Dedicated VA nurse honored by grateful community

VA nurse Satoris Goode was nominated for a special honor by the Opelika-Auburn News for her three decades of outstanding caregiving experience.

Recognizing her unwavering commitment, the Opelika-Auburn News Heart of Health Care initiative selected her for compassionate service which has touched the lives of so many in the community. Driven by a lifelong passion for nursing since her early years, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and expertise.

Goode always knew she wanted to be a nurse. She first went to business school and became a medical secretary. After 10 years of working at St. Joseph’s Hospital, she attended St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing in Youngstown, Ohio, and graduated in 1992. She worked for two years at a skilled care nursing facility before moving to Alabama in 1994.

Following a calling

When asked how she knew nursing was her calling, Goode said she had always been compassionate about the safety of others. Even in elementary school, when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, her answer was always “a nurse.”

“There has never been a time during my career that I thought of doing anything else. Nursing is truly who I am,” she 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 didn’t 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 and walking with them.

Moving to Tuskegee

Goode moved to Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1994 for a job at 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 is pictured above in front of a mural commemorating 100 years of the Tuskegee VA campus.

She chose to work in Long Term Care, her passion, and has been working at Tuskegee VA for almost 30 years. She takes great pride in providing services to our nation’s Veterans.

“Every Veteran who walks through the doors 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.”

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.