“You really listened, you really cared.”
In answering the call to “reflect God’s providential love for all of creation” (Constitution, Sisters of Divine Providence), Sister Barbara Lynn Hyzak has served in various places as a nurse practitioner. “I have always loved nursing for its direct nurse-patient relationship. Completing studies and certification as a nurse practitioner (an advanced practice registered nurse) allows me to continue to use my nursing skills working directly with my patients.”
Most recently, Sister Barbara Lynn served for 15 years as a Certified Nurse Practitioner with the Kendall Medical Center in Boerne, Texas. Her announcement in May, 2014, of moving to another clinic was met by one patient after another with deep regret.
A former patient, Karen Bradshaw, describes Sister Barbara Lynn as a “lovely soul who looks you in the eye, takes a true interest in what you have to say, validates your feelings, is non-judgmental and has a sense of humor that can help take the pain away.”
“There were cards and flowers that I got from so many patients,” Sister Barbara Lynn said. “What touched me so much was the recurring message from those cards and the words of my patients in those final weeks in the clinic: ‘You really listened, you really cared.’”
Dr. Elizabeth McRae, MD, Sister’s supervisor at the Kendall Medical Center, shared that Sister Barbara Lynn “set the tone for a more serene and spiritual atmosphere.” In times of stress due to the behind the scenes issues of billing and paperwork, Sister Barbara Lynn’s calm nature, warm smile and peaceful presence assured her staff that the issue at hand would be resolved.
From Kendall Medical Center, Sister has moved to the Hill Country Mission for Health, also in Boerne. This is a ministry she has helped to nurture and support, collaborating with the founder, Joyce Clair. This clinic serves persons and families who have no health insurance.
Another Providence-inspired ministry for which Sister Barbara Lynn was a pivotal person was Providence Home for infants and children who had AIDS or who were HIV-Positive. Established in 1990 at the request of and with the support of Dr. Mangos, then Head of Pediatrics at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, this home provided services and care for over 200 children at a time unique in history. “At that time, so much was unknown about HIV and AIDS; many people were fearful of contact with such individuals, and/or they just were not equipped to provide the health care that was required” as Sister Barbara Lynn recounts. Consequently, there was an unmet need which Providence Home filled. With time, there were advances in knowledge about the disease along with attitudes about HIV and AIDS and the mission of Providence Home saw its goal fulfilled through families and healthcare agencies. However, for 10 years, Providence Home was there serving infants and children who had no other place to go.
With her confident professional skills in partnership with the gifts of truly listening and truly caring about those whom she serves, Sister Barbara Lynn is a woman of Providence whose presence and service to the poor and those in need reflect a merciful and abundant Providence.