Cindy Vogel began her nursing career later in life. She worked at Vernon Memorial Healthcare as a health coordinator, and when she was 35, she decided to attend Western Technical College for nursing.
“I admired what they were doing and wanted to go back to school to become a nurse,” said Vogel, who has been a nurse for 21 years and has worked at VMH for 25 years.
Vogel chose a career as a nurse because she loves helping people.
“I like getting to know people and helping them,” she says. “It fills my heart when a patient is better and happy to see you and trust you.”
Vogel is a medical/surgical nurse at the hospital. She said she cares for a wide variety of patients – from heart patients to pneumonia patients, from COVID patients to pre- and post-operative patients to pediatric patients. “We do everything there.”
She said the most rewarding part of being a nurse is being able to spend time with all age groups.
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“They become familiar to you in the community,” Vogel said. “You help them get better and if they have to come back for anything else they can’t wait to see you.”
Vogel was on vacation in Florida when her boss informed her that she was nominated for the “Nurses: The Heart of Health Care” program.
“It makes me proud to be one of the nominees,” Vogel said. “It shows that you have meaning in other people’s lives.”
She said her colleagues were like family. “For Easter, we had a potluck. It’s my family here. Lots of people here that I’ve worked with for 25 years. There are still quite a few nurses and staff here since I started.
Amanda White, one of Vogel’s former colleagues, nominated her.
“She’s ready to do more and she supports her colleagues,” White said. “She looks at the big picture… When she has a patient, she cares about the whole family. She helps develop a safe plan for returning home. If there is a situation, she is the type to go above and beyond. She steps forward and places herself before the others. Cindy is a wonderful nurse and a wonderful person.
In her appointment letter, White wrote, “Cindy has always worked hard to ensure her patients are cared for, her patients’ families are informed and her colleagues have a good time. Working in a hospital, you quickly learn that your colleagues are like family. Treating them with respect is therefore just as important as caring for your patients.
“She is caring, honest and above all, she is fun! She brings a smile to everyone and brightens the day for people going through the darkest times. She lends a helping hand to those in need, will hold you your hand when you need support and give a round of applause for those who deserve it.
IN PHOTOS: UW-La Crosse donates gift baskets to healthcare workers
Donations

UW-La Crosse staff and faculty deliver gift baskets Tuesday afternoon to Gundersen.
Brooke Doval Gundersen Health System
Donations

Donations from the UW-L campus community are delivered to Gundersen.
Brooke Doval Gundersen Health System
Donations

Nurses and a representative from the Gundersen Medical Foundation met with UW-L students and faculty.
Brooke Doval Gundersen Health System
Donations

Donations from the UW-L campus community are delivered to Gundersen.
Brooke Doval Gundersen Health System
Donations

Freebies – including snacks, games, gift cards, thank you notes and more – were donated by the UW-L campus community.
Brooke Doval Gundersen Health System
Donations

Donations from the UW-L campus community are delivered to Gundersen.
Brooke Doval Gundersen Health System
Donations

Donations from the UW-L campus community are delivered to Gundersen.
Brooke Doval Gundersen Health System
Donations

Freebies – including snacks, games, gift cards, thank you notes and more – were donated by the UW-L campus community.
Brooke Doval Gundersen Health System
Donations

Donations from the UW-L campus community.
Brooke Doval Gundersen Health System
Donations

Nurses and a representative from the Gundersen Medical Foundation met with UW-L students and faculty.
Brooke Doval Gundersen Health System
Angela Cina can be reached at [email protected]