Know the Nurses: Laura Kelzer
If you have a private duty nurse in your home, you already know what an important part of your life they become. Today in Know the Nurses, we’re introducing you to one of our private duty nurses, Laura Kelzer, RN, who has been with PHS since May 2011. We already know these nurses provide comprehensive, round-the-clock care for patients in their homes every day, but here are a few fun facts about Laura you might not know.
- I grew up in St. Louis Park & have one sister. Though we’re almost 5 years apart in age, we’re best friends!!
- I played cello for nine years, and my parents recently found a cello for me at an antique sale, so I’m looking forward to starting to play again.
- I attended nursing school at Bethel University – I have always love kids and started to have an interest in working in Pediatrics during an internship at Gillette Children’s Hospital
I love being a homecare nurse! There is nothing better than seeing our patients thrive at home with their siblings and family and getting to be a part of that!- One of my favorite places in the world is Westwood Hills Nature Center in St. Louis Park. I attended summer camps and went on many school field trips as a child there and then volunteered as a Junior Naturalist!
- From 2nd-12th grade, I participated in competitive Synchronized Swimming and even made the All-State team in 11th and 12th grade.
I am now a coach for the Minnesota Aquafins, the same synchronized swimming team I swam with – this is my fifth season coaching, we had almost 70 swimmers from 8 different school districts this year, and qualified 7 girls to the National Meet!- As a senior nursing student, I got a chance to spend a month in Uganda and volunteered at CURE Pediatric Hospital, the only hospital in Uganda or the surrounding countries with the capability of treating hydrocephalus, spina bifida, and many other neurological conditions
While in Uganda, I was able to stay with a host family, go on a safari, and go whitewater rafting through GRADE 5 RAPIDS down the Nile River! It was such an amazing experience!- I LOVE baseball and the MN Twins! I’ve been to one game so far this summer and hope to go a few more times
- I have a cat named Luna – sometimes she thinks she’s a dog as she will growl and likes to go outside on a leash!
- I MIGHT be buying a house soon – it needs some TLC, but I grew up in a house that was always under construction, so that’s not scaring me away!
I hate shoes! If I could go barefoot year round I would!- I have two pet peeves: 1) Not knowing what time it is and 2) Wearing a watch – very problematic!!
- In my free time, I LOVE to read! It can sometimes be a problem as I find it nearly impossible to put down a good book to go to sleep! I also love to do crafts and sewing projects, though I’m not always the best at finishing my projects and usually have several going at a time as a result!
Since I love swimming, one of the highlights of work last summer was getting to swim with one of my kiddos almost every shift I worked with him!! Looking forward to another fun summer of swimming here soon!- I never hesitate to be silly with my kiddos – sometimes that means making up silly songs (or made-up words – one of my patients claims to have a “Laura” dictionary!) or doing silly dances to get a smile! Nothing makes my day more than a smile or giggle from one of my kiddos!
We love learning more about private duty nurses and hearing their stories. Do you know a PHS nurse who you’d like to see highlighted? Leave his or her name here or on our Facebook page and we’ll take it from there! If you’re interested in starting your career with PHS, visit our careers page.
Originally published: May 23, 2014