Ruth Glacomini (Ruth Bellefeuille) 1970
Almost all of my 46 years as an RN has been at Marin General Hospital. I have worked in ICU, CCU, Radiology and PACU but the last 30 years I have been working in the Endoscopy Department at MGH. I have been a member of SGNA for the last 29 years including being a member of the board of our regional society when NCSGNA won the National SGNA Outstanding Society!
Jacqueline Jewell (Jacqueline Straight) 1970
I graduated COM Nursing School in 1970, New graduate RN at MGH on surgical unit for one year. Traveled to Boston with fellow nursing graduate Patty Durham, staff nurse on medical unit at Beth Israel Medical Center. Trained at the Beth Israel for Medical Intensive Care Unit. Returned to MGH in 1974. Staff Nurse CCU, Senior Team Leader CCU, Head Nurse CCU. Implemented and Managed Pacemaker Clinic, chocardiography and Treadmill Services, Intra-Aortic Balloon Program. Director of Cardiac Services, Implemented and Managed Cardiac Catheterization Lab & Interventional Cardiac Catheterization Lab, Director of Critical Care Services, Managed CCU, ICU and ED. Director of Cardiac Services and Assistant Chief Nurse, Director of Cardiac Services and Interim Chief Nurse, Director of Clinical Integration (IT)
Graduated from St Mary’s College with BA 1986, Retired November 2010
Awards and Accomplishments: Voted Student Nurse of the Year by COM Class of 1970, Marin County Heart Association Appreciation Award 1982, Marin General Hospital Lifetime Achievement Award 2007, Marin General Hospital Board Resolution Honoring Nursing Contribution 2010, Jackie Jewell Nursing Excellence Award Created 2010. Yearly Awarded for Nurse Excellence.
Patricia (Patty) Stowers (Patricia Durham) 1970
1970-71 Mount Zion Hospital in San Francisco, worked in several areas of the hospital in their year long "New Grad Orientation Program"
1971-73 Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, Surgical Intensive Unit staff nurse
1973-75 Richland Memorial Hospital, Columbia, SC, Head Nurse, Surgical Intensive Care Unit
1975-76 Sutter General Hospital, Sacramento, Surgical Intensive Care Unit staff nurse
1976-present ValleyCare Medical Center, Livermore 13 years in Intensive Care Unit and 26 years in PACU as staff nurse
1980 completed my BSN through Chapman University, LA Extension Program
1989-present member of PANAC (PeriAnesthesia Nurses Association of California) serving as State Secretary for 2 terms. Member of ASPAN (American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses) serving on Promotions Committee. Member of ICPAN (International Conference of PeriAnesthesia Nurses) attending their conferences in Toronto, Canada and Dublin, Ireland
1998 Passed examination to become a Certified PeriAnesthesia Nurse (CPAN)
2005 chosen ValleyCare Medical Center's Nurse of the Year
2007-present PACU team member on many medical missions with Alliance for Smiles to Third World Countries (China, Philippines, Ghana, Rwanda, Inner Mongolia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nigeria) performing surgery on children with cleft lip/palate.
Betty Taylor 1970
I graduated from the RN program in June, 1970. My first job was an internship and then placement on a med/surg unit in Mt. Zion Hospital in San Francisco. After approximately nine months, I left Mt. Zion and worked for the County of Marin in the public health clinics, Juvenile Hall and Jail as a relief nurse. I, also, worked as an office nurse for a local doctor at this time and volunteered at a local methadone clinic. I later worked as a regular hire in the methadone clinic. In 1973 I started relief work at the Crisis Unit for Marin County Mental Health and was later hired full time. I worked there for about three years and then worked in med/surg and SNF for a local agency. In 1977, I was hired by San Mateo County Community Mental Health as a community mental health nurse in the Daly City Outpatient Clinic. I worked there for seventeen years doing crisis intervention and drug and alcohol case management. During that time, I returned to school and earned a BA and MS from the University of San Francisco. In 1995, I retired from San Mateo County and worked for Kaiser Permanente in Santa Rosa, San Francisco, and South San Francisco outpatient Psychiatry as a nurse case manager. I have been retired from Kaiser since 2010. I now care for my elderly sister who has lived with me since 2011. She is on Hospice care and my nursing skills are going in a very different direction than they originally took.
