Pittsburgh nurse leaves for Sochi to provide medical care at Olympics

PITTSBURGH — The Olympic games are 17 days away, but one Pittsburgher is already headed to Sochi.

A nurse at Allegheny General Hospital took off for Russia Monday, ready to provide medical care at the games.   

The nurses station at AGH has been abuzz for a few weeks about Andy Kuznyetsov going to the Olympics.

"We're so excited for him.  This is an opportunity of a lifetime," said a co-worker.

Kuznyetsov is a registered nurse in the cardiac and trauma department.

Out of 180,000 applicants, Kuznyetsov was part of the 14 percent who made the cut.

"I was jumping to the ceiling.  My wife was happy for me," Kuznyetsov said.

In the true spirit of the games, Kuznyetsov explained everyone works as an international team.

"It's an Olympic family. We cannot divide people in spite of medical insurance," he said.

Kuznyetsov is originally from Ukraine and is now an American citizen.  He packed all of the essentials.

"American flag pins, some Pittsburgh Penguins memorabilia.  You have to represent Pittsburgh," he said.

WPXI