We are pleased to present the next in our weekly series introducing you to Internal Medicine’s Advanced Practice Providers. In addition to sharing information about where they work in the department, we asked them each to tell us a little bit about their “Why” (the sustaining pull for their work) and what relaxes them. (Read previous weeks’ installments.)

Liz Hynek, MSN, ARNP, FNP-C
Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine

Service: Medical Intensive Care Unit

Years with Internal Medicine: 5 years

Specialty or service I almost chose instead of this one: I worked in MICU as a nurse, my plan was to work in Primary Care as an ARNP. The opportunity to stay in MICU as part of the APP team came at the right time and I knew I would learn so much as a provider here.

One of my favorite moments in this job: I really enjoy the process of investigation when a new patient arrives; our patient population is so broad you never know what you might get! It is satisfying to be able to identify the problems and treatments to help them get better. Our patients are often very complex, so it is a challenge every day. I get to help people though a very scary and unfamiliar time in their lives.

What restores me for the work: Reading, outdoors, and time with my family.

Liz is an exceptional APP who is invaluable to keeping the MICU running safely and smoothly at night. Liz takes great care of her patients, is helpful to residents, fellows and nurses, all while keeping a calm and positive demeanor. The MICU has been lucky to have Liz both as a nurse and now as a Nurse Practitioner.

– – Allison Wynes, ARNP

Read more about Hynek in this feature on UI Health Care’s The Loop:
‘A sense of accomplishment’: Elizabeth Hynek is learning from her experiences in the MICU