Lauretta Williams (Lauretta Smith) 1970
I joined the nursing staff at,then known as, Franklin Hospital in San Francisco,CA.in 1970. For two years I worked in Med-Surg. In 1973 there was a staffing shortage in the ICU-CCU at Franklin and the Dept.Chief ask if I would transfer in to provide coverage. I did and the doctors were impressed that a nurse with only a AA degree could handle the demands of their critical care unit with acumen and skill. As our nursing motto says " I was equal to the task". They were impressed enough to ask me to be Interim-Supervisor . I accepted and held this position for 2 years. In 1975,the search for the Supervisor position was filled and I went to Hemodialysis in the new Davies Medical Wing under Dr. Frank A. Gotch, nephrologist. Here I found another skill set, and became involved in the American Nephrology Nurses Association. In the dialysis unit I became the patient advocate, the home-dialysis coordinator, new nurse/tech educator and volunteer for N. Calif. Kidney Foundation. I did not continue my education in academia but I learned and gained so much with hands-on. I am a certified nephologist nurse emeritus. For my involvement with the N. Calif. chapter 504 of the ANNA,I was acknowledged with the Nephrology Nurse off the year in 2005 and the Legislative Award in 2012 from the National Office. I retired from nursing in 2006 Calif. Pacific Med. Center and re-entered dialysis care in 2008,this lasted until 2010 when the unit was taken over by DaVita. I continue to write the Calif. senators and congress members in Wash.,D.C. on health care issues and legislations. I have spoken to my Marin City community about the "Metabolic Syndrome" and Diabetes. My family sees me as the always on-call nurse! I agree!
Geraldine (Gerry) Wagner [Geraldine Bell (Sister Mary Louise Bell)] 1971
Worked first job as staff nurse Neurology-neurosurgery at VA (old Fort Miley Hospital) in SAN Francisco for one year. Moved to Anchorage Alaska and worked as staff nurse on med-surg unit at Providence Hospital 1972 to 1976. Quit nursing for three years to have babies. Returned to Providence Hospt. as staff nurse on long term medical unit 1979 to 1988. Moved to Roseburg, Or. and worked at Mercy Care Center for two years. Moved to Eugene area 1991 and worked as staff nurse on post surgery unit at Sacred Heart Medical Center until retirement in 2007. In retirement worked for four years part time at Lane Community College as instructor in the nursing assistant program. Except for time at the extended care facility I was so happy to have been a nurse. What a wonderful life of satisfying work.
Victoria Fernandez 1972
I started at Kaiser Terra Linda shortly after I received my license, and recently retired after 42 years. I worked in the hospital for ~5 years. I then moved to the Medical clinic for a short time to participate in the first Advice Call Center. While phone advice is challenging in its own way, realized that I needed more direct patient contact, and took a position in the ENT dept. After a few years we covered Urology as well. I was there for 25 years when the company started shifting RNs to Advice work. I applied for a position in Mohs Surgery and later added a day in Plastic Surgery as well. Our Mohs department is unusual in that it is staffed by mostly surgeons and RNs. I enjoyed the one on one patient contact during surgeries. RNs do much of the post follow-up as well. In Plastic Surgery an NP and RNs worked as providers and saw patients pre and post-op, as well as providing scar and wound care.
Due to a few physical issues, I had to retire a little early. I miss the patients, the challenges, and how we learned something new every day. I recently began volunteering at Kaiser and am enjoying it. So much of my life was spent there that it was hard to just stop. In fact, I was married in one of the conference rooms. My mother was in the hospital and unable to leave for the wedding. So we decorated a conference room, got married there, and then went on to the original site. I've always valued the education I received at COM. It allowed me to have an ever changing, always challenging, and meaningful way to not only make a living, but to give back and be enriched at the same time.
