is a passion for this family For Lexy Costin Harvey, RN, BSN, Neosho Memorial is like a second home. She was born there, and as a young girl she and her younger brother would wait for their mom, a nurse, to finish a shift at the hospital. “I saw how much she enjoyed nursing,” Lexy says. “That stuck with me and was super impactful on my career choice.” Like her mother, Jill Costin, RN, BSN, Lexy is a nurse at Neosho Memorial. This is the story of their love for nursing. Sowing the seeds of service Jill grew up in Wilson County. Her parents farmed, and her mother also worked at a post office and a salon. Jill met her husband, Justin, in the sixth grade. After dating in high school, they eventually married and had Lexy and her brother, Wyatt. Long before marriage and motherhood, a middle-school-aged Jill would often visit her great-grandmothers, who lived in the same nursing home. “I liked watching the nurse aides take care of them,” she recalls. “They had compassion and had fun with the residents. I kind of wanted to be like them.” After high school, Jill attended nursing school in Chanute, working at a grocery store to help pay for college. In 2000, Jill began working as a registered nurse (RN) at Neosho Memorial. When her kids were young, Jill returned to college, earning a bachelor of science degree in nursing. Jill is currently a surgery charge nurse. “I really love working in surgery—it’s my passion,” she says. “I love connecting with my patients, getting to know them on a personal level. And the people I work with are my family away from my family.” Proud of each other and to serve In high school, Lexy began to consider the nursing profession. She took classes that earned her college credits and, by age 18, became a licensed CNA. Lexy then went to nursing school and earned a bachelor of science in nursing degree. Lexy, who works mostly in the emergency department, says she wanted to have a positive impact on people’s lives. “Nursing can be stressful,” Lexy says. “But when you have a patient who is so appreciative and pulls you aside and gives you a hug, it makes it worth it. And there is something for everyone’s interests.” Lexy calls her Neosho Memorial team “amazing.” “We all feel like a family,” she says. As you might imagine, Jill and Lexy are each other’s biggest fans. “The profession is lucky to have her,” Jill says of her daughter. “I am so proud of her and all that she has done.” “She’s awesome at her job,” Lexy says of her mom. “I’ve always been so proud of her.” “I love connecting with my patients, getting to know them on a personal level. And the people I work with are my family away from my family.” —Jill Costin, RN, BSN Jill and Lexy in 2007 Best Health • Spring 2022 5
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