Natalie Gillis
Providing compassionate care as a registered nurse for more than half of her life, Margaret Hoffman made a difference in many people’s lives.
In her passing, Margaret’s husband, William, has created a memorial nursing scholarship at Western Nevada College to honor Margaret.
WNC nursing student Natalie Gillis started receiving the $2,500 scholarship in Margaret’s honor in Fall 2023. The scholarship will also be offered to WNC nursing students in ensuing years.
After graduating from the Nursing School at Stony Brook University in New York and interning at Cornell Medical Institute, Margaret went to work as a nurse at Southampton Hospital.
Margaret eventually moved west, drawn to the beauty of Northern Nevada. The Silver State became her home for the rest of her life, with many of those years devoted to nursing, specifically the care of elderly people.
She built a legacy at Carson Tahoe Hospital, where she worked as a nurse for 30 years. Margaret served in pediatrics for several years, then was assigned to the medical oncology floor, which specializes in the care of cancer patients.
She played a key role for the interdisciplinary care team, which included physicians, RNs, licensed practical nurses, social workers, case workers and physical and respiratory therapists. She provided individual treatment regimens for patients of all ages with a broad range of health issues. She ensured that doctors' orders were effectively interpreted and carried out, including testing, medical procedures, consultations and stat orders.
Meeting all of these demands and then some earned Margaret a reputation for excellence in service delivery and work attendance. She received exemplary personnel evaluations and positive supervisor comments expressing outstanding RN clinical skills, excellent interpersonal skills and establishing a rapport with a diverse and often elderly patient population.
Some of her accomplishments included a nomination for Nurse of Distinction Award in the category of patient advocacy; assisting in refining unit policies and procedures for oncology administration procedures, safety methods, discharge planning and documentation; treating an average of seven acutely ill patients daily; responding to numerous volatile patients, earning respect of physicians and co-workers for her calm, levelheaded and quick thinking to restore the well-being of the patient; completing annual training for license renewal; and more.
Margaret married William in 1987, creating a partnership that spanned more than 35 years. In her memory, William has created this scholarship through WNC Foundation to assist WNC nursing school students each year.
The first scholarship recipient, Gillis, is very appreciative of the generosity that has allowed her to focus on becoming a nurse.
Through the Margaret Memorial Scholarship, Gillis and other nursing students at WNC will be able to pursue a career where they can make a difference in people’s lives.
WNC offers options to engage in spring semester
If students weren’t registered when classes began on Jan. 22, there still are options to become a student this semester. However, after Jan. 26, a late registration form with instructor approval must be submitted to Admissions and Records.
WNC also offers open entry, and late-start and short-term classes. Open entry classes allow students to register for a class through the ninth week of the semester and work at their own pace to complete the course.
Students can choose from 16 open entry subjects, including psychology, biology, mathematics, English and political science. Most late-start classes begin in March and end on May 18. Short-term classes are offered throughout the semester.
Many activities are planned for the semester by Student Life and student government — the Associated Students of Western Nevada – this semester.
Some of the highlights are Blood Drive with Vitalant (Tuesday), Welcome Back Week (Feb. 5-8), PALentine’s Day (Feb. 14), ASWN Elections (March 11-13), Earth Day (April 22) and DeStress Fest (May 13-16).
Students can view a list of classes at wnc.edu/class-schedule/.
For information, call 775-445-3277.
Financial Aid office hours continue at Carson City Library
Western Nevada College’s Financial Aid Office is continuing to bring its services to the community with its three-month pilot program at Carson City Library.
On Wednesday, Feb. 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. a WNC representative will be available at the library to answer questions for potential college attendees about financial aid terms and resources; provide detailed information on federal, state and institutional aid programs; and assist with completing FAFSA and related scholarship processes.
Visitors are advised to have their social security number, federal tax information, cell phone and email access.
For information, call 775-445-3264 or email finaid1@wnc.edu.
Community invited to Star Parties in honor of lecturer Mike Thomas
Spend your Saturday nights learning about the universe and utilize a variety of telescopes to view the stars from the vantage point of Western Nevada College's Jack C. Davis Observatory.
Saturday night Star Parties in honor of late Northern Nevada lecturer Mike Thomas are from dusk to 11 p.m. at the facility, 2269 Vanpatten Ave.
Thomas delivered many free science and history lectures to the community at JCDO.
For information, visit https://wnc.edu/observatory.