Faith E. Garver (Faith Kieffer) 1972
In 1972, immediately after graduating College of Marin, I was accepted into the first class of the new, 2-year, upper division BSN program at Sonoma State. In 1974, immediately after graduating from Sonoma State, I was accepted into the 1.5 year, graduate division MSN program at UCSF, specializing in Nursing Administration. During those 7 years of full-time nursing classes, I worked part-time in acute care settings. In 1975, immediately after graduating University of California at San Francisco, I accepted a position as Director of Nursing Services at Seaside Hospital in Crescent City, California. In 1978, I accepted a 2-year position as Nursing Administrator Educator with Project Hope in South America. There, I was teamed with Brazilian counterparts who were Nurse Executives in 2 major hospitals in the poverty stricken Northeast. (Natal and Maceo.) In 1983, I accepted a position as Assistant Vice President and Director of Nursing Services at Blanchard Valley Hospital in Findlay, Ohio. During this time, I was honored by the Ohio House of Representatives by being named 'Outstanding Woman in the Medical Profession' for 1988. In 2004, after 15 years away, I returned to California and re-entered the nursing profession. I got back into the workforce by accepting a Patient Care Coordinator position in Mill Valley at The Redwoods ~ Senior Living Community. This was my first opportunity to be focused on the care of the elderly and of Alzheimer patients. In 2008, having treasured 30+ years of my Nurse Executive career, I made the decision to be placed on the list of Ohio 'in-active' Registered Nurses. I remain on that list as I turn 70 this year. (6.15.15)
Marilyn McConnell (Marilyn Snyder) 1972
Bedside staff nurse in med/surg., CCU, ICU, and longtime Administrative Nursing Supervisor at Marin General. Jobsite RN and Clinic Coordinator in multinational New Istana Project, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei BSN, Sonoma State MPA, University of San Francisco Currently Coordinator of Marin Medical Equipment Recyclers (www.mmerecyclers.org)
Sandie McCreary 1972
While attending the COM RN program I was working as a Unit Clerk at Marin General Hospital. After graduation, I continued to work at Marin General in various nursing positions, Pediatric, Float Nurse, ICU and PACU. I became a manager in the early 80's of the Same Day Surgery Unit and PACU. I also obtained my Bachelor Degree in Healthcare Administration In 1990, I became the Director of Quality, Utilization, Infection Control and Medical Staff Services. Finishing a 28 year span at Marin General, I started my own consulting business in 1997. I missed the team environment, so in 1998 I became the Director of Quality, Utilization, Infection Prevention and Discharge Planning at Kaiser Permanente, San Rafael. For the past 10 years, I have been on the Administrative Team as the Area Quality Leader at KP. In addition, I am currently the Interim Chief Operation Officer. I am an alumni of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program. I also served on the board of directors of the Marin Community Clinic for 6 years.
Carol Pozo 1972
I married at 18, 2 weeks after graduating high school. We had a scare when my husband, the bread winner, developed thyroid cancer in his 30's. He had successful surgery. During this time, I looked at the nurses working at the old Ross Hospital. I had just read an article in the IJ about the first graduating class of nurses at COM. I said to myself " I will be one of them." So the journey began. It wasn't easy but I made it, graduating in 1972. My first job was at French Hosp. I worked as a floor nurse for a year, then they sent me to an advanced an ICU/CCU/ class. I stay another year working in their ICU, then got tired of the commute and in 1975 went to work for Kaiser in their brand new ICU. I was 35 yrs old. It was the best thing I ever did for myself, becoming an RN! I worked in various positions over the years ICU, infection control, wound care, advice nurse, continuity of care, my last job there was in Employee health. I retired in 2010 at age 72 after 35 yrs at Kaiser. It was a wonderful journey.
