For providing the same high levels of dedication, professionalism and care to her students and colleagues as she did her patients when she was working as a nurse, adjunct nursing instructor Beverley Ridings was recognized with the 2024 Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award.
In one of her nominations, Ridings was described as “helpful, knowledgeable and kind.”
“Bev is a dedicated faculty member who often places the needs of the students and our programs before herself,” the nomination states. “If she sees something that needs to be done, she does it. I appreciate her expertise and input when it comes to improving the lab or simulation experience for our students.”
Additionally, Ridings is also willing to help nurse aide students prepare for their practical exam outside of normal class and lab times.
Another nomination says Ridings serves as a mentor for new faculty members.
“She has become our expert and our go-to person,” it says. “She always says, ‘What can I do to help?’ She has stepped in to cover a class and is wonderful with helping and educating our students, especially when extra time is needed for a student who is struggling.”
Ridings has been with Laurel Ridge since 2012. She took the position after her late husband, Dennis, closed his steel business where she had served as office manager for decades.
Before marrying and blending families with Dennis, Ridings had worked as a nurse, a vocation to which she had been called at a young age.
“There was never a question in my mind,” said Ridings. “I had my first nurse’s uniform when I was 4 or 5. My mom bought me a cape and a cap, and she made the white dress for me. There was never a question of what I wanted to do.”
She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the Medical College of Virginia, which is now part of Virginia Commonwealth University. Ridings went back to college at age 65 to get her master’s degree in nursing education from Western Governors University.
As one of the few registered nurses at the time with a bachelor’s degree, Ridings was made a nursing supervisor when she came to work at the old hospital in Winchester about 50 years ago.
“I hated it because I liked bedside nursing,” said Ridings, who was then able to do the supervisory work part of the time, and neurology nursing the rest of the time.
Following the unexpected death of her first husband, Dr. Douglas Marshall, an emergency room physician, Ridings dropped down to part-time work, rotating around the hospital.
“I really loved bedside nursing, but I feel my goal at this point in life is to teach new nurses to be bedside nurses, and also to teach how important it is to effectively communicate,” Ridings said.
Over the decades, nursing has changed tremendously.
“They’ve taken the RN away from a lot of the bedside nursing with computer work,” said Ridings, who “religiously” Jazzercises. “We’re not handwriting nurse’s notes anymore. Some of that is really good because you’re not having to decipher the handwriting of different people. And, nurses are listening to patients better, really digging deeper, getting more information, advocating for their patients more.”
Ridings, who has five children and stepchildren and eight grandchildren, most enjoys the “collegiate atmosphere” at Laurel Ridge.
“People ask me how I like working at Laurel Ridge,” she said. “I tell them it’s the best job I’ve ever had. For me, as an adjunct, there has been a tremendous amount of support from the full-time faculty.”
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.