Title: Registered Nurse
Company: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Location: Benicia, California, United States
Laura J. Spangler, Registered Nurse at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Nurses for dedication, achievements and leadership in Healthcare.
Ms. Spangler’s career in nursing spanned four decades and is distinguished by her unwavering commitment to bedside care and patient advocacy. Her most enduring professional chapter began when she joined the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a registered nurse, a role she held for over 25 years until her retirement in 2017. Her dual background in intensive care and psychiatric nursing proved invaluable at the VA facility, where she was often assigned to patients considered difficult or high-risk by other staff members. Ms. Spangler’s ability to remain calm under pressure and provide space for distressed individuals was rooted in lessons learned from her father’s compassion for marginalized populations.
Throughout her tenure, Ms. Spangler became known for building deep connections with veterans and advocating fiercely for their dignity and recovery. She was widely sought after for intravenous line placement, her skill so renowned that physicians referred to them as “Spangler lines.” Ms. Spangler’s approach combined technical proficiency with empathy instilled during childhood by her father, who welcomed unhoused and disabled individuals into their home and taught his children never to judge others based on appearance or circumstance.
Ms. Spangler’s journey began in 1984 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, where she worked as a registered nurse for several years. During this formative period, she attended a pivotal briefing on the newly identified acquired immunodeficiency syndrome virus. This experience shaped Ms. Spangler’s perspective on emerging medical challenges and the evolving responsibilities of healthcare professionals.
Motivated by a love for the mountains cultivated during family vacations, Ms. Spangler relocated to Colorado and accepted a position at Rose Medical Center. There, she expanded her clinical expertise by undertaking coursework in intensive care nursing and further developing her skills in high-acuity environments. Ms. Spangler’s pursuit of professional growth led her next to California as a travel nurse at the University of California (UC) Davis Medical Center. Over six months at this major trauma center, she rotated through eight intensive care units, gaining exposure to a wide spectrum of critical care scenarios.
Following her move to California and after meeting her husband, Ms. Spangler transitioned to the role of registered nurse to ensure continuous employment while settling into married life. She spent significant time in the burn unit at Brookside Burn Unit, where she confronted some of the most challenging cases in nursing. Despite the emotional toll of burn care, Ms. Spangler remained steadfast in her commitment to patient well-being. Ultimately, she was acquired by the VA, where she remained for decades until retiring from the field.
Throughout her tenure in healthcare, Ms. Spangler’s work extended beyond direct patient care. She served on an ethics committee and participated in palliative care initiatives, attending multidisciplinary meetings that reflected her clinical interests. She also advocated persistently for improved psychiatric training among non-psychiatric physicians. Furthermore, Ms. Spanger helped change hospital policy so nurses could directly request psychiatric consultations, an effort that improved patient outcomes despite resistance from some colleagues.
Ms. Spangler’s influence extended to mentoring new staff members and collaborating closely with physicians, including those who sought her assessment before making critical decisions about resident performance or patient safety. She routinely advocated directly with attending physicians when patient welfare was at stake and played an active role in shaping a supportive environment for both colleagues and patients.
Beyond professional duties, Ms. Spangler has demonstrated deep civic engagement through volunteerism as a master gardener with her county extension program. She has also been engaged through active participation in church-based initiatives, such as food bank support and funeral services assistance.
Over the course of her career, Ms. Spangler received multiple peer-nominated nursing awards recognizing her dynamic clinical thinking and ability to reprioritize quickly during urgent situations. The recognition she valued most came from commendation letters and bonus checks awarded by supervisors who witnessed firsthand her impact on patient outcomes. Ms. Spangler’s professional journey was marked not only by accolades but also by resilience amid adversity. She navigated high-pressure environments that transformed her from a shy individual into someone capable of decisive action during crises, a quality that earned respect among peers who recognized the demands of bedside care. Ms. Spangler attributed her success to being forthright, avoiding workplace politics and consistently seeking knowledge from specialists across disciplines.
Ms. Spangler’s approach to nursing was partly influenced by her father’s example as an advocate for people experiencing homelessness and his insistence on empathy over judgment. Growing up in a diverse neighborhood in Chicago reinforced these values and prepared her to serve patients from all backgrounds without prejudice.
Looking ahead, Ms. Spangler’s aspirations center on deepening her relationship with Christ while remaining open to new learning opportunities through observation and dialogue with knowledgeable individuals across diverse fields. She offers guidance rooted in empathy for those considering careers in healthcare, explaining that success demands resilience at the bedside, humility when facing adversity and an unwavering commitment to patient-centered care above all else.
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