Victoria Rilla (Victoria DeGraves) 1978
After graduating in 1978, I went to work at Marin General in the Coronary Care Unit. I worked there 5 years till having my first child. When I returned to work 6 months later I worked as a float nurse briefly then took a job in the ER in 1978. It was an exciting time, the paramedic program was just getting underway, we were working to train new medics and the ER was becoming a base station. The nurses were getting certified as Mobile Intensive Care Nurses, and many of us obtained further certifications in ACLS, PALS, NALS, Trauma, and Burn treatment. I also received training as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. In 1998 I also began working at Novato Community Hospital in the ER . I worked both facilities until after 34 years of hospital based nursing took a job in the Urgent Care Clinic in Terra Linda. I have been there now10 years, worked as nurse manager for much of that time. I just recently decided to give up management to do what I most enjoy, taking care of people. I have loved my career, loved the privilege of working with many amazing professionals, and hopefully I have made a difference. I was grateful to the wonderful instructors and the opportunities provided by the COM Nursing program.
Colleen Williams (Colleen Coleman) 1972
First job out of nursing school was as a float nurse at Children's Hospital in San Francisco, which I started in Jan 1973. I gained lots of experience in many areas through the years. In 1981 I took a permanent position as a staff nurse on a med/surg unit and have been working in med/surg since that time. I was awarded Nurse of the Month in 1989 and then Nurse of the Year in 1990 for Children's Hospital of SF. I received the nursing excellence award for CPMC in 2005. I am currently the Charge Nurse on a med/surg unit on the day shift and have completed 42 years of service with the same company. I have participated on many hospital wide committees over the years. I am currently actively involved in the Marin Medical Reserve Corp., which does preparation and training for disaster preparedness. I have volunteered with the Red Cross and worked at one of the shelters in San Francisco after the 1989 earthquake. I was on the Disaster Council for the town of Corte Madera for 10 years.
Marilyn Gunning 1973
As a married woman with 3 children I fulfilled a childhood dream by graduating from COM nursing program at 41 years old (1973). I worked for 25 years doing hospital, psyc, & finally clinic work at Kaiser. Never bored. Always learning new things. One of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Could not have done it without College of Marin. Thank you from a very grateful 82 year old.
Vicki Martinez 1974
I went on to get BS in nursing and Family Nurse Practitioner at Sonoma State University. Worked as FNP for 6 years in Mill Valley in private practice. Went to UCSF to medical school and did my residency in Emergency Medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California. Moved back to Marin County and have practiced Emergency Medicine at Kaiser San Rafael since 1990. I have been active in the Emergency prehospital care of Marin County as medical director for San Rafael and Corte Madera Fire Departments. For the past 13 years, I have gone to Guatemala annually doing medical missions with an NGO which gives more health care to Guatemalans than their government does. Starting as a registered nurse and nurse practitioner gave me a great foundation to be a physician. My empathetic and communication skills surpassed most of my colleague in medical school. The road was long to become a physician because no nursing courses were acceptable for pre-medical requirement. I am grateful for my start in nursing on the journey I took to medicine.
Barbara Jane Simmons (Barbara Jane Simmons-Papke) 1974
BSN 1976 Sonoma State University (Public Health Nurse)
MSN 1979 University of CA at San Francisco (Community & Mental Health Nursing) Employment: State of CA 1979 to 2005 - Education & Administration
CSU Dominquez Hills BSN Program - Area Coordinator/Sacramento, Part-time Faculty and Lecturer (1987-1998)
Sonoma Valley Hospital, Education Coordinator 2006-2009
Contra Costa County, Regional Medical Center - Education & Training Specialist (2010 - 2015)
Life time focus on public service, intellectual and mental health disability, and nursing practice. I knew I wanted to be a nurse at age six and have loved being a nurse over the past 42 years.
Judy Greenwald 1975
Worked in the ER while completing my BSN at Sonoma State. Continued working in the ER, transitioned to community health, discharge planning, health education. Completed my MSN, PNP, then worked with adolescents in school based clinic, juvenile hall and women's health. Began teaching at Sonoma State, UCSF and San Francisco State with a focus in Community Health Nursing. I have been involved with international programs in several countries providing both primary care and health education. Retired from SFSU, School of Nursing 2014.
