Beverly McGary

Beverly McGary was Public Health Nurse of the Year in 2003, selected by her peers for the honor. She has been with the health department for 20 years and a nurse for 35 years.

I came into public health to get away from the hospital rat race of shift work. Hospital hours are not conducive to a family life. This was an excellent opportunity to have weekends and normal working hours. This is the niche I wanted to be part of.

For the last 20 years, I've been involved with women's health issues, child health, a little bit of everything. Of all the things I've done in public health, what I enjoy the most is being able to have a very personal relationship with my patients. That's what I get the most gratification from, that one-on-one ability to delve into their lives and personal needs. I think I'm able to impact more lives.

What are the difficulties you face in your work?

People who don't have insurance, maybe don't even qualify for public assistance or Medicaid. What keeps me going is when I develop a rapport with someone and having that person come back to me later and say that because of you this happened in my life. Maybe it's a teenager I counseled and just happened to say the right thing. A lot of times I've heard ‘You don't remember me, but this is how you affected my life.'

There are a number of issues we deal with every day – pregnancy, drugs, poverty, just about everything you can think of and you see it day after day and feel that there's nothing you can do to make a difference. Then somebody says ‘You really made a difference in my life and really helped turn it around.' It's those times that keep me going.

Were you surprised to be named Public Health Nurse of the Year?

I was never so shocked in my life because I have a pretty autonomous job. I work intake, seeing whoever comes in. I'm seeing patients, one after the other, every single day. I make decisions on my own without a lot of supervision, working behind the scenes. So that's why it was surprising.

Oftentimes it's impossible for my husband or daughter to understand what I deal with, but I feel this is where I'm supposed to be. I'm a very spiritual person and believe that nothing happens by accident. I feel as though it's divine intervention that I'm here.

Mrs. McGary intends to continue her career with the health department until she retires in nine years.