PROGRAM
Our Club's Strategic Plan
Melissa Golightly - Classification Talk
Melissa gave us an overview of her journey to become a nurse at DHMC and to be member of Rotary.
She was the child of an Naval Academy Graduate. She was born in Mississippi, and migrated with her Mom and Dad to naval bases in Texas along the Gulf Coast. Once her Dad left the Navy he accepted a job in Houston Texas at NASA as a radiation physicist. She went to High School in Houston, one of 764 in her class, she graduated #7!
She then headed to college with thoughts she would become a physical therapist. Once she started college, her parents decided to move to New Hampshire. She missed them and decided to leave school in Texas and move to New Hampshire at the age of 19. This is were she experienced snow for the first time, and what it meant to "season" wood. (When you see her, if you missed the meeting, ask her to explain this concept).
Once in NH she began to rethink her educational plan. She decided being a physical therapist wasn't a good fit. She just knew she wanted to give back to those in need. This lead her to a path in nursing.
She met her soon to be husband (a executive chef and kitchen manager). Her educational plan was briefly interrupted by the birth of her son Jackson. Her husband was one of her strongest supporters, and encouraged her to continue with her education. She received and associates degree from Rivier University, in Nashua. She immediately started taking course towards her BSN, and then masters degree. She joined the staff at DHMC and remembers calling her Mom on her first day of work telling her that this is were she wanted to work until retirement.
She is currently the nurse manage for the cardiac units and oversees 173 RN and LNAs.
She then reflected on her mission to give back to her community. She talked about building relationships and partnerships. She is currently working with cardiologist to find ways to take cardiac care into the community. She described the number of people who live very remotely, and won't think for driving to Lebanon for medical care. Thus they often only seek care is a crisis. Her hope is to staff a mobile van to take care to our outlying communities.
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