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Profile:3 11/19/07 2:53 PM Page 23 victory. But it wasn't just the thrill of the long journey, or the enormous triumphs that the ratios represent, that left an impression on Morgan. "It was because I shared it with my kids," she said. Morgan's two adult children, at that time in their early 20s, joined her on a bus trip to the capital and held picket signs. Pictures of them supporting their mother and her fellow nurses in Sacramento were widely circulated during the ratios campaign. It was a proud moment for Morgan, who felt she was showing the democratic process to her children first hand. "I was just happy for them to see how to agitate for change." Morgan is a creature of habit: Except for a brief stint in a nursing home shortly after college, she has worked in the ICU at Mills-Peninsula Medical Center (MPMC) in San Mateo for nearly her entire career, and is a lifelong San Francisco Bay Area resident. She and her husband once moved to Southern California, but returned after only a year. "The weather was nice [in Southern California], but we missed the bay, the hills," she said. Her favorite part of nursing is interacting with her patients and their families. "I have very strong assessment skills," she said, which make her more capable of detecting when a patient's situation is declining. An important part of her job is supporting families and loved ones through a difficult time, whether that means sustaining them through a patient's long recovery, or preparing them for the inevitability of a patient's death. "Just connecting to people on a oneto-one basis is a rewarding part of nursing." Today, Morgan enjoys her work and her involvement with nurse activism more than ever. Much like that little girl caring for her injured father so many years ago, she remains passionately interested in nursing, to the exclusion of many other interests. She enjoys engaging with others on the topics the CNA/NNOC takes on, and helping them understand that what's good for nurses is good for the community. The approach she takes will vary according to her audience—older people are more concerned about retirement and healthcare, so she talks about those points. Younger people may not care so much about retirement but have other worries. Knowledge is power, she insists. "It's all about what part of our campaign applies directly to them," Morgan said. "I just want to give them another point of view." Morgan is an integral part of MPMC, according to labor representative Shawn Bartlett. "She's very well respected as a nurse, and her fellow nurses go to her all the time for advice," he said. "Genel Morgan is the one person everyone knows when you walk through that facility." In addition to helping her peers in clinical settings, Bartlett said that Morgan is equally proactive when it comes to their contract. "She's extremely dedicated—she's willing to do what it takes to get the Sutter nurses what they deserve." Morgan offers one last sentiment: "The main thing I'd like to say is that my confidence and my general knowledge of labor relations have NOVEMBER 2007 grown during my time with CNA/NNOC. Having become involved on a deeper level, I really see the impact that we can have if we believe in what we're doing and we're tenacious about it. We can accomplish a lot together. It's been a growth experience for me—sometimes frustrating, sometimes tiring, but always worthwhile. I respect our board of directors and our leadership, I'm grateful for the entire staff, and I'm thankful to be a part of the organization." ■ Erika Larson is associate editor of Registered Nurse. Profile W W W. C A L N U R S E S . O R G Name: Genel Morgan Facility: Mills-Peninsula Medical Center Unit: ICU Nursing for: 38 years On CNA/NNOC board since: 1998 Sign: Pisces Nursing Pet Peeve: Nurses who do not speak up for themselves or their patients. Favorite Work Snack: A mocha. "The people at the coffee shop know me now—they see me and say 'mocha?'" Latest Work Accomplishment: Working with a nurse who was being disciplined, and getting the discipline dismissed. Color of favorite scrubs: Pink Hobbies: Cross-stitch, learning piano Favorite Musician: Il Divo, Josh Groban Latest Book Read: The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama Secret talents unrelated to nursing: "I don't have any! My whole life is focused on nursing—a lot of what I do is CNA- or hospital-related," Morgan says. CNA/NNOC Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro disagrees, saying that "Genel has a talent for recognizing and developing the special talents of her co-workers and her community." REGISTERED NURSE 23