We lost a member of the greater Cleveland nursing and Clinical Nurse Specialist community last week. Barb Halliday passed away on February 15th. She retired a little over two years ago from MetroHealth and worked many years at Fairview. Her husband passed away last year. Her obituary is listed below. Please take a moment to read this entry below for a small hint of the incredible impact she made on the nursing community.
Barb always knew she wanted to be a nurse. This was a great surprise to her father, who thought she should be a secretary and then get married. Barb’s mother suggested she be a candy striper to “cure” her from wanting to do the hard work of being a nurse, but it backfired and being a candy striper only strengthened Barbs conviction and passion for her calling into nursing!
She did not seek the limelight but did not shrink from speaking in support of patient care considerations or from continuously seeking opportunities to improve the care of the patient population she serves. Although we know Barb for her expertise in care of cardiovascular conditions, Barb’s past includes experience in the PACU, Vascular Surgery, CCU, more than 40 years in Cardiology as a Manager, Director of Nursing, Instructor and Clinical Nurse Specialist. In her spare time and outside of Metro she shared her knowledge with numerous students at Ursuline College, Ashland University and many more.
She built on the knowledge and skill of nursing staff, students seeking their Masters in Nursing and health team members to ensure CHF patients are prepared for self-care. Students, staff and colleagues recognized her depth of caring and her ability to relate to the concerns and needs of others. Barb was an advocate for nursing and we are proud that she represents professional nursing at MetroHealth. She carried herself in the most professional light and was an excellent role model in nursing. She was often called upon to help colleagues deal with managing difficult situations. She saw the patient as a human being and provided holistic patient care to all patients. She exuded the utmost respect to individual patient care needs and the needs of the family.
Barb was passionate about nursing. She demonstrated the greatest dedication in developing nurses through the stages of novice to expert through both her academic and CNS roles. She engaged with every student as if they were her only one. Shortly after her retirement she reached the pinnacle of her career by earning her Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) from Ursuline College. So many have been touched by her more than 50 years in the profession and for that we are all grateful.
Obituary: https://www.bakerfuneralberea.com/obituary/Barbara-Halliday
