Meet Critical Care Nurse Morgan Anderson

In 2020, Morgan Anderson, CRNP, became a familiar and friendly face walking the halls of Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest as a patient transporter. Today, her kindness and warmth are felt by patients during some of their most difficult moments as she cares for them in the critical care unit.

Anderson was introduced to Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) in high school through the Emerging Health Professionals Program. She shadowed health care professionals and completed college-level courses to prepare her for the future. As the first in her family to pursue a career in the medical field, she says this program made “the picture clearer” and solidified her career choice of nursing.

While attending nursing school at Moravian University, Anderson was accepted into the Research Scholar Program. This internship gave her the opportunity to participate in educational research at LVHN. As an undergraduate, she supported the research of burn surgeon Sigrid Blome-Eberwine, MD – studies that were presented at two national conferences and published in the Journal of Burn Care & Research.

Anderson later moved into a technical partner role where she focused on burn care. She says that LVHN was flexible and gave her the opportunity to continue growing a career while finishing school.

Following that, she joined the nurse externship program offered at LVHN which gave her more hands-on experience in patient care, communication and documentation.

While Anderson’s knowledge and experience of treating burn injuries grew, so did her desire to learn even more. That led her to her career as a registered nurse in the critical care unit at LVH–Cedar Crest.

“LVHN is very supportive if you want to move up in your career. There are so many colleagues in the health network who want to teach and take someone under their wing,” Anderson says.

As a critical care nurse, Anderson cares for patients who have life-threatening injuries or illnesses like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetic ketoacidosis and sepsis or are in need of a liver transplant.

So far, she’s helped with six liver transplants. Anderson will either be in the operating room running dialysis or will be caring for a patient after they receive their transplant. With access to the region’s only transplant program for liver, kidney and pancreas transplantation, she plays a vital role in delivering lifesaving care to the community.

One of the reasons Anderson became a critical care nurse was because of her desire to spend more time with patients. Her days are full of connection as she listens, builds trust and cares for patients and their families facing health challenges.

“I want to help my patients find their voice,” she says.

Anderson’s most important job is to be an advocate. When a physician provides a report, she listens carefully and phrases updates or recommendations to help her patients and their families understand. Her hope is that she makes a difference each day and honors the patient’s wishes in every part of their care.

“Morgan is a caring and professional critical care nurse who goes above and beyond in her role by always being a patient advocate and team player to ensure quality patient care,” says Kimberly Tyler, Director of Clinical Services.

Each colleague on the critical care unit team brings unique experience such as specialized training in neurology, cardiology or another specialty. The team’s expertise is especially helpful in complex medical situations. Anderson says that there is always someone to count on, rely on and ask for help.

LVHN has supported Anderson’s career goals since starting as a patient transporter to furthering her education with the tuition reimbursement program offered to colleagues. While building a career that changes lives, she also completed her nurse practitioner degree at Moravian University this summer.

Her story exemplifies our shared calling. Through continual learning, relationship building and care that speaks volumes, nurses like Anderson improve lives in our community.