All in the family – mother, daughter, and son form a nursing team

When nurse Lindsey Thurber arrives at M Health Fairview St. John’s Hospital for her shift, she always finds her mother waiting for her. A fellow nurse, Cindy Lensing has worked nights in labor and delivery at the hospital since 1999.

Now, her daughter has followed in her footsteps. Lindsey began working the day shift in labor and delivery at the hospital nine years ago. Every day, the pair get to see each other between shifts at The Birthplace at M Health Fairview St. John’s Hospital – handing off reports and catching each other up to speed.

Lindsey remembers her mother going to nursing school when she and her siblings were young. Inspired by Cindy, Lindsey knew from a young age that she also wanted to work in healthcare. However, she never thought she would follow this closely in her mother’s footsteps.

“At first, St. John’s was the last place I wanted to be, because it was where my mom worked,” said Lindsey. “I had fallen in love with labor and delivery in nursing school, and St. John’s was hiring after graduation. Now, I’ve been here for nine years and delivered two of my own children at the hospital.”

Sharing their own unique bond, Lindsey and Cindy support others through the labor and delivery process with a family-centered approach – it’s something they’ve always valued about St. John’s.

“We put patients first in their labor and delivery journey,” said Cindy. “I approach each patient experience with respect and compassion, and I hope to have instilled that same respect in my children.”