Tonya Harris
January 2024
Tonya
Harris
,
MHA, MSN, RN
Outpatient Mental Health Clinic
Charlie Norwood VA
Augusta
,
GA
United States

 

 

 

Ms. Harris always demonstrates kindness and empathy above and beyond to every veteran and colleague.
Recently, the nurse practitioner in Behavioral Health received a phone call from a veteran in distress, having increasing depression, hearing voices, and isolated in an apartment where he is assisted by HUD VASH to live. The veteran was agreeable to a wellness check at his apartment and to come to the VA emergency room for mental health evaluation. This was in a busy part of the afternoon. When the nurse practitioner reached out to Ms. Harris, who is the BHIP 4 team nurse, she, without hesitation, placed the call to the local sheriff’s department for a wellness check and stayed on the phone with the veteran until the deputy arrived. This veteran has had poor experiences with emergency departments and with law enforcement in the past, but with Ms. Harris’s support and understanding, he voluntarily came in and received the care he needed. Ms. Harris always demonstrates kindness and empathy above and beyond to every veteran and colleague. I am new to this VA, so having her knowledge base to help navigate these situations has been instrumental in providing safe and compassionate care to our veterans.