From Art to Heart: Nurse Finds Purpose in Pediatrics and Teaching

"I thought, ‘If I’m going to do this field, I want to put myself where I know it matters, and people need me.’ So that’s how I knew pediatrics was definitely for me."  

Nurse Elizabeth “Lizzie” Legarski didn’t start her career with medicine in mind. Her creative instincts led her to study interior design, where she spent her early college years immersed in color theory, space planning, and the pursuit of aesthetic beauty. But something didn’t feel right. “As much as I loved art, it wasn’t very fulfilling to me, she recalled.”

Searching for something more meaningful, Lizzie shifted focus to exercise science, drawn by an interest in how the body heals and strengthens. It was during an internship in cardiac rehabilitation that everything changed. Expecting to work alongside physiologists, she instead found herself shadowing the nurses — watching them support patients, in all stages of life, through vulnerable moments during their recovery. 

“It was an eye-opening experience of what it’s like to work as a nurse — to be supportive when somebody’s having the best day and the worst day.”

That internship opened her eyes to the purpose she’d been searching for. Nursing, Lizzie realized, offered a chance to make a tangible difference every day.

Discovering her place in pediatrics

While her nursing program offered limited pediatric exposure, Lizzie ultimately decided she wanted to work with children. From the beginning, she was drawn to their resilience and the role compassion can play in their care. So for her first role out of nursing school she went all in, accepting a position in a pediatric intensive care unit.

“I thought, ‘If I’m going to do this field, I want to put myself where I know it matters, and people need me.’ So that’s how I knew pediatrics was definitely for me.”

It’s a high-stakes environment that demands technical skill and emotional strength. But for Lizzie, it’s exactly where she’s meant to be.

"There are people I can still tell you the room they were in, their age, and taking care of them when death was near (or helping to take care of their parent). Those things don’t leave you as a nurse."  

Caring for children and their families during what are often the hardest days of their lives has taught her that presence — simply showing up with kindness, consistency, and calm — can mean everything. Some patients stay with her even years later. She remembers their rooms, their stories, and the privilege of being part of their journey.

“There are people I can still tell you the room they were in, their age, and taking care of them when death was near (or helping to take care of their parent). Those things don’t leave you as a nurse.”

A nurse who teaches — and inspires

Lizzie’s passion for care doesn’t stop at the bedside. She's also a nurse educator — a role she set her sights on early, inspired by the educators who shaped her own journey — both the ones who challenged her, and the ones who believed in her.

Today she splits her time between the hospital and the classroom, bringing real-world experience into simulation labs and clinical rotations. Her students often arrive intimidated by the idea of pediatrics, unsure if they’re capable of working with young patients. Lizzie helps them see beyond that fear, guiding them toward confidence and reminding them that growth comes through discomfort.

“Most students who come my way are fearful of going into peds. I like the challenge of helping them to see — sometimes what we think it’s going to be like, it can be vastly different.”

Tools for hands-on learning

Whether she’s teaching in a lab or at a patient’s bedside, Lizzie brings the right tools to help her students — and herself — listen clearly and confidently. She uses Eko’s full suite of digital stethoscopes, including the CORE 500™, the 3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope, and the CORE™ Digital Attachment.

"If we do hear a heart sound, like a murmur that maybe one student can hear on their patient, I have others in the group listen too, for that hands-on teaching moment."  

Having all three tools allows her to adapt to the moment: the Littmann, thanks to its smaller chest piece, is her go-to for pediatric patients, while the CORE 500™ shines in teaching scenarios.

In simulation labs, students can hear heart and lung sounds in real time together, allowing for hands-on, in-the-moment learning. “The CORE 500™ is very helpful because you have that hands-free technology. Instead of just one learner being able to listen, we can listen as a group.”

She also brings her stethoscopes to clinical rotations, using them as a shared learning tool when something like a murmur or arrhythmia is present. That real-time experience deepens understanding in ways no textbook can replicate.

“If we do hear a heart sound, like a murmur that maybe one student can hear on their patient, I have others in the group listen too, for that hands-on teaching moment.”

Lizzie’s students are often captivated by the technology, especially the CORE 500™ and its ECG screen. “They’re drawn to it because it’s such a cool tool. Do you want a small ice cream sundae, or do you want the big banana split? The CORE 500™ is like bringing in the banana split.”

Remembering the why

In today’s healthcare landscape, it’s easy to focus on burnout. But Lizzie believes the real key is reconnecting with purpose. She often reminds her students, and herself, that the work will always come with challenges. What makes it meaningful is the why behind it. She tells them, “You're always going to have good days and bad days. But if you can’t remember your why, you will be burned out, and you’ll lose sight of your purpose.”

She encourages her students to keep learning, to challenge themselves, and to trust that they bring value to every patient encounter — even if they’re still finding their confidence.

Growing in confidence

As Lizzie reflects on her career, she’s come to recognize how often nurses, especially new ones, underestimate their own value. Early on, she too experienced that self-doubt, unsure whether she was capable of advancing in her field.

In nursing school, the path to roles like nurse practitioner or CRNA seemed distant — even intimidating. But once she entered the clinical setting and collaborated with attendings, residents, and interdisciplinary teams, that perspective shifted. She began to see that her voice mattered.

“You gain that sense of, wait a minute — I do know a lot of things. And I do add value to the conversation. And I can keep learning. I can go to that next level.”

Lizzie believes confidence comes from experience and realizing you don’t have to know everything to contribute meaningfully. What matters is showing up, speaking up, and being willing to grow.

Looking to inspire

Lizzie is optimistic about the future of healthcare. She’s inspired by the next generation of nurses entering the field with fresh energy and perspectives — and excited by how those differences can strengthen the profession. She hopes that more people will not only enter nursing, but also fall in love with the work itself — and see just how much the field can offer.

And if someone out there is on the fence about whether or not to pursue nursing?

“If you’ve ever had just the slightest little interest in potentially going into nursing, I say do it. Go for it. You don’t ever want to have regret and look back and say, I should have tried.”

Lizzie’s journey from artist to clinician shows that the most meaningful work often begins with a shift in direction, and a willingness to listen to what calls you. Today, she uses her creativity, her resilience, and her voice to make a difference for children and future nurses alike — not just in the hospital or classroom, but also online as Nurse Lizzie, where she shares encouragement, career tips, and behind-the-scenes moments with her community.

Through her website, Instagram, and YouTube channel, Lizzie continues to educate and inspire aspiring nurses around the world — reminding them that growth is always possible, and that they matter more than they know.

We're honored that Eko stethoscope technology is part of her toolkit, and her story.

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