HOUSTON -- Louis Cerney and Brenda Smith have grown pretty close over the last ten years.

Cerney, 65, is a retired pharmacist who has rheumatoid arthritis.

Smith, his nurse, works for the Home Health Care Network. Having her around has been a blessing for Cerney.

“I can stay at home, be an individual and lead a semi-normal life. As much as the disease will allow me to lead,” Cerney said.

But after 13 years, Smith is trading in her job in clients’ homes for a job in an office behind a desk.

The price of gas just got to be too much for her. “I was spending about $150 a week,” Smith said.

She isn’t the only Home Health Care Network nurse looking for other options.

High gas prices have driven two other nurses to leave the field since last week and several others in the last month.

“We have a nursing shortage already,” said Pat Flores with Home Health Care Network. “It’s just going to create a more difficult situation.”

And there’s no relief in sight. 

Experts say that the price of gas could hit $4 a gallon this summer. That could cause the home health care agency to take a few more hits.

“My immediate fear is not getting enough nurses to come on board and to keep them, patients are going to have to stay in institutions longer,” said Flores.

Louis Cerney said something has got to change. He's an independent man and hates that his livelihood could depend on the price at the pump.