Meet the Staff: Luz Ahumada, LVN

Luz Ahumada, LVN, a vocational nurse supervisor for USC Orthopaedic Surgery at Keck Medicine of USC – Pasadena, manages the clinic’s daily operations and handles patient intake and rooming, including taking their vital signs. She has been with Keck Medicine for 25 years.

Why did you become a nurse?

I enjoy helping people and being their advocate. It comes from my heart. From a young age, whenever I saw a need, I wanted to be there to help and I think that inspired my nursing career.

What does your job entail?

As a clinic supervisor, my job includes a multitude of administrative tasks to ensure the clinic runs smoothly. But my favorite part is interacting with patients. I enjoy greeting them with a big smile, which I feel sets the tone.

Sometimes patients are nervous because they do not know what to expect, leading to elevated blood pressure. My approach involves using therapeutic communication to ease their anxiety. I explain what will happen during their appointment, which helps clear their mind.

I tell them, “Close your eyes and think of a place you enjoy visiting or something that makes you happy.” I tell them to inhale slowly through their nose, hold it for four seconds, exhale slowly with pursed lips, and repeat 2-3 times. Once I see they are calmer, I check their blood pressure again. Almost always, it has lowered.

What do you enjoy about working with musculoskeletal patients?

Many of our new patients arrive with pain and limited range of motion. I love watching them regain strength and progress to becoming pain-free, particularly how confident they start to feel getting up from the waiting room chair when I call their name.

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