Cynthia C. Gonzales 1976
I started working at Marin General hospital in October 1976. After working for 2 years, i quit, traveled the world, mostly in Asia. I returned to MGH in 1980 and started in peri-op services. I helped start the pre-op teaching program, and same day surgery department. I worked in endoscopy and the pacu. I have worked now exclusively for pacu for over 10 years now. I have completed 35 years at Marin General hospital but it would be 40 years in 2016 had i not taken my year to travel. I enjoy traveling and spending time in my cabin in Montana where I flyfish, hike and spend time in Yellowstone.
Edie Trowbridge-Hodge 1976
I graduated in May1976, had a brief job at Crest View Convalescent Hospital. Got a job at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital worked there as a staff nurse for 32 years. Specialty in Cardiac Telemetry. 1981-1982 took classes towards Bachelors, but only completed one years. I received Employee of the month in Jan. 2002. I got a job at St. Helena Hospital Napa Valley Aug.2009 and work on Heart Vascular unit. I enjoy being a morale booster for patients, bringing roses from my yard and stuffed animals to cheer them. I am a champion for coworker recognition, helping out with our Vision Bold board, displaying comments made by staff and patients and then drawing the cards with names at various times, and a basket or prize is awarded. Also the cards are put in their staff files.
Idajean Kaplan 1976
Thank you, COM for giving me a rewarding career! While raising my 3 sons, I applied to the highly competitive COM Nursing program. With the help of my supportive husband, hard work and ambition, I received my RN degree. This included, bringing home a dead cat from school, to lay out on the kitchen table, and memorize names of muscles for an anatomy test!!! I continued my education @ San Jose State to become an Ob Gyn Nurse Practitioner. My many experiences over the years, include, Planned Parenthood, Kaiser San Rafael, and UC Student Health. Presently, I am proud to be part of the MGH Breast Health Program and the outstanding contribution they make to our community. Grateful to COM? You bet I am!!!!!
Margot Joan LaMarr (Margot Joan Briggs) 1976
When I graduated hospitals weren't hiring inexperienced RNs. I finally got a position in a SNF and lasted one day. Next, Good Samaritan Hospital hired me in January of 1977, and I have worked there for 39 years. I worked up the RN levels to the highest, RN IV, by rewriting my units Standards of Care. The document was well received by Administration and posted on the hospitals internal network as such for easy reference for new hires and current RNs. I now chair a committee for that. I also serve as IT super user for doctors and nurses on the unit. I also wrote the guidelines for Acuity ratings, headed the numeric pain rating audit, and supervised RN acknowledgment of new practices. I work on a 44 bed telemetry unit, 3 Cardiovascular East, and have done so since 1988. Prior to that, I worked Gyn from '77 to '88.
Jennifer Purtle 1976
I've worked continuously since graduation, as an RN in CCU at MGH until 1995, as Utilization Review/Prior Authorization RN and then as a Case Manager for Health Plans.
Linda McIsaac Albion 1977
I got started at MGH in to a training class for the Cardiac Care Unit -- major bonus to starting out my nursing career! Worked in CCU, then was recruited by Dr. Bagshaw to help start PHYSIS, an executive fitness /testing corporation. While there I did stress tests, underwater weighing, teaching exercise then starting a cardiac rehab program for executives. From there came back to the hospital in ICU at Kaiser in Terra Linda for 30 years! and I just retired. While there, I took time to go to Guatemala on a medical mission, work at Guide Dog for the Blind, be a camp nurse in the Sierras, help run the Dipsea race medical tent, do medical work at rock concerts and explore many adventures that nursing offered me. It's been a wonderful nursing life.
