NYSAOHN Reminiscences - Beth Farrell RN

Meet Beth Farrell RN!
Beth was NYSAOHN President during 2006 and 2007. Beth shares her recollections and some words of wisdom below:

I graduated from St Joseph's Hospital nursing school in Syracuse with a diploma degree. Later on, in life I got my bachelor's in health care administration.  

I worked in a hospital for 1 year after graduation on a GU floor and then worked in a nursing home for a short time, drew blood in a lab for short time and then got into occupational health.  I saw an ad for "industrial health nurse" no experience necessary at Crouse-Hinds and worked there for 5 years, moved on to Oberdorfer Foundries until they sold and then went to New Process Gear until I retired and they sold.  Over the years there has been decreased company support for the nurse. They saw us as a cost, not cost savings.  

There was a great deal of networking in the NYSAOHN organization, so you got a lot of support. Toni Guzi, who was from the Hudson Valley area, convinced me to run for president of NYSAOHN.

While I was president we hosted the NYS conference and participated in the Northeast Conference. I tried to keep the networking going while I was president.  The membership started to decline while I was president as companies were closing, no longer paying dues, no longer paying for education.  I tried to convince people it was for their betterment to be members of NYSAOHN, not the companies.   

I feel that the members today need to take a look at what is happening and broaden their careers with safety and cost control. Members need to take financial courses to see what it really costs to run a business and then come up with ways to save money. Money is the talker today.

I am now semi-retired, working per diem for hospice. I am the president of the local St Vincent de Paul group which is helping people who are struggling financially.  I love to cruise and golf.  I also moved out of cold NY to sunny Florida.