From the Classroom to the Emergency Room: LCON Alumna Liliana McKenna Makes an Impact at Baptist Memorial Hospital
Just one year after graduating from the University of Memphis Loewenberg College of Nursing, Liliana McKenna is already making a remarkable difference in one of the most demanding areas of health care. As an emergency room nurse at Baptist Memorial Hospital Memphis, she provides compassionate care to patients during some of the most critical moments of their lives while earning recognition for her outstanding service.
McKenna graduated from the Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in May 2025. Since then, she has embraced the fast-paced and ever-changing environment of emergency nursing, where no two shifts are alike.
As an emergency room nurse, McKenna is responsible for triaging patients, assessing the severity of their conditions, assisting with resuscitations, stabilizing critically ill patients, and working alongside physicians and multidisciplinary teams to determine the causes of complex medical conditions. She rotates through multiple areas of the emergency department, caring for patients with a wide range of needs, from minor illnesses to life-threatening emergencies.
"The moment a patient walks through our doors, the work begins," McKenna said. "Whether they arrive by ambulance or in their own car, I have the opportunity to ask questions, make assessments, and work with the medical team to determine what is happening. Being there for patients and their families during what is often the scariest moment of their lives is a privilege."
Her commitment to compassionate care recently earned her Baptist Memorial Hospital's Excellence in Service Award. Each year, medical and nursing staff nominate colleagues who demonstrate exceptional dedication in one of five excellence categories. McKenna received multiple nominations before being selected for the award during the hospital's annual awards banquet.
"As they were reading the nomination before announcing the recipient, I was caught off guard because the description sounded so much like the work I strive to do every day," she said. "Receiving this recognition was truly an honor."
Although emergency nursing is challenging, it was the perfect fit for McKenna.
"I have always enjoyed being around people and being exposed to new learning experiences," she said. "Nursing felt like a natural way to combine those interests."
Reflecting on her time at the Loewenberg College of Nursing, McKenna credits the program with preparing her to think critically instead of simply memorizing information.
"The courses at LCON required true learning," she said. "When you truly understand something, it stays with you throughout your career. I still explain diagnoses to patients the same way they were explained to me during my first day of pathophysiology."
She also remembers the emphasis faculty placed on mastering foundational nursing skills.
"In our first nursing courses, we practiced taking manual blood pressures over and over," McKenna recalled. "Recently, I was caring for a patient whose blood pressure was too low for the automatic machine to detect. I was the only nurse in the room who could accurately obtain a manual reading. Moments like that remind me why those skills matter."
Like many new nurses, McKenna admits that her first year came with challenges. Learning to trust herself while working alongside more experienced nurses required both confidence and humility.
"I had to learn not to see myself as inferior because I was new," she said. "Instead, I focused on my strengths while continuing to learn from my weaknesses. Contributing to the team helped me realize I was a valued member."
Outside of nursing, McKenna continues to pursue another lifelong passion: dance. Maintaining a healthy balance between her professional responsibilities and personal interests has become one of her greatest accomplishments since graduation.
Looking ahead, she hopes every patient who enters the emergency department experiences compassion and reassurance during what may be one of the most difficult days of their lives.
"I hope to make that first point of medical contact a moment that eases fear and anxiety for patients and their families," she said. "As nurses, we help set the tone for the entire patient experience."
For current Loewenberg College of Nursing students preparing to enter the profession, McKenna offers simple but meaningful advice.
"Remember why you chose nursing," she said. "Whether you love caring for people or are fascinated by medicine, hold on to that purpose because there will be difficult days. Most importantly, never lose sight of the humanity of every patient. They are not just diagnoses or tasks. They are people with hearts, minds, and emotions."
As she continues building her career, McKenna remains inspired by the difference she can make in the lives of others.
"I find so much joy in the impact I have on my patients," she said. "That inspires me to return every shift with a renewed spirit and a fresh outlook."
From developing strong clinical skills in the classroom to delivering exceptional care in the emergency department, McKenna exemplifies the compassionate leadership, clinical excellence, and commitment to service that define graduates of the University of Memphis Loewenberg College of Nursing.