She explained the goal of the CCRT teams and the intent and it was so intriguing to me.

And you became part of our then brand-new CCRT program.

I worked with Sean Friel, Dr. Spector and Kara Roberts – that was our CCRT team. I loved every part of it, loved what it meant. I loved working with people who wanted to learn better practices and even those who at first didn’t want us there. And I loved working with Dr. Spector, knowing we were trying our very best to help patients.

But it was a change. When I was working in the ICU, everything was at my fingertips. Here, not so much. But it also made me appreciate the fact that not everything was so easy, and how it must be for the staff trying to provide care in such troubled times and for those who needed the care. I loved the comradery amongst most of our team members and the fact that most of us were there to help others and use our skills for the betterment of a group of people who so needed it.

As COVID died down, so did our program. What did you do next?

I was heartbroken after the program got paused. I spent some time at our at our new lake home. My mom had surgery, so I spent some time taking care of her. We moved 3 times in 18 months.

I took time to figure out what I wanted to do. A hospice position came up and I did that for a year. But there was lots of windshield time, long hours of charting after hours. The heart of that work was meaningful but exhausting.

Then Miss Whittney called me about working at Sage Memorial Hospital and my heart just flew into “This is it.” I have bragged to many people of what Tribal Health is and what it represents to the Indigenous communities.

What’s it been like working at Sage?

I’m excited to be teaching. It’s like riding a horse, you get back in and start doing it again. I really like it. I feel like I have rapport with the doctors and  nurses and people are eager to learn new things and best practices. The CNO is wonderful and very insightful.

What’s your advice for new nurses?

I had a nurse ready to walk out her first day. So I took her aside and listened to her. I said, Yes, it’s an eye opener. Things don’t move as fast as at a big city hospital but things need to happen here and it would be a blessing for you to help us.  You can help grow this because we need you. Be patient and help where you can. Do what you can, with what you have, for as long as you can.

In general, don’t think you’ll ride in on your horse and fix everything because it doesn’t work like that. Usually the environment doesn’t move quickly and it can be a culture shock. But don’t give up because the staff do need help to learn and the patients do need great  healthcare.

Excellent advice. What do you do for fun when you’re not working?

I love to sit on the our dock by the water. I like spending time with my friends and family, reminiscing – and I have 2 grandkids. My youngest granddaughter and I are like 2 peas in a pod. Family is important to me always as one never knows when it can come to an end.

Thank you, Peggy!