Fallbrook's Goble named Nurse of the Year

Madelyn Goble, a well-known resident of Fallbrook, was recently awarded Nurse of the Year at Palomar Pomerado Hospital and honored at a reception for nurses in May.

Prior to the soiree, Goble knew she had been nominated for the distinction of Nurse of the Year for the emergency room (ER), but winning Nurse of the Year overall for the hospital was entirely unexpected.

“I was completely shocked and quite honored,” said a humble Goble.

In her company, she said, are an amazing group of nurses. “The talent that was there was incredible.”

Goble works part-time at the ER and trauma center.

“I am specifically designated to do the traumas when they come in on my shift,” she explained. “I work as an ER nurse, and when the trauma comes, I am relieved of my patient duties and I take over the trauma patient.”

On an as-needed basis, Goble also works per diem for Fallbrook Hospital.

For the last 25 years, Goble has dedicated her professional life to the career of nursing. Her father, a physician, had a caring bedside manner, she said, and this undoubtedly made an indelible imprint on Goble.

“It was very clear to me what medicine was all about,” she said.

There was a nurse who worked at her father’s practice who inspired Goble. She fondly called this nurse Aunt Mary.

“Aunt Mary was the silent influence in my life,” Goble explained.

After Goble graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles with a degree in both psychology and biology, she admits she really didn’t know what educational step to take next.

“My father said at the time that medicine was changing and to consider nursing for the tenderness of it,” she remarked.

Following her completion of nursing school, Goble’s first official job was at Santa Monica Harbor UCLA Hospital. She was involved in both air and ground transport nursing through Schaffer Ambulance service.

“A lot it involved the transport of neonatal intensive care kids and critically ill older patients,” said Goble.

In this position, Goble said learned a great deal about trauma and provided outstanding knowledge for the future.

Since moving to Fallbrook in 1989, Goble’s talents in nursing have continued and her dedication to helping her community is magnificent.

“What makes Madelyn Goble so special is the continuous giving of herself in spite of how busy she is,” said Fallbrook resident and San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Crime Prevention Specialist John McLelland. “And it all comes from her heart.”

Goble calls being involved in the ‘Every 15 Minutes’ program a passion.

Educating juniors and seniors at Fallbrook High School on the tragic repercussions of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and reckless driving, has been a priority for her.

She contends that these types of heartrending events are incidents, not accidents, and she has assisted many victims of the tragedies.

“Accidents are not foreseen,” she said, “but incidents involving alcohol and drugs usually can be avoided.”

Goble continues to be a part of ‘Every 15 Minutes’ and does her very best to be part of the driving force to educate the students and their families. The statement she wants to continue to spread to teens is the following: “Life is so precious, so choose wisely.”

Goble says that nursing has changed dramatically since she began her career. The responsibilities placed on nurses these days can be overwhelming, she said, given all the new documentation and computer work.

“Nurses want to spend more time at the bedside but the computers and documentation that needs to be done can be frustrating,” she said.

Despite these challenges, Goble never loses sight of her goal: to help the patient. “It’s all about the heart and about that patient as a person,” she said.

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