Catherine Murray Barnes 1977
I was the youngest one in our RN group. I went to work in Marin General hospital initially in the Medical Surgical unit for a year. I then transferred to the CCU to my delight and professional satisfaction. I stayed there until 1989, and during that time had become the Pacemaker/ Arrhythmia Clinic specialist, IABP nurse, transport RN, and Educator. I returned to College, Mills College in Oakland to receive my Bachelor degree in English and Psychology in 1986. In 1989, I transferred to Stanford University Hospital and worked in their Main Post Anesthesia Care Unit. I was on the Education Committee and eventually became the Committee chair. When SUH initiated the Clinical Nurse hierarchy, i earned the status of Clinical Nurse IV, the highest level. I was Resource Nurse in the busy (65 patients daily) unit and was well liked, respected, and thought of by my peers and managers. I had been certified as a CPAN Nurse. During my time at SUH, I returned to college again, to University of San Francisco to get my Masters of Art in Counseling Psychology. I went on to get my certification and license to practice as a Marriage Family Therapist, in 1992. Marriage brought me to the south bay, Saratoga to which I had a MFT practice in the area. In 2001, my husband changed his job and we moved back to Marin Co. I continued to commute to SUH until I retired from the hospital in 10/2014. After moving back to Marin 2001, I restarted my MFT practice in Kentfield and have continued seeing clients in a private office. I remain as a practicing MFT under the name of Catherine Barnes at Changing Leaves Therapy.
Greg DeBourgh 1977
New graduate in 1977 on cardiac telemetry unit Presbyterian Hospital (now CPMC Pacific Campus); transferred after two years into the ICU; promoted to Assistant Nurse Manager after two years; completed BS and MS at UCSF. I worked as CNS at Merritt-Peralta in Oakland (now Sutter Summit); recruited back to CPMC to manage the cardiac telemetry unit; promoted to Director of Nursing for Critical Care Services at Pacific and California campuses; transferred to the School of Nursing at the University of San Francisco in 1993 as part-time faculty while completing a doctorate in education there; worked as a nursing supervisor and in the staff development department at Kaiser Vallejo during doctoral school; after earning the EdD in learning and instruction (1998), was hired into a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor at USF, earning tenure and promotion to Associate Professor, then full Professor. Continue to teach prelicensure nursing students in advanced medical surgical nursing; inducted as a Fellow in the National League for Nursing Academy for Nursing Education (ANEF); active as national speaker and consultant for clinical topics, leadership, patient safety initiatives, and for faculty development workshops to promote student-centric, interactive curricular and teaching learning designs; conducts education research on simulation and interactive teaching strategies; associate director of the University's Vietnam Nurse Project, traveling for past 10 years to Vietnam to work with nursing students, faculties, clinical nurses, and nurse leaders to advance their clinical practice, education, and advancement of the nursing profession in Vietnam (https://www.usfca.edu/nursing/vietnam); active in University projects and initiatives serving on the University's Steering Committee to develop the Center for Teaching Excellence, and to design and launch the School of Nursing and Health Profession's Center for Professional Development.
Echo Heron 1977
I began working night shift at MGH as a Unlicensed Graduate Nurse on what was known as 4 West - a med-surg floor. Soon after I passed the Boards (7/77), I and several nurses from our COM class of '77, signed up for positions in the Coronary Care Unit under the direction of one very amazing head nurse, Jackie Jewell and her assistant Jan Tobin. Under Jackie's watchful eye and guidance, we eventually became A-1 CCU nurses. A couple of years later I also started working in ER and earned my ACLS certification and then my MICN certification. At some point in 1983-4, I sent in a few articles that I'd written about my experiences as a nurse in CCU to Reader's Digest, and to my amazement, two were published. From there, I was contacted by several publishers in New York who asked me to write a book about my life as a nurse, starting from the time I entered nursing school to present (1986). Intensive Care: The Story of a Nurse was published in June, 1987. I was then sent out on several tours around the country on national TV and Radio to talk about nurses—who they are as professionals and the important roles we played in healthcare. I was also asked to talk about patients' rights. These appearances soon morphed into a high profile campaign for nurses' and patients' rights. I was adopted by the media and California Nurses Association as a spokesperson for nurses' and patients' issues. In 1988 Intensive Care hit the New York Times Bestseller list for two months, and Intensive Care became required reading in many nursing programs throughout the US. I continued to work at MGH ER and CCU until 1990, and then through registry at Mt. Zion ICU/ER, Seton ICU, Ralph K. Davies, etc... from 1992 to 1994. Since that time I have become a motivational speaker for nurses and new graduates. I speak to high school students about the profession of nursing, and I am a standing judge for the Creative Writing Awards at Yale University. Since Intensive Care, nine of my books have been published: Condition Critical: The Story of a Nurse Continues, Tending Lives: Nurses on the Medical Front, Emergency 24/7: Nurses of the Emergency Room, Mercy: a medical novel, Noon at Tiffany's: an historical, biographical novel, and the Adele Monsarrat, RN mystery series: Pulse, Panic, Paradox and Fatal Diagnosis. Thank you College of Marin Nursing Program! It changed my life for the best!!!
