Licensed practical nurse: ‘A job that will always be needed’
For Lisa Duncan, what began 25 years ago as a way for a young single mother to support her children is now a lifetime career and passion.
As a licensed practical nurse (LPN) with the Opioid Treatment Program at Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute, becoming a nurse was a natural path for Duncan, whose mother and aunts are also nurses.
“Since my mom was a private duty nurse, I got a firsthand look into what they do,” said Duncan, who was born and raised in Camp Hill. Since completing her nursing degree at Harrisburg Area Community College in 2000, she has worked in a variety of settings, including an outpatient pediatrics practice, a long-term geriatric care facility, the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill and a hospice program, before coming to Penn State Health.
Lisa Duncan, LPN, is a dispensing nurse at Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute. She is the third in four generations of nurses in her family. She is seen here holding a photo of, top clockwise: Ellen Dempsey-Spresser (grandmother), Peggy Siravo (aunt), Susan Roussel (aunt) and Ellen Russell (mother).
“I’ve always enjoyed my jobs,” said Duncan. Every position she’s held has had unique advantages. Her current job in the outpatient addiction treatment program at Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute has given her the opportunity to get to know her patients over time and feel that she is making a difference in their lives.
“No day is ever the same as another,” she said. “I’m a naturally outgoing person, so it’s easy for me to connect with the patients I treat when they come in on a regular basis. This job is a perfect fit for someone who likes people and getting to know them.”
A typical shift for Duncan is 5 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with a four-hour shift rotation every other Saturday. The consistent schedule gives her the stability she needs as a working mother and the flexibility to be involved in her children’s activities.
“Being able to watch my children grow up has been the best thing about a career I’ve always loved,” said Duncan, whose daughter has continued the family tradition and now works as an LPN in another state. “There are so many roles to choose — you can work in outpatient or inpatient settings or in a specific specialty. As an LPN, you know you’ll always have a job for which there will always be a need.”
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