Menu ToggleMenu Hide
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Search Jobs
  • Upcoming Events
  • Job cart
search icon
Northwell Careers
  • Search jobs
  • About us
    • Our culture
    • Benefits
    • Locations
  • Career specialties
    • Advanced Clinical Provider
    • Cancer
    • Clinical Care
    • Culinary
    • Home Health Aides
    • Information Technology
    • Laboratory
    • Nursing
      • Externships, Fellowships and Nurse Residency Programs
      • Perioperative – Pre-Surgical, OR, PACU, Endoscopy
    • Physicians
    • Professional / Technical / Support
    • Research
  • Temp jobs
  • Students
  • Veterans
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers blog
  • Sign In
  • Create a Talent Profile
Celebrating National Women’s History Month with Sandra Lindsay
You are here: Home / Celebrating National Women’s History Month with Sandra Lindsay / Diversity & Inclusion / Celebrating National Women’s History Month with Sandra Lindsay

Celebrating National Women’s History Month with Sandra Lindsay, first person to receive the COVID-19 vaccine

After making history as the first American to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, more than one year later, Sandra Lindsay reflects on her experience and shares career advice for anyone looking toward the next chapter of their career journey.

Tell us about your career journey and why you wanted to become a nurse.

I always knew I wanted to become a nurse. I was raised by my grandparents and took great pleasure in caring for my grandmother who suffered from chronic illnesses. Despite her health history, she was a fierce educator, church organist, community leader, and provider for our family. This fueled my passion for wanting to care for more people.

My journey at Northwell began at Lenox Hill Hospital (LHH). I started as a nurse extern in the emergency department, after which I was hired as a staff nurse in oncology. After three and half years in oncology, I moved on to critical care where I held clinical nursing roles in the medical intensive care unit and critical care unit, before being promoted into leadership roles. Prior to my promotion as director and subsequent transfer to Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC), I served as the nurse manager for the medical intensive care unit at LHH.

Today, I currently serve as the director of Patient Care Services for critical care at LIJMC, a position which I’ve held for the past six years. In this role, I have responsibilities for four intensive care units, as well as the respiratory care unit. I oversee the clinical practice of more than 200 employees in the and manage daily and strategic operations for the units.

What helped you grow along your career journey? Can you provide a few areas where you received the support you needed to grow as a nurse and as a leader?

I had a great experience in the emergency department, soaking up every bit of information that I could and thankfully the nurses were patient and kind. They took me under their wings. My first preceptor in oncology was stern but also very patient, and kind. She really helped me get a good foundation as a clinical nurse as did all my preceptors in the various critical care units that I worked in. I will also never forget the day I met the AED of quality management at LHH, who offered to mentor me. We shared a love of gardening, and over the years she shared many pearls of leadership wisdom with me, that still support my practice today.  There have been other mentors who helped me to grow tremendously.

What is something you wish someone would have told you before you graduated nursing school?

At the time that I graduated, I wish someone would have told me that in addition to building my nursing skills, building relationship skills with patients, families, and a multidisciplinary team is also paramount to a successful career.

If you could offer career advice to anyone, what would it be and why?

I think it is important to follow your dreams and seek out mentors who will provide you with honest feedback. After landing that dream job, the work does not end. Staying engaged and passionate about whatever that role is, requires continuous learning. Treat it as a journey, not a destination.

Going into our third year of living with the COVID-19 pandemic, Sandra hopes that we can all get some much-needed relief and healing. She states, “We are closer to the end than the beginning and we should not give up now.”

Treat your career as a journey, just like Sandra Lindsay. Become a Health Raiser at Northwell Health and see available nursing opportunities here.

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

Newsletter

Search Jobs

Start typing a location to get suggestions, then press the down arrow to select one.*Please select location from the dropdown

Recent Posts

  • Administrative Support Careers at Northwell Health, Raise Your Career Expectations
  • With a passion for caring and continued growth, meet Certified Surgical Technologist, Jason Dizon
  • Northwell interns thrive in a collaborative environment supported by leadership
  • Respiratory Therapy Careers at Northwell Health, Raise Your Career Expectations
  • Five helpful career tips to read while you sit poolside

Categories

  • ACP
  • Advanced Practice
  • Advice Articles
  • Appointment with…
  • Benefits
  • Cancer Care
  • Clinical Care
  • Clinical Laboratory
  • COVID-19 Stories
  • Culinary and Food Services
  • Culture
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Employee Stories
  • Events
  • Featured Articles
  • General
  • HMP Internship
  • Information Technology
  • News
  • Non-Clinical Professionals
  • Northwell Community
  • Northwell Ventures
  • Nursing
  • Nursing Education
  • Nursing Support
  • Patient and Customer Experience
  • Perioperative Services
  • Physician Assistant
  • President's Awards
  • Radiology
  • Rehabilitation
  • Research
  • Spark
  • Spotlight
  • Students and Internships
  • This is Healthcare
  • Veteran
  • Wellness

Archives

  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016

Archives

  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
Contact us
If you are an individual with a disability requesting an accommodation for the application process, please click the contact us link above to request assistance.

Learn more about our hiring experience.
Read answers to common questions about the application process.
© 2021 - Northwell Health
Click here to view the “EEO is the law” poster.
It is Northwell Health’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity and treat all applicants and employees equally regardless of their age, race, creed/religion, color, national origin, immigration status or citizenship status, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, sex/gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, pregnancy, genetic information or genetic predisposition or carrier status, marital or familial status, partnership status, victim of domestic violence, sexual or other reproductive health decisions, or other characteristics protected by applicable law.
Northwell Health reserves the right to amend all terms of employment.
Sign Up for Our Newsletter TwitterTwitter FacebookFacebook LinkedinLinkedin YoutubeYoutube InstagramInstagram
  • Northwell team members search and apply here
  • Recruitment Fraud Notice
  • About us
  • Career Specialties
  • Temp jobs
  • Students
  • Veterans
  • Diversity & inclusion
  • Careers Blog
  • Privacy Policy
Reflecting on Black History Month and the impact on career journeys at Nort... Two Nursing Careers, Two Equally Amazing Journeys
Scroll to top