Thanks for working here Thursday: Cynthia Laakso, RN, BSN, CCMH ICU

Campbell County Health is proud of its employees, and we want the CCH family and the Campbell County, Wyoming community to know about the good work that they do for this organization.

Say hello to Cynthia Laakso, RN, BSN, who works at Campbell County Memorial Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit in Gillette, Wyoming. She’s been with CCMH for nearly 10 years—eight of those years she spent in Surgical Services. She’s been in healthcare for more than 14 years, starting as a CNA at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Cynthia earned her associates degree in nursing from Gillette College, her bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) from Duke University College of Nursing, and she’s currently enrolled in Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) courses with Grand Canyon University. She was attracted to a career in health care because she loves to make people smile. “Having a career that impacts peoples’ lives in such a major way is very fulfilling. I am honored to be a part of my patients’ lives—whether it is for a short visit, a more complex visit, or end of life care,” says Cynthia.

When asked who she believes are her health care heroes, she listed two: Suzanne Johnsrud and Dr. Robert Ratcliff. “I have worked directly with Suzanne in many areas of CCH, and continue to be amazed at the level of expertise and professionalism she exudes. She is always fair, honest, and willing to jump in anywhere she may be needed. I admire the nurse and woman she is and can only hope to be as skilled as her one day,” she says. “I worked directly with Dr. Robert Ratcliff at Wyoming Medical Center. Dr. Ratcliff showed me how much fun surgery could be and brought lightness to high-stress situations. The amount of knowledge passed down from him is truly beyond measure, and I am so blessed I had the opportunity to work and learn from such an outstanding healthcare professional.”

When she’s not at work, Cynthia spends as much time with her husband (Eric) and three children as possible. “We love to travel, go camping, and watch movies. I’m an adrenaline junkie and my husband and I love skydiving and taking in rock concerts,” she says. But, she also spends a lot of time with friends, and is very involved with her church.

We asked Cynthia what she likes most about working at CCH, and what excellence every day means to her. Check out her response:

“I think what gives me the most pride in working at CCH is the fact that we have such a variety of providers and resources for patients to choose from and that they continue to come back for care. When I read Excellence Every Day cards from patients, I am thrilled to see people reacting to the good in the world around them rather than the bad.

I can say, hands down, that I have the greatest co-workers around. To say they have teamwork would be an understatement! Those ladies go above and beyond in every aspect of their jobs and I am proud and thankful to be in a department that operates more like a family unit than that of a unit in a hospital. We have each other’s backs and I am always learning from them. My coworkers and Rockstar providers make it easy to come to work every day.

Steve Jobs once said, ‘Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is great work. The only way to do great work is to love what you do.’ To me, excellence every day is taking pride in a job you love and to reflect it in your work. If I didn’t love my job it would show and then I wouldn’t be giving excellent care to our much deserving patients.

One last thing: Cynthia wishes to thank her mother, Pat Jacobsen, and husband, Eric Laakso, for always motivating and inspiring her to be a better version of herself.

Thank you, Cynthia for always going the extra mile for your patients. We appreciate you!

Is there a CCH employee who went the extra mile or shows you extraordinary service? Give them a pat on the back by completing an Excellence Every Day card.

As you may know, an ICU cares for patients with severe and life-threatening illnesses or injuries who require close monitoring and support in order to get well. CCMH's ICU is a nine-bed unit that cares for patients from very young infants to the elderly. Learn more at www.cchwyo.org/ICU.