Maureen Gibbons

In 2003, Maureen Gibbons retired from her career as a Registered Nurse. Her career began at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital after graduating from Columbia University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing.

Maureen, in her “retired” role, has maintained an active role in Nursing as a volunteer in her local community and abroad. Caring is the heart of the nursing profession, it underlies everything we do. Integrity is another characteristic of nursing. The NLN notes, “integrity is a core nursing value, standing for and respecting the dignity and moral wholeness of every person without conditions or limitations.” This defines Maureen.

Lourdes is an approved apparition site of the Catholic Church. In 1858 the Blessed Mother appeared to a young 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous and of course no one believed her. Until the Church authorities told her to ask the woman who she was – when Bernadette asked the Lady, she answered, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” Well, Bernadette was very uneducated and could barely pronounce this title let alone know what it meant. But, when the Bishop heard these words, he was astonished, as this was the name of the document the Church was working on at the time regarding Mary’s Immaculate Conception, her being born free of original sin, something that was unknown to most lay people. This made them all believe. Today, millions of people of all faiths flock to Lourdes every year and there have been hundreds and thousands of people who experience miracles, some documented, most are not.

Our role as volunteer nurses is to care for the sick, ‘the malades,” to aid in their care and medical supervision. There are approximately 50 malades each year who join this annual pilgrimage with varying degrees of illness, some requiring very little nursing care and others requiring complete or total care. Each year, Maureen, “the retired nurse” is quick to volunteer to care for the malades with the most complicated, complex diagnosis and problems.

A few years back, Maureen and another nurse were caring for a young woman with MS. This young lady was a quadriplegic. She was incapable of doing anything for herself, she was at the mercy of her caregivers and far away from home. The personalized care Maureen planned for this young lady was beyond excellent. Maureen not only cared for her physical needs but her emotional and spiritual ones as well – and always treated her with respect, dignity and love.

Another service Maureen participates in at Lourdes is “working the baths.” As a nurse, Maureen tends to always get assigned to the “bath stalls” that receive the sickest malades, often requiring heavy lifting of stretchers with malades on them in & out of the bath waters. This deeply moving spiritual experience is one that requires the most compassionate care. Many times, the malades become quite emotional and overwhelmed. Moreover, the malades speak many different languages, and while Maureen only speaks English, she with her years of caring for the sick, is able to calm, sooth and comfort with her eyes, soft voice and beautiful smile.

Maureen has also volunteered in Milot, Haiti, at the Hospital Sacre Coeur. Maureen could not be outdone by any of the younger nurses, in fact, she was always the earliest to report and the last to leave her shift – she would credit her work ethic to her Columbia Nursing School training. Maureen worked in the PACU, alongside the Haitian staff nurses and was the consummate teacher and trainer. Her incredible experience proved invaluable knowledge to the nurses who were hungry for knowledge and training. Also invaluable, was her role modeling her compassionate care for the patients. Maureen often covered the PACU alone in order for the nurses to attend other educational classes being held at the hospital. Maureen’s skills and leadership were much appreciated by all those she encountered in Haiti.

Locally in New York, Maureen is the Co-chair for the Nassau and Suffolk County chapter of the Order of Malta, where she is involved in many grassroots social outreach and volunteer opportunities.

Maureen is an amazing example to everyone she comes in contact with. She has great impact on all those she serves both locally and globally. Her smile is constant and infectious as is her boundless energy and positive spirit along with her caring heart – attributes we should all strive for.

– Deb

In 2003, Maureen Gibbons retired from her career as a Registered Nurse. Her career began at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital after graduating from Columbia University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing.

Maureen, in her “retired” role, has maintained an active role in Nursing as a volunteer in her local community and abroad. Caring is the heart of the nursing profession, it underlies everything we do. Integrity is another characteristic of nursing. The NLN notes, “integrity is a core nursing value, standing for and respecting the dignity and moral wholeness of every person without conditions or limitations.” This defines Maureen.

Lourdes is an approved apparition site of the Catholic Church. In 1858 the Blessed Mother appeared to a young 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous and of course no one believed her. Until the Church authorities told her to ask the woman who she was – when Bernadette asked the Lady, she answered, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” Well, Bernadette was very uneducated and could barely pronounce this title let alone know what it meant. But, when the Bishop heard these words, he was astonished, as this was the name of the document the Church was working on at the time regarding Mary’s Immaculate Conception, her being born free of original sin, something that was unknown to most lay people. This made them all believe. Today, millions of people of all faiths flock to Lourdes every year and there have been hundreds and thousands of people who experience miracles, some documented, most are not.

Our role as volunteer nurses is to care for the sick, ‘the malades,” to aid in their care and medical supervision. There are approximately 50 malades each year who join this annual pilgrimage with varying degrees of illness, some requiring very little nursing care and others requiring complete or total care. Each year, Maureen, “the retired nurse” is quick to volunteer to care for the malades with the most complicated, complex diagnosis and problems.

A few years back, Maureen and another nurse were caring for a young woman with MS. This young lady was a quadriplegic. She was incapable of doing anything for herself, she was at the mercy of her caregivers and far away from home. The personalized care Maureen planned for this young lady was beyond excellent. Maureen not only cared for her physical needs but her emotional and spiritual ones as well – and always treated her with respect, dignity and love.

Another service Maureen participates in at Lourdes is “working the baths.” As a nurse, Maureen tends to always get assigned to the “bath stalls” that receive the sickest malades, often requiring heavy lifting of stretchers with malades on them in & out of the bath waters. This deeply moving spiritual experience is one that requires the most compassionate care. Many times, the malades become quite emotional and overwhelmed. Moreover, the malades speak many different languages, and while Maureen only speaks English, she with her years of caring for the sick, is able to calm, sooth and comfort with her eyes, soft voice and beautiful smile.

Maureen has also volunteered in Milot, Haiti, at the Hospital Sacre Coeur. Maureen could not be outdone by any of the younger nurses, in fact, she was always the earliest to report and the last to leave her shift – she would credit her work ethic to her Columbia Nursing School training. Maureen worked in the PACU, alongside the Haitian staff nurses and was the consummate teacher and trainer. Her incredible experience proved invaluable knowledge to the nurses who were hungry for knowledge and training. Also invaluable, was her role modeling her compassionate care for the patients. Maureen often covered the PACU alone in order for the nurses to attend other educational classes being held at the hospital. Maureen’s skills and leadership were much appreciated by all those she encountered in Haiti.

Locally in New York, Maureen is the Co-chair for the Nassau and Suffolk County chapter of the Order of Malta, where she is involved in many grassroots social outreach and volunteer opportunities.

Maureen is an amazing example to everyone she comes in contact with. She has great impact on all those she serves both locally and globally. Her smile is constant and infectious as is her boundless energy and positive spirit along with her caring heart – attributes we should all strive for.

– Deb