Dedicated cavhcs nurse honored by the grateful community | va central alabama health care | veterans affairs

Meet Registered Nurse Satoris Goode, a dedicated healthcare professional with nearly three decades of outstanding caregiving experience. Driven by a lifelong passion for nursing since her

early years, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and expertise. Recognizing her unwavering commitment, the Opelika-Auburn News' Heart of Health Care initiative has

proudly nominated her for a well-deserved honor, as her compassionate service has touched the lives of countless individuals in the community. As a child, Goode always knew she wanted to be

a nurse. She was inspired by Florence Nightingale, "The Mother of Modern-Day Nursing." However, she did not attend nursing school immediately after high school. Instead, she went

to Business School and became a medical secretary. After ten years of working at St. Joseph's Hospital, she decided to attend nursing school. She was accepted into St. Elizabeth's

School of Nursing in Youngstown, Ohio, where she graduated in 1992. She then worked for two years at a skilled care nursing facility before moving to Alabama in 1994, where she currently

resides. FOLLOWING A CALLING When asked how she knew nursing was her calling, Nurse Goode replied that she had always been compassionate, trustworthy, concerned about the safety of others,

and a hard worker. Even in elementary school, when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, her answer was always "a nurse." Once she became a registered nurse, she knew

without a doubt that nursing was not just what she wanted to be but it was her calling. "There has never been a time during my career that I thought of doing anything else. Nursing is

truly who I am," Goode said. As a child, Goode was given the nickname "granny" by some of her cousins because she acted older than her age and was old-fashioned. She did not

go along with the crowd when they made fun of those who were physically or mentally challenged or the elderly. She loved spending time with some of the older people in the neighborhood and

would spend time talking, walking, and even spending the night with them. Goode believes that her attitude of doing what is right, even if it means standing alone, has kept her out of

"office politics" throughout her career. MOVING TO TUSKEGEE, ALABAMA Goode moved to Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1994 after reading about a job fair at the Tuskegee VA. She was excited

about the rich history of Tuskegee, including George Washington Carver, Booker T. Washington, The Tuskegee Airmen, Tuskegee University, and Tuskegee VA. She applied, was called in for an

interview, and was eventually hired. She chose to work in Long Term Care, her passion. She has been working at the Tuskegee VA for almost 30 years. She takes great pride in providing

services to our nation's heroes.  "Every Veteran who walks through the doors of CAVHCS or that I talk to on the phone, I consider them to be my Veteran. Whether I am managing a

patient over the phone, in my office, or walking a Veteran to their desired location, I strive to help them and meet their needs," she said. Nurse Goode believes that every Veteran has

sacrificed so much for her and every other citizen to enjoy the freedoms we have in America today. She hopes that every Veteran feels that CAVHCS cares.