UPS receives 667 packs of playing cards for Walsh after open letter circulates

[Haggis for Breakfast]

41. You folks - you NPs, ARNPs - you are the BACKBONE of medicine these days.

God Bless each and every one of you.

I am a V A patient. Everytime I go to the VAMC near me, I make a point of thanking the staff who assist me by telling them this:

"From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate and thank you for everything you do for me and all veterans. I know vets can be a cantankerous, impatient and at times, whiny, bunch of malcontents. Please know that I support you. Everyday. You folks are over-worked, underpaid, over-burdened and under-staffed - some clinics can be double- and triple-booked. Your dedication is awesome. Without you - on your side of the counter - folks on my side of the counter would be up the proverbial creek without the proverbial paddle. Please take good care of yourselves, as you all have loved ones and families that care for you."

And I am not above standing up in the waiting room and informing the impatient, bitchy vets that if they think they can get better, more professional medical care for the same price they are paying the VA (waaaaay below the national average for patient care) that they are free to go do so. There's the door. Good luck. (I got a standing ovation once from the nurses for that in the VAMC-Gainesville.)