Sandra Karlovic 1977
After graduation, I was hired at Marin General Hospital. After a few months, I was accepted into a group training for assignment to the Coronary Care Unit. I worked there for ten years, achieving Staff Nurse 3 level. I was very lucky to have worked with mentors and colleagues of the highest quality. I not only enjoyed the challenge of critical care, but also relished the involvement in patient education.
Mary Pieper-Warren (Mary Gregory) 1978
I never dreamed that I would become a Registered Nurse; I would never be able to keep my shoes that clean. I was going to become a writer. I believed in the power of words and the truths that stories can reveal. The story I like to tell is that I became a nurse be accident. My Baccalaureate Degree in English Literature was not the hoped-for key to professional and financial independence. A College of Marin counselor asked if I had ever considered the RN program. I hadn’t. And so a new story began.
After graduation in 1978, I worked first at Highland Hospital in Oakland, and then a year later was hired as an orthopedic nurse at Marin General Hospital. I spent 30 years as a hospital nurse, moving from novice to expert, from a medical-surgical unit to the intensive care unit, from staff nurse to charge nurse, to nurse leader. Along the way, I always looked for and was sustained by my patient’s stories of their individual lives. Polished shoes didn’t seem so important anymore. What mattered was the common thread of humanity in all of us. In 2003, I began teaching part-time in the College of Marin nursing program. On my first day teaching a nursing skills laboratory, I knew that this was where I belonged. In 2009 I joined the faculty full time while simultaneously completing my MSN degree. During my tenure as COM faculty, I became an expert in high fidelity simulation, presented at international simulation conferences, and served on the Curriculum Committee. As Assistant Director, I fostered faculty consensus and teamwork, and coordinated the curriculum revision project. Teaching nursing has given me the opportunity to give back to the program that launched my career and to rekindle a love of the profession. Forty years later, I look back on a long career filled with challenges and achievements. Most of all I cherish the stories of the patients I have cared for and the students I have mentored. And so it began and so it ends with a sustaining belief in the power of words to give meaning to our lives.
Ruth Schneider 1978
Upon graduation I was employed by UCSF. I spent 18 & 1/2 yrs working Neurosurgery. I rose to a leadership position on my unit and spent a lot of time precepting new employees. I loved teaching and never wanted to leave the bedside. I retired early from UC just prior to that crazy merger with Stanford to protect my retirement benefits. That was one of the smartest moves I ever did. The next ten years were filled with a variety of jobs. I organized and managed an Alzheimer’s unit within a long term care facility. I then managed two private homes for developmentally delayed or mentally retarded individuals. I also worked one day a week for a local MD in his office. Finally, I spent six years as the nurse in an assisted living facility for Alzheimer’s patients or those suffering from other forms of dementia. My own health problems forced me to retire in April of 2007. I now spend my time reading, enjoying my grandchildren - I have five - and my little white Maltese dog.
Marilyn Fayre Milos (Marilyn Edmiston) 1979
I was one of four nurse graduates hired by Marin General Hospital in 1979 and worked there until 1985. In 1985, I co-founded the National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers (NOCIRC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization, an NGO in Roster status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, and have been the Executive Director ever since. In 1989, I coordinated the First International Symposium on Circumcision, and since then have held many international conferences.
The symposia are now called the International Symposia on Genital Autonomy and Children's Rights. I have co-edited the core proceedings from each of the symposium. I am working now on a book of the history of the NOCIRC Movement in America. In addition, I have written chapters or articles for books, journals, and magazines. I have been the guest on radio and television shows for more than three decades, and have been a guest speaker on many occasions over the years. The awards I have received include: 1988, Maurene Ricke Award from the California Nurses Association, Regions 9's highest award for "her dedication and unwavering commitment to "unwaivering commitment to righting a wrong."
2001, NurseWeek's Nursing Excellence Award for Patient Advocacy, 2001.
2009, Intact America's Award for Humanitarian Service. 2010, The Trust Birth Initiative's Award for Speaking on Behalf of Newborns. 2015, BirthKeepers Living Legend Award. I am also the representative for Genital Autonomy - USA, an international organization that is working to protect the genital integrity and self-determination rights of all children--male, female, and intersex alike. When I began my work in 1979, the routine neonatal circumcision rate in the United States was 85-95%. Today the national rate is 54%, while the rates in the Western states are less than 20%. I am happy to say that I am a human rights activist who has had the good fortune to see the positive results of my activism efforts in my lifetime. (9.2.15)
Cynthia O’Keeffe (Cynthia Johnston) 1979
My nursing career got off the ground during my second year at the School of Nursing. I was invited by a local orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Schecter to observe any and all surgeries he performed at Ross General Hospital. I knew Operating Room Nursing was the specialty I wanted to pursue. After graduating, I attended Lincoln University's course in Operating Room Nursing in San Francisco. The course was created in an effort to bring new graduates into the OR. In 1982 my husband, young son and I moved to Santa Barbara where I was employed at Goleta Valley Community Hospital. I became the Charge Nurse for the Vascular Surgery Department. The experience was unforgettable. I returned to work at Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla. I remained there for 13 years. In 1997 I became one of 600 nurses in the USA certified in Ophthalmic Registered Nursing, qualified to assist in ophthalmic surgeries. I traveled to Fiji twice to work with our Ophthalmic Surgeon at a clinic we established on the island of Beqa. The last three years of my work was in Infection Control at Scripps Mercy Hospital in downtown San Diego. I feel so fortunate that our Nursing instructors challenged us as we mastered knowledge, technique, and underlying principles. They inculcated within us habits of keen observation, self-examination and reflection. We learned to analyze the effectiveness of our actions and to anticipate potential negative consequences. Our faculty fostered the development of a student body whose members grappled with many ethical dilemmas well before graduation. I believe I became a better person due to my education at College of Marin. The College of Marin nursing curriculum was taught by nursing instructors who were passionate about our integrity as well as our technical knowledge. I loved and respected them as mentors and friends. Thank you, College of Marin, for sending me forward into the journey of a lifetime.
Claire Rittenhouse 1979
First job was Stanford in the CCU until 1992 when I helped start another Stepdown unit and became its Asst Nurse Manager. In 1996 I went with my husband to Rome and lived there until 2000. I came back to Stanford and helped start the Transfer Center, which was designed to screen and facilitate patients coming in from outside hospitals. I retired in 2014 but continue there in a relief capacity.
Cathy Webster 1979
Staff Nurse -- Novato Community Hospital 1979-1983; graduated Sonoma State University w/BSN 1982; Insurance Examiner for several companies 1983-1987; Allergy Nurse and Office Manager 1984-1993; RN Auditor since 1987 for various audit vendors (currently still doing tho not much work at this time). Been a Certified Medical Audit Specialist since 1999. I volunteer with the Novato Police Department (started July 2001) as their Livescan tech and assist Records with background checks, routing, filing, and reports. I've been with the Marin Medical Reserve Corp. (also since 2001). Recently completed CERT training. This is all disaster preparedness.