Touching Souls at Every Turn

As the RN residency coordinator for CHI Saint Joseph Health, Beth Gamble, PhD, MSN, RN, feels she has the best of both worlds: nursing and mentoring.

“I will always be a nurse at heart,” Gamble said. “I get to really bring that passion forward, as well as working with my other passion, which is helping students and new graduates be successful.”

Gamble also extends her service beyond the hospital doors with her volunteer and church service to the community.

“Jesus calls us to love our neighbor, whether that neighbor is in a hospital bed, across the street or in a drug diversion program,” she said.

In Gamble’s day job, she provides support to new nurses during their first year in the profession.

“Studies show that new nursing school graduates who do not receive good support in that first year are less likely to remain in the nursing profession,” Gamble said. “We provide support, encouragement and additional education for them.”

She also encourages nurses to share their blessings with others. They develop a theme for the year using Bible verses, and assemble blessing bags filled with candy to share with others.

“Residents are encouraged to give them to other staff members, who are a blessing to our organization,” Gamble said.

When she’s not at CHI Saint Joseph Health, Gamble volunteers with several community organizations, including A Running Start, a nonprofit that works with men recovering from addiction who are staying at The Hope Center. The group encourages the men to train for a 5K run to develop a new, healthier habit, and she and other volunteers run with the men three nights a week for 12 weeks.

“It really builds a community. It builds relationships,” Gamble said. “At the end of those 12 weeks, it culminates in all of us going out together and running a local 5K or a four-mile race. We have some men who have now been sober for years but continue to come back and run to support others.”

Gamble is also deeply involved with local impact work at Centenary United Methodist Church, and she serves on the board of Step-by-Step, a nonprofit that works with young, single mothers.

When she’s not working or volunteering, Gamble and her husband enjoy spending time with their two schnoodle (schnauzer and poodle mix) dogs.