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Bessie Gallop understands that a sense of duty to serve doesn’t have to get in the way of having a fun and happy disposition under intense conditions. In fact, the two go hand-in-hand if you talk to her. As a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in the emergency department at Sentara Albemarle Medical Center, she thrives on being able to switch between multiple gears to show up for her patients and her ED team.
The emergency department is so unique; the pace is constantly changing throughout your shift,” Bessie explains. “One moment, things are intense and everyone is busy, going full throttle for our patients. Later that shift, you’ll be laughing with a patient and things will slow down so you can have a real conversation with someone. Patients in the ED have a variety of needs so you need to be able to wear a lot of hats for them.”
Bessie has always been cool under pressure.
My ED family is so amazing and supportive. Being surrounded by peers and mentors at Sentara who understand why I’m here and who want to have fun while serving the community has been incredible. “
When she was in high school, a family friend began to choke while eating and Bessie acted quickly, performing the Heimlich maneuver to save their life. After that, you could say Bessie found her calling: serving others.
Bessie went off to college with thoughts of being a pediatrician before graduating with a Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry. She also served in the Army Reserves for two years, which she explains clarified her sense of duty and responsibility and further centered her desire to help others.
She then joined the nursing profession, earning an Associate Nursing Degree (AND) and starting at Sentara. Bessie has found another family with her coworkers in the emergency department.
“My ED family is so amazing and supportive. Being surrounded by peers and mentors at Sentara who understand why I’m here and who want to have fun while serving the community has been incredible,” she explains. “They are also there to pick me up and provide love and support, especially when my family and I were going through a tough time recently.”
Bessie credits Sentara’s commitment to education and veterans for helping to ease her transition from the military to the civilian sector. She’s looking forward to Sentara’s support in earning her Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) and working toward certifications in emergency nursing (CEN) and trauma (TNCC).
Bessie Gallop understands that a sense of duty to serve doesn’t have to get in the way of having a fun and happy disposition under intense conditions. In fact, the two go hand-in-hand if you talk to her. As a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in the emergency department at Sentara Albemarle Medical Center, she thrives on being able to switch between multiple gears to show up for her patients and her ED team.
The emergency department is so unique; the pace is constantly changing throughout your shift,” Bessie explains. “One moment, things are intense and everyone is busy, going full throttle for our patients. Later that shift, you’ll be laughing with a patient and things will slow down so you can have a real conversation with someone. Patients in the ED have a variety of needs so you need to be able to wear a lot of hats for them.”
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