Gale Storm—Education Manager, Partners in Care Quality Assurance/Education

Seeking the Best for Her Trainees

“Gale models excellence as a nurse, manager and instructor. She is never too busy to try to solve any challenges that come anyone’s’ way, whether it is a student, patient, HHA, or anyone on her staff in any location.” “Ms. Storm is an exceptional leader who goes above and beyond for her staff. She is a mother, aunty, and great sister-friend.”

How does someone who studied veterinary medicine for seven years find herself as Education Manager of the Partners In Care training program? According to Gale Storm, her transition was sparked when teachers suggested that her considerable skills were better suited to people than animals—and she listened. As time went on, Gail progressed from home health aide to certified nursing assistant to working as a registered nurse in a hospital. One day, when helping a patient from a stretcher to the bed, she suffered a serious shoulder injury and it became necessary to seek another job. In 2000, she found it—as an instructor in the Partners in Care training program.

Five years later, she became Education Manager for the division, where she relishes her day-to-day interaction with trainees. “It’s easy for us to communicate,” she says, “because they know I used to be where they are now.” She also wants the best for them. When she felt that the training manual she was using was not all it should be, for example, she located a better one that she pitched as a replacement. Partners in Care has been using it as their primary training manual ever since. Above all, it’s the feeling of community at VNSNY and Partners in Care that Gale finds deeply satisfying. “The fact that our workers want to stay in their jobs for years and years speaks volumes about Partners in Care,” she says. “We’re family.”