Growing up in Evergreen, Lizzy Dwyer wanted to be a businesswoman or a teacher. But mentors in her teen years opened her eyes to the world of nursing.  

It had elements of education and business, but the mission of a “servants' heart” to save lives and take care of people spoke to her. Dwyer has spent 14 years serving patients at Logan Health in the emergency room and intensive care unit.  

“I wholeheartedly love serving this community that I grew up in and all my co-workers, peers, the providers who shaped me into the nurse that I am today. I wouldn't be here without any of those people, and of course my family,” Dwyer said. 

The registered nurse won Best Nurse in the Daily Inter Lake's 2026 Best of Flathead competition. It’s the first time she’s taken the top spot, although she’s come very close in recent years. The accolade joins her shelf alongside Nurse of the Year and Nursing Excellence awards she received from Logan Health.  

It was during college at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota that Dwyer threw herself into medicine when a softball teammate was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 21. In nursing school at the time, she engulfed herself into understanding more of the profession and being there for her friend while she underwent surgeries and treatment for her cancer.  

Sadly, the cancer was terminal, and her friend died just one year later. But the experience inspired Dwyer to work in oncology after graduation. 

“For the first six years of my career, I worked in medical surgical oncology because I wanted to honor her and just the oncology population, as well as those with female reproductive cancers,” Dwyer said. “It was hard. It was very emotional those first couple of weeks as a brand-new baby nurse but being able to serve that population in honor of her was really special to me.” 

Dwyer’s work in oncology gave her a really strong foundation in her career. She learned a lot but eventually felt like she had plateaued and started looking for other challenges. 

She became drawn to emergency medicine, obtaining nine certifications during her first year in the department. Knowing a little bit about everything is good for emergency medicine, where myriads of cases present every day.  

The challenge of attending to sick patients is rewarding for Dwyer, who said she’s all about “being proactive rather than reactive.” 

“I try to make sure that I'm a step ahead. When somebody comes in, before they crash or become more sick, we need to make sure we have everything ready and everything in play — communicating with the providers and the entire team of my assessment and concerns.” 

Of course, critical care can be stressful and very intense at times. She jokes that working in the emergency department and intensive care unit is like “working in fast food and fine dining.” They are constantly busy and there are times when the waiting room and the hospital are full. So, it becomes incredibly important to talk to patients about why there is a wait and go over a plan for their care. 

“I really want to be the happiest, most positive part of one of the hardest times in [patients’] lives. So, if I can do something to make them more comfortable or put them at ease, whether it's showing my skillset, my knowledge, sharing or teaching ... I can't fix or save everyone, but if I can present them with that attitude of confidence and compassion, then I think that certainly helps,” Dwyer said.  

She also became more involved with teaching and onboarding nurse residents and newly hired nurses — developing several educational programs to help them become more successful when they first begin in the department.  

Whether they are seasoned or brand new, Dwyer said she is passionate about making it a good experience for them and giving them all the tools they need to be successful. 

“I like to preach consistency. So, when their adrenaline's high, their blood sugar's low because they haven't eaten that day, or it's something unfamiliar — go back to the basics. They have a strong foundation through nursing school. Use your resources and don't be afraid to ask for help or ask a question,” she said.  

Dwyer said the team at the hospital feels like a family, where they are always able to lean on each other or learn something from other colleagues. She pours a lot of time into organizing get-togethers for her coworkers, like when someone has a baby on-the-way or recently lost a loved one. Dwyer will start a donation pot and put together a care package if she sees a coworker going through a hard time.  

But, just checking in with her colleagues during a busy shift by seeing if they need any assistance in caring for their patients is the best way to ensure everyone keeps their heads above water. 

“That level of visibility really does go a long way, and I truly believe in face-to-face communication,” Dwyer said.  

A topic close to her heart is the importance of taking care of one's mental health amid the craziness of working in emergency medicine or the ICU. It’s part of her training for fellow nurses, where there are protocols for seeing traumatizing situations unfold. 

After a big event, there can be a debriefing, which usually comes after a moment of silence — used to honor the patient and the staff for their efforts. Dwyer said debriefing about a difficult situation sooner rather than later is proven to help healthcare providers process emotions. If the event had a large impact on the organization as a whole, Dwyer said specialists can be called in to help the team deal with it. 

Dwyer also leans on the general support of her family and friends, as well as working with a counselor who she’s been seeing for a decade.  

Healthcare professionals are good at compartmentalizing, she said. As they move from patient to patient, it’s necessary to keep going and working.  

“Being able to break it down and talk about those situations with a licensed therapist really helps process it so that it doesn't affect my mental health, my sleep, eating, and it helps with compassion fatigue and burnout as well,” she said.  

Dwyer’s manager said she is an exceptional nurse and highly valued member of their team, according to a recent performance review. “Her dedication, clinical expertise, and commitment to lifelong learning make her a consistently high-performing nurse and an outstanding asset to our organization,” the review stated. 

It’s a job that she feels like she never truly clocks out from, as there are plenty of instances where she assists in helping someone on the roadside, in a restaurant or at an event in the community.  

Because she serves the community she grew up in, many people tell her that it’s comforting to see a familiar face.  

“There's been several patients that I've met that I've developed such a strong therapeutic relationship with, just through everything they're going through and putting my whole heart and soul into just making their experience better,” she said.  

Reporter Taylor Inman can be reached at 406-758-4440 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support. 

    Lizzy Dwyer, who is a registered nurse, has a Bachelor of Science in nursing and is a certified medical-surgical registered nurse, works at Logan Health. She was voted Best Nurse in the Daily Inter Lake's 2026 Best of Flathead. (Courtesy of Logan Health)