I was homeless, scared and alone. Nurse Budnick and Nurse Howell noticed that I was distressed. I was waiting at the bus stop on the VAMC grounds and they must have noticed that I was in distress, so they stopped. They assisted me to the emergency room where I began receiving care immediately.

Despite having completed their shifts at the hospital, each of them demonstrated the highest devotion to patient advocacy and care. Although they were done working for the night and not being paid by that time, they still devoted their free time and energy to assist me. Nurse Budnick & Nurse Howell exemplify the highest standards of nursing practice and listened to me empathetically and non-judgmentally as I explained to them the hardships of the past several months. When VAMC looks for an example of leadership, they need to look no further than the professionalism and devotion of Nurse Budnick and Nurse Howell.

Although I have been under VA care since that night in mid-April 2013 and have met outstanding people contributing to veteran's health care, it is the aforementioned nurses I remember the most.