Debra Gallimore was born to be a nurse. Her passion for this career started when she was only eight years old. Her own mother was an LPN at Skyline Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Floyd, VA and Debra would go along with her mom as she worked the night shift. Skyline has always been Debra’s home.
Debra started officially working at Skyline when she was 18 years old, as a CNA. In 2005, she got her LPN license, and by 2015 she had completed her RN program. Nursing runs in Debra’s blood, but her drive for this field is what has led her to excel and come up through the ranks at such a young age.
When asked what she likes most about working at Skyline she replied “Working on an approach that is true individualized care”. Debra is very fascinated with memory care and how the brain works. She wants to learn as much as she can and continually grow and provide the best possible care to her residents.
Her determination to learn and do well is also what makes her such a wonderful colleague and mentor to her co-workers. It isn’t just her patients that she is passionate about; it’s also her peers. Since she has worked her way up, she has experience doing all levels of work and can give hands-on advice to her co-workers. She not only teaches them, but also encourages them to keep reaching higher. Her respect for their work gains their respect in return, and breeds a communal, family environment in the workplace.
The success Debra has seen throughout the years, she attributes to her amazing mentors at Consulate Health Care. “They have taught me so much about what it is to provide the care the residents deserve.” Both Heather Belcher (MDS Coordinator) and Stephanie O’Dell (DCS) had a wonderful influence on Debra. “Stephanie had faith in me, took me under her wing, and gave me extra responsibilities, so I could understand why we do what we do.” Heather taught her what it is to provide compassionate care that the residents deserve.
Employees like Debra show us that working in healthcare truly is a calling. For Debra, this is her passion, what she was meant to do in life. We asked her what she likes about being a nurse and she said, “What is there not to like about being a nurse? These people trust me. I’m not able to let them down. I’m providing them something they need to keep the quality of their life. Have one of them hold your hand and smile at you – that’s all you need”.
As for her future at Skyline, Debra has no intention of leaving. This has always been her home and she never wants to leave. She hopes to see several changes in health care soon. She wants a better system that not matter what, the resident always comes first.
Debra was recently chosen as one of Long Term Living’s 5 Leaders of Tomorrow. This is an incredible honor, and she is more than deserving of this recognition. Debra is an excellent example of what it means to be an Ambassador of Care, a good employee, nurse, colleague, and mentor. We couldn’t be happier that she has chosen Skyline as her home, and that Skyline chose her. We are so thankful that she is here to stay.
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