I am nominating Dr. Opal Fiote as an exemplary nurse educator, who JJPVAMC is fortunate to have for our nurses. Ms. Fiote works to ensure that our nurses understand the policies of the hospital and are able to perform care to the standard that we expect, ultimately improving patient safety and satisfaction for our veterans. She works with every group of new nurses, ensuring they are competent and safe, with a teaching style that is flexible and adaptable to her students' needs. Dr. Fiote is also responsible for the hospital. RQI program, which ensures that all employees in the hospital are not only certified in CPR, but also competent. High-quality CPR maximizes the chances of survival for the person in cardiac arrest, and by ensuring all employees are competent, she is further increasing our patients' safety. My own experience working with Ms. Fiote has been incredible. She assisted and guided me through the VA NNEI scholarship program when I decided to pursue an advanced nursing degree, and offered to be my mentor. I watched her do the same for many employees in the hospital who were looking to further their education to provide a higher level of care for our veterans. She is always asking and pushing staff to further themselves and see possibilities they could not see before. It is this constant "you can do it" attitude and belief in the staff that increases morale and makes staff feel supported.