VA Central California Health Care System
VACCHCS Nurse of the Year
Doca Merdjanoska, a surgical department nurse at the VA Central California Health Care System’s main hospital in Fresno, removes a dressing from a patient’s foot. Doca was recently selected as the VACCHCS Nurse of the Year.
VACCHCS Nurse of the Year: I enjoy helping people, especially Veterans
Becoming a nurse and helping people is something she always aspired to do, even as a young girl in her home country of Macedonia. But being recognized as the best nurse for an entire health care system is something she never dreamed might happen.
Doca Merdjanoska, a surgical department nurse at the VA Central California Health Care System’s main hospital in Fresno, was recently selected as VACCHCS Nurse of the Year.
For Doca, it’s not about being the best. She said she just wants to be there to help people who need her assistance.
“Helping patients, especially Veterans, is what I enjoy. I always want to help people and make people happy. Nursing allows me to that,” said Doca, who has worked at VACCHCS for about 2.5 years.
Before working at the VA, the Licensed Practical Nurse worked at an assisted living home in Fresno for seven years and before that she worked at an Ears, Nose and Throat specialty clinic in Macedonia for three years. With that much experience and her desire to help people, it’s no surprise Doca was selected at Nurse of the Year.
When she’s not at the VA helping people Doca, who is married and has two children, enjoys going outside with her family and exploring the great outdoors, she said. Doca and her family like to ride bicycles and visit the parks and forests. She’s also an avid runner.
As far as the honor of being named VACCHCS Nurse of the Year, just like running Doca takes it all in stride.
“I feel honored. It’s a nice feeling,” she said.
VACCHCS Nurse of the Year Nominees:
• Doca Merdjanoska (Surgical Dept.)
• Kimberly Cinco (ICU)
• Lupita Sanders (ER)
• Erika Sutton (Medicine Dept.)
• Maria Lara (Inpatient Psychiatry Unit)
• Jessica Greene (Quality Management)
• Vilma Barba (Medical Surgical Unit)
• Geraldine Ignacio Saechao (Primary Care Dept.)
CUTLINE: Doca Merdjanoska, a surgical department nurse at the VA Central California Health Care System’s main hospital in Fresno, removes a dressing from a patient’s foot. Doca was recently selected as the VACCHCS Nurse of the Year.
