There is no individual that embodies the mission, vision, and values of the VA more than Charlene (Charlie) Beaulieu. When the pandemic started, Charlie stepped up quickly, offering to take any role to ensure that care for the veterans continued uninterrupted. She was in charge of all the screening tables for the facility. This included daily set up and take down and providing adequate staffing for nearly 20 hours/day operation. Volunteering to take on ancillary duties when her department was already short and she was stretched, proved her dedication to the mission and her love for the veterans and staff.
She quickly organized a haphazard effort into a smoothly functioning program. She was able to command a team of individuals from multiple services. She set up their locations, breaks, workflows, answered questions, educated and motivated dozens if not hundreds of people in this effort. She also did this with a positive attitude and a can-do spirit. At any moment on any day, Charlie was willing to jump in, fill gaps either with herself or she expertly recruited someone to do so to ensure there was no break in the process.
Her professionalism kept staff and patients safe. Her interpersonal skills kept the screening desk filled with workers who were happy to be a part of an organized effort to help others. This employee satisfaction with the screening effort, was even highlighted in the facility newsletter recently.
As a warrior for others, Charlie worked 15 hours or more days back to back to back. No one asked her, no one wanted her to, but she wanted to. She wanted to do what was right. She came early to make sure the first person arriving at 6 am had everything they needed ready to go. She stayed until night to make sure the night shift was taken care of. She was home and back before that night shift left.
As if this was not enough, Charlie is also Chair for the DAISY committee and coordinates, promotes, and organizes award ceremonies for Nurses that have demonstrated going above and beyond when providing care for our veterans.
Charlene has also used her personal money to fund the flowers and cinnamon rolls for the DAISY ceremony when funding was not available. Charlene reads each and every story the veterans or staff writes for the nurses that go above and beyond, and even though the submission may not be a winner she makes sure the nurses receive their nomination to let them know they were recognized.
She is also an active member of the nurse's week committee and volunteers countless hours to make the week special for the nurses. When the nursing education department was short, Charlene stepped in to assist the other units outside of her own work to ensure the nurses received the required training. Charlene also stepped to take lead on the Redi program, assisting with ACLS and BLS classes when instructors were limited.
How can you repay such love, dedication, and kindness? No flowers or candy or money can express gratitude. No words can capture her relentless self-giving. My eyes fill with tears at the thought of such an awesome person. We can only hope to continue to work along-side such a beautiful individual. With love from all those you work with