Colleen is an integral part of the Lebanon VAMC and PMH nursing for 25 years. She is what many of us refer to as "old school" in terms of her work ethic, sense of duty and responsibility, physical stamina and emotional flexibility. At the same time, she does not shy away from new technologies and changes in treatment methods but embraces them enthusiastically as her greatest desire is to help our veterans both physically and mentally. An example of this is there was a YouTube video of a rap regarding suicide and the suicide crisis line. I shared this via email with all PMH nursing suggesting this would be a great group