Title: Nurse Manager (Retired)
Company: Alvin C. York Veterans’ Administration Medical Center
Location: Smyrna, Tennessee, United States
Betty L. Bell, RN, BSN, retired nurse manager at the Alvin C. York Veterans’ Administration Medical Center, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Nurses for dedication, achievements, and leadership in critical care nursing.
Ms. Bell devoted nearly 40 years to an esteemed career in nursing, beginning as a staff nurse at VA Medical Center in 1978. With her leadership capabilities evident from the start, she moved on to roles as a nurse coordinator at Cedar Creek Home Health Services and director of nursing at Tennessee In-Home Health Services. In 1984, Ms. Bell joined the Alvin C. York Veterans’ Administration Medical Center as a staff nurse. One year later, she was promoted to nurse manager of primary care clinics at the organization, where she would remain until her retirement in 2017.
Throughout her professional life, Ms. Bell prioritized a high level of care for her patients. She always kept a smile on her face, no matter how difficult her day was, which left a strong impression on those around her. Ms. Bell became so well-liked that many of her patients would return to check in with her and see how she was doing long after they were discharged. This affection further fueled her passion for nursing, encouraging her to stick with it through more challenging times.
Among her career accomplishments, Ms. Bell is most proud of her dedication to protecting her staff. As a nurse manager, she served as a barrier between staff nurses and upper management. Ms. Bell emphasized the importance of shielding her employees from directives from the top that could negatively impact their ability to complete their work effectively. She helped those under her to navigate complex scenarios where one wrong move could lead to their termination from the job. In response to this dedication, Ms. Bell earned consistent praise and recognition from her employees. She chose to retire in 2017 at the age of 70 in part due to restrictive new policies that she believed would make it unnecessarily more difficult for nurses.
Prior to embarking upon her professional journey, Ms. Bell laid a foundation for her future with her education. She obtained an Associate of Science in nursing from Middle Tennessee State University in 1978. From there, Ms. Bell went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Tennessee State University. She is a registered nurse and was also enrolled as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve in 1985.
To remain aware of developments affecting her field, Ms. Bell maintained her professional affiliation with a number of pertinent organizations. Until her retirement, she was an active member of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and the National Association of Female Executives. Beyond her professional obligations, Ms. Bell finds fulfilment in volunteering with her local church. She notes the importance of her strong faith for her success, which she credits to God.
Having contributed to a meaningful career, Ms. Bell is now enjoying retirement and embracing her role as a loving mother to two, grandmother to three, and great-grandmother to one. Her son, Christopher Michael, works in engineering, and her daughter, Catherine Michelle, is a stay-at-home mother raising a family of her own. In addition to family, Ms. Bell enjoys filling her free time with boating, camping, horseback riding, tennis, volleyball and attending church.
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