| |
Massachusetts Nurse :: October
2005
Debbie Walsh remembered for her passion,
professionalism and activism
Debbie Walsh—a life-long nurse and a longtime
MNA member—passed away in July after a prolonged battle with
cancer.
 Debora
provided nursing care in Falmouth Hospital’s maternity department
for more than 30 years, working as a staff nurse, charge nurse,
preceptor and as a clinical coordinator. She also served as chair
of Falmouth’s bargaining unit for most of the past 25 years,
and she helped it to grow from a fledgling unit to one that achieved
one of the best contracts for nurses in Massachusetts in terms of
wages, benefits, education and protection of RNs’ rights.
She was also a recipient of the MNA’s 2004 Elaine Cooney Labor
Relations Award which recognized her significant contributions to
the professional, economic and general welfare of nursing.
Debbie’s bargaining unit colleagues often said that she enabled
“the voice of nursing in how care is delivered” to be
heard by many committees throughout the hospital. From her 24-hour-a-day
availability to nursing staff during Falmouth’s downsizing,
to her offering of support and intervention to nurses regarding
patient care, Walsh’s commitment to the bedside nurse and
to patients was inspirational.
In the weeks since her passing, numerous friends and colleagues
have contacted the MNA to share their stories and memories of Debbie—including
those below. We hope that these remarks remind all of those who
worked with Debbie of the passion, dedication and love she had for
her family, friends and profession.
A ‘fire in the belly’
passion
By Jean Jackson
Debbie was a remarkable woman with a palpable “fire
in the belly” passion about the things she cared
deeply, especially her professional life as a maternity
nurse where she made sure that her moms and babies received
the best care, education and birth experience available.
As an MNA chairperson, she cared not just about the nursing
staff she represented so ably but also about the very
ideals—the art and science of nursing, but particularly
the art. Her passion also applied to her personal love
of arts and crafts, from decorating and sewing costumes,
to making candles and bath salts for gift giving;
But most of all, Debbie was passionate about her beloved
daughters. First, last and always she thought about and
provided everything she believed was best for her girls.
Debbie possessed honesty, moral integrity and the innate
ability to see the big picture. She could be a super-sleuth
(you really couldn‘t get away with anything); an
advisor (she held many hands, big and small), and a counselor
(whether about a job situation or with a grieving Mom).
She had the ability and the wisdom to “know”
the right thing to do at the right time—and she
always did it. Her accomplishments in her profession and
her years of service in MNA are too numerous to list or
possibly know.
She approached her battle over these past few years with
the same passion and spirit that were her hallmark. She
fought; she felt; and she expressed her passion. She did
not fear death—only the physical pain that would
accompany her disease. When the time came to abandon her
frail, sick body, she surrendered her spirit while sandwiched
between her devoted girls, and with them embracing her
and with grace, she lifted off to become more fully enveloped
in the world that she has always known.
Debbie leaves us her legacy of dedication, her in-your-face
honesty, her loyalty, her truthfulness and her passion.
Thank you, Deb, for sharing yourself so openly, willingly
and fully with all of us.
The world is a much better place because of you.
Deb was loyal, dependable, sincere
By Cheryl Quimby
I knew Deb for 36 years; we went to nursing school together
starting September 1969 at Lynn Hospital School of Nursing.
Deb started her leadership skills there when our class
staged the first “lay in” for student rights.
As you know, we did not have many.
Deb was awarded the highest honor for maternity nursing
at our graduation in 1972 and she continued with her love
of that specialty until the day she died.
Deb was the most honest, straight forward person I’ve
known. We worked together in OB for many years and we
shared many experiences. Deb always did the “right
thing” and she was always professional in every
task she undertook.
Deb was loyal, dependable and sincere. She would tell
you exactly what she thought and you always knew where
she stood. She was fair and would fight for her nurses.
Deb never used her position to further her own agenda.
She loved her two girls, Melissa and Marci. She made sure
that they were able to reach their goals and dreams, and
Deb saw them both grow in to beautiful young women and
graduate from college. She was so proud of them.
Deb played a great role in my life and our lives will
be forever intertwined as a result.
I will miss her laugher, smile, flaming red hair and all
the times we spent together. She will remain in my heart
and memories until we meet again.
|
|
|
|
