Beth Lyman, MSN, RN, CNSC
What is your current job title and work location?
Co-director for the Nutrition Support Team, Children’s Mercy, Kansas City
What is your educational background?
MSN in nursing—adult nurse practitioner from the University of Missouri-Kansas City
How did you get involved in the field of clinical nutrition?
In 1981, I was in graduate school and needed a part time job with more flexible hours than the medical ICU could give me. The hospital was starting a Metabolic Support Service and needed a nurse who would be a half-time FTE with the interest in working part of most weekdays. It seemed a match made in heaven for me in terms of the hours. I soon found out I was good at some things like central line dressing changes and not so good at other things like basic science, metabolic pathways, lab value interpretation—the list goes on. The beauty of that team was in our ability to sort out patient issues with respectful dialogue. I learned quickly to keep my “eye on the ball” to quote Vince Lombardi and the patient is the ball. That has served me well. Eventually, I became full time and spent 50 hours or so every week dedicating myself to my career. In time, children came along and I again needed more flexibility which took me across the street to the pediatric hospital and I have been there for the past 25 years—always busy, always learning, always marveling at how an interdisciplinary team at its best can do such good work.
What specifically do you do in your current position?
I currently help with home patient education, transpyloric tube placement, gastrostomy tube management, and patient monitoring. I do less direct patient care and more mentoring as the prospect of retirement looms in the future. I do more research and mentoring of novice researchers. For those who are not currently aware of it, I chair the NOVEL project (New Opportunities for Enteral tube Location) which consumes a good bit of my work and personal life. We are making progress and I chalk that up, again, to a great team of empowered and dedicated professionals—many of whom are ASPEN members.
Why did you become involved in ASPEN and what are the benefits of being involved?
I joined ASPEN in 1981 because I knew I was not functioning at the level I wanted to be at. I met and still do meet nurses who are so incredibly bright and talented. I stayed a member of ASPEN because of the interdisciplinary nature of the organization where each discipline serves to strengthen those around them. It is an environment of collegiality that cannot be obtained anywhere else.
What recommendations would you give to someone just starting out in your field?
1. Join and become involved in ASPEN.
2. Read the literature.
3. Become a clinical expert.
4. Start small but do research to add evidence to guide our practice.
5. Share what you know and help others to become stronger because we all need to keep our eye on the ball!
