Skip to content

VA Nurses Go Above And Beyond


VA nurses often go above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to helping not only Veterans and their families, but also the communities we serve. Their rich commitment, bolstered by their training, shows us all how we can make the world a better place.

Read on to see how our nurses have gone the extra mile to effect positive change on the lives of those around them.

A simple conversation

Richard Hall of John Dingell VA in Detroit enjoys talking to fellow Veterans and engaging with them during visits to the emergency department, but taking some additional time with Veteran Larry Washington was unequivocally life-saving.

Hall, an emergency department nurse, former firefighter and Navy Veteran, struck up a conversation with Washington after noticing the Veteran had been to the emergency department multiple times over the preceding days. He also noticed that Washington’s wife was also not feeling well.

Through conversation with the Washingtons, Hall learned that their apartment recently had a new furnace installed. He suggested that they have carbon monoxide levels checked, which confirmed CO levels were dangerously high. The suggestion saved the Washingtons’ lives and potentially many others in the apartment complex.

“To know I had that effect on someone is the greatest feeling in the world,” said Hall. “My dad’s a Veteran. I’m a Gulf War Veteran. To give back to my brethren and care for the community in which we reside is why us nurses do what we do.”

A family reunited

Three nurses from the Birmingham VA Health Care System went above and beyond the call of duty when they encountered a young woman outside their building who needed help.

Meme Barron, Stephanie Christian and Elonda Hendley, nurses in the community care department, were informed there was a young adult female sitting in a flowerpot outside the building. The nurses asked if they could do anything to help her and, without making any eye contact, the girl asked them if they could call her dad and tell him that she is okay.

The young woman’s father, an Army and Air Force Veteran who receives care at Birmingham VA, came to pick her up about half an hour later. At the time, though, the young woman had been missing for several months. The father said that, if the nurses hadn’t assisted his daughter, they might never have been reunited.

“Sometimes all it takes is just seeing about someone and taking the time to show that you care,” Barron said.

A life saved

Linda Longshaw and her daughter Heather Longshaw, both nurses from the LTC Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center, were on their way to dinner when they were flagged down by a group of frantic people in the street.

The mother-daughter duo found a person on the ground, unresponsive, not breathing and with no pulse. The Longshaws quickly began working as a team to get the person breathing and restore a pulse.

Responding police arrived and provided an automatic external defibrillator, which helped the nurses aid their impromptu patient as they continued CPR. They managed to get the person breathing again as the local fire department and EMS team arrived on the scene to take over care.

Their assistance helped save the person’s life.

“We know that we would want somebody to help our family,” Linda said. “That’s what we thought when we pulled over and parked the car.”

Work at VA

VA nurses make a difference in the lives of those around them. Their training, talent and dedication make them irreplaceable members of our team. Join them, and us.

Content shared from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs News

 

Learn more about Nursing:

Sumner College Student of the Month | August 2024

Congratulations Hanna, for being the August 2024 Student of the Month at Sumner College! Hanna was inspired to pursue a career as a Practical Nursing

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Sumner College Student of the Month | September 2024

Congratulations Kristina, for being the September 2024 Student of the Month at Sumner! Kristina completed the LPN program from Sumner College and recently returned to

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Niche Award!

Exciting news! Sumner Nursing College was recently ranked by Niche, listed as #1 in Best Value Colleges in Oregon, #1 in Best Value Colleges in

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Check Out Our New Campus!

Welcome to our new campus in Bend, Oregon! We are excited to be welcoming the first BSN cohort February 24th, 2025. Stay tuned as we

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Upcoming Info Sessions

On the fence or have questions about starting your education at Sumner College? Check out our upcoming BSN Info Sessions! Available for on-campus in Portland

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

All About TEAS

If you're considering enrolling at Sumner College (or other nursing schools!) you will be required to take the TEAS Exam. This stands for Test of

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Nursing School Study Tips

Nursing school is known to be extremely difficult, but there are ways to make it easier on yourself! NursingWorld.org suggests a few different things to

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

$5,000 Education Award Available!

Exciting news! DiversityNursing.com is offering a $5,000 education award, with easy entry and no essays, why not enter for a chance to win $5,000 to

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

New Member Bend Chamber of Commerce

Sumner College is proud to share we are new members of the Bend Area Chamber of Commerce. Coming soon our official ribbon cutting and social

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Spirit Week!

Happy Spirit Week! Stop by the Lobby or Front Desk throughout the week to say hi and show some school spirit! Monday: Meal Prep and

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

SUMNER COLLEGE STUDENT OF THE MONTH: JULY 2024

Congratulations Kinsey, for being the July 2024 Student of the Month at Sumner! Kinsey is pursuing her BSN degree and has wanted to be a

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Virtual Tour: SIM Lab 202

Welcome to Sumner College! Before you head in to our Portland Campus take a virtual tour where you can see our Simulation Lab, Hospital Simulator,

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

SUMNER COLLEGE STUDENT OF THE MONTH: JUNE 2024

Congratulations to LPN student, Logan, for June 2024! Logan is able to pursue his degree thanks to his great support system, and school life balance,

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

New Campus Alert!

We are extremely excited to announce the opening of our new additional campus location in Bend, Oregon! Conveniently located just around the corner from Bend's

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

The Heart of Healthcare

Nursing can be described as both an art and science; a heart and a mind. At its heart, lies a fundamental respect for human dignity

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Labor Day Weekend

Happy Labor Day! We will be closed Monday to enjoy a long weekend!

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Upcoming Class Start Dates

Join us on one of our upcoming start dates for RN's looking to achieve a BSN completion!

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

What is an RN-BSN Program?

RN to BSN Degree- What is it? The RN-BSN degree is designed for nurses that earned their Registered Nurse licensure and would like to continue

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

There’s Still Time!

There's still time to enroll for the September 3 class start date! All three programs are starting fresh this fall; BSN, RN to BSN, and

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Tips for Great Admission Essays

Writing an admission essay may feel like a daunting task to accomplish, much less three, as we require here at Sumner. While they are short

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Is Nursing for Me?

Have you ever wondered whether nursing is the right profession for you? Take our personality exam to see if you have the characteristics of a

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Join the Nursing Workforce

When deciding what career to go into, one often will research the career to find out information like: average income, durability in the economy, and

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Celebrating 50 years!! Everyday NW’s Ally Osborne visits with Joanna Russell

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Sumner College in Northeast Portland is celebrating 50 years of helping people level up and reach for their career goals in

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Why choose to complete a BSN?

Sumner College is proud to offer multiple different nursing programs, suitable for all stages of life. However, completing the Bachelors of Science in Nursing is

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Our Application Process

As you find yourself getting ready to make the jump for the new term here at Sumner College, you may have questions about our application

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

BSN Info Sessions – August

This month's BSN group information meetings are scheduled for August 1, 6, 8, 15 at 12p.m on campus, 8338 NE Alderwood Road, Portland, OR 97220

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

BSN Info Sessions – July

In preparation for the September classes, please plan to attend either of these informative hour long presentations to learn more about the program, the requirements

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Meet The RN Advocating For Disabled Candidates

Applying for a new job can be overwhelming and stressful. For candidates with disabilities, the hiring process can be a disheartening experience. According to the CDC,

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

NCLEX Study Strategies

Expert Test-Taking Strategies One of the first things you should do when you begin preparing for the NCLEX is to determine your learning style to

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Sumner College: an excellent choice for those wishing to pursue a career in the health care field

In a message from our College President, Joanna S. Russell, she touches on how one of the strengths Sumner has is student engagement; focussing on

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Dream It! Do It! Request Info