In Memoriam: Margaret L. “Peggy” (Powers) Gulley, CNRN, Neurology
BWH mourns the loss of Peggy Gulley, CNRN, a long-time nurse on Tower 10CD Neuroscience, who most recently was a nurse in-charge (NIC). She died on July 3, 2010, surrounded by family and friends.
“She was extremely reliable and an excellent NIC,” said Mary D. Nelson, RN, a NIC on 10 CD. “Peggy’s strength, kindness, compassion and sense of humor will be greatly missed.”
Her devotion to nursing was evident in her caring demeanor, and colleagues say she was committed not only to providing quality care, but also to teaching others.
“She was very knowledgeable, and when it came to teaching others, she was a whiz, just phenomenal,” said Susan Rodriguez, RN. “She would teach family members of patients, and she would also teach other nurses.”
Born on Nov. 9, 1955, Mrs. Gulley lived much of her life in Brookline and West Roxbury. She received her BS in Nursing from St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.
“Peggy was always willing to stay late at work to make sure that her patients’ needs were met,” said Nelson. “She always shared her opinions in meetings and tried to make improvements on the floor.”
Mrs. Gulley was part of a care improvement team charged with improving communication between patient care assistants and nurses. “Peggy developed and distributed a survey for the PCAs,” said Rodriguez, who co-chairs the team. “She knew an anonymous survey was the best way to get a read on how people really felt and she took the lead on her own – she just blew everyone out of the water when she did that.”
She was also involved with a medical simulation project on team training with neurology nurses and junior residents to improve safety in the epilepsy monitoring unit. “Peggy was such a role model for our unit that I invited her to be part of my faculty and help design the program,” said Barbara Dwortzky, MD, chief of the Division of Epilepsy, EEG, and Sleep Neurology. “She was all about safety, quality and teaching. Peggy will be sorely missed by the neurologists here. She is irreplaceable.”
In addition to her husband, Joseph W. Gulley, Jr., and two sons, Joseph W. III, and Matthew S. Gulley, she is survived by her mother, Gladys (Chandler) Powers; two brothers, David Powers and his wife Manee, and Joseph Powers and his wife Marlene; and two sisters, Patricia Sommer and her husband Charles, and Paula Bogue and her husband Philip. She also leaves 15 nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass was held July 7 at St. Lawrence Church in Chestnut Hill.
Contributions in her memory may be directed to the Cam Neely Foundation, 30 Winter St., 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02108 or www.camneelyfoundation.com