Lynn Cowan grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and she loves everything about the state of Wisconsin! She loves the Packers, Brewers, Friday Fish Boils and the beautiful summers. She loved the winters as a child, but as she grew older, the long winters just seemed to get longer and longer.
Cowan attended Marquette University and received by BSN. After graduation, she decided she wanted to move somewhere with a shorter winter and longer summer. She accepted a job offer to work in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Cowan started as a new graduate nurse in July 1987 where she worked for 12 years in the PICU and loved it! Cowan made lifelong friendships while working in the PICU. In the PICU, she would take the post op heart patients back from the OR and loved caring for those heart patients.
Fast forward to 1999, and she was approached by Mary Wood to apply for the clinical nurse coordinator position that was open on the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis side. Cowan interviewed for the job and started her WU career in April 1999. There is a huge difference between the inpatient world and the outpatient world which she found out quickly! Cowan feels very fortunate to have been able to work on both sides and thinks it has made her a better nurse.
Cowan is still in shock at how many changes were implemented in 25 years in pediatric cardiology! They used to have paper charts and now use electronic medical records. Now, there’s a choice to speak with a family on the phone or through a virtual portal. But the one constant during this time is her love for her profession. Cowan has always prided herself on treating my patients and families the way that she would want her and her family treated.
Her favorite past times include spending time with her family, gardening, needlepoint, walking her dogs, going to the beach and of course cheering for the Green Bay Packers! Many of her family still live in Green Bay, and Cowan visits with them most summers and tries to make it back for a weekend game day when she can!
Go Pack Go