What about the potential generation gap between herself and her young charges? Lillian deflects the discussion in a manner that lets one know it’s not really an issue to her. “I don’t have any generational issues,” she insists. “Everyone I’m dealing with is younger than me. I find that I have an incredible amount of experience. When I’m talking to my students, I don’t want them to think they’re dealing with someone stuck in the old days.” I don’t come off with, ‘In my day and age….’
When asked what nurses can do to avoid burnout, Lillian’s answer is typically direct. “I’m one of those people who do not believe in such a thing as burnout. It’s a cliché that I think should be abolished. The only reason you burn out is if you’ve bored yourself. You haven’t taken the time to find other ways to make nursing as important to you as it was in the beginning. Look into professional development and other venues to keep things fresh. Find out what it was that brought you into it…. I’m 78 and I still have my license. I just renewed it. I look at it as gold in my hand.”
Lillian credits her own vivaciousness to a positive attitude, bolstered by a healthy combination of diet, exercise and mental activity. “More than anything, I walk every day,” she says. “I try to do 2½ miles a day. I wear an odometer. When I get up to 5,000 steps, it’s 2½ miles.” Even so, Lillian admits that she’s not obsessive, and reserves the right to slack off once in a while. “I’d like to say I do it seven days a week, but the reality is more like five. Some mornings I just want to drink coffee and do the crossword puzzle. I attempt the New York Times puzzle once a month, but I do the L.A. Times puzzle every day. I work at it. I’m good, but not superb. It keeps my mind sharp.” Lillian is also an avid reader of books on history and politics, and has a special interest in mystery novels, her favorite author being Barbara Kingsolver. Her semi-retirement also gives her time to pursue other passions such as gardening, traveling and attending live music and theater performances. Most of all, Lillian enjoys spending quality time with her granddaughter, Emma, whom she calls her “special partner.”
“I know it sounds corny, but you have to have passion,” says Lillian. “There’s no such thing as ‘I like nursing.’ You have to love it. You can like mashed potatoes. Nursing is not a science, it’s an art. You have to have a genuine passion to have compassion. It’s the same with teaching, which is probably why I’ve done both. I still feel the same way today that I felt when I was 17 and found I had been accepted into nursing school.”
David Blumenkrantz followed Lillian Goodman throughout her day. See her photo gallery.
Lillian, this is fabulous. Thank you so much for sending it. I think he got the story pretty close to correct. You deserve all of this praise and more. Love, Ellen
Lillian Goodman is an amazing human, nurse, teacher, and famiy member.
lillian taught me the field of vocational ed. But more than anything she taught the class, she told me I was excellent. I believed her and accomplished great things in my life. I try to do that with my students. She has touched hundreds of thousands of lives.I just love her.
This gal is very smart. I have known her for 78 years. She is not only bright, but very thorough in her work. She plans her lessons and the students who are lucky to have her as an instructor leave her class ready to face the many problems they face in nursing. She expects her students to put forth A+ effort and she gets it. No excuses are excepted! She turns out great students who are ready for action!
Lillian Goodman is an icon! Mrs. Goodman, as I affectionately call her, was my Level I instructor at UCLA Extension in the late 80s. From there, she was my Director of Nursing in the Vocational Nursing Program for ten years where she became my mentor and friend. She is an AWESOME woman, a great role model and the epitome of a lifelong learner. Congratulations on having your story featured…..yet, there is so much more to this passionate and talented lady.
The article is a fitting tribute to an outstanding educator, nurse, and dear friend. I admire Lillian’s professionalism and integrity. I appreciate her generous assistance in developing and supervising nursing programs when we worked at LAUSD adult education sites. Years have passed and I am blessed to call her a constant friend.
Lillian was tough as nails as my Level I instructor at UCLA. She was a role model from the beginning, as she readily managed a very large class of adult learners from very diverse academic and professional backgrounds.Yet, at the end of the class, she not only offered me an opportunity to teach in LAUSD nursing program, we began our relationship as mentor and friend. As nursing professionals, I would like to see more mentoring relationships with lifelong learners, such as Lillian, with new graduate nurses entering practice.
Lillian Goodman Is an exceptional teacher and mentor. I was lucky to have her as my Vocational Education teacher, Level 1 at UCLA. Lillian’s example of a caring, yet firm teacher has made me into the teacher that I am today. I only wish she was still teaching level 2, the online class is not as personal and the human touch was missing. Thanks Lillian, You deserve the tribute and so much more!!
Great article on a great person!!! Lillian Goodman is one of a kind intelligent, bright and wonderful. You deserve it all. Luv U
On behalf of the health career teachers, THANK YOU for your passion and conviction. YOU were instrumental in creating the exemplary program at LAUSD, and we hope that your legacy will prevail as we continue to train students for pre-med and careers in healthcare!!! We certainly owe you a debt of gratitude. You are amazing, and I hope your voice never dims for a very, very long time!
Lillian,
You have been an inspiration to every life you have touched. Your dedication, commitment, and passion are evident in everything you do as was so beautifully shared in the article. I am eternally grateful to have had you as an instructor for Level 1 and 2. The conviction with which you shared your passion for teaching will live with me forever. The teacher I am today is all because of you and thank you for believing in me and sharing yourself with us all. You truly are amazing!!
My mom – simply perfect in very way.
Lillian is my friend, neighbor and one time “attempted” walking partner. I could never keep up with her. And that is how she is in all aspects of her life. I now of no one who can keep up with her on any level. A great well deserved tribute, and as some one else commented – there is so much more.
Lillian Goodman shows the true dedication of a Nurse, mentor and genuine caring person.
Ellen Grimmit Rn. Please email me this is your student. Guess what? I am teaching now! THANK YOU
Every day I strive to be half the teacher she is. She was my level 1 and level 2 teacher and I remember her fondly, especially her great sense of humor. It will be ten years ago this fall, when I took her classes. Thank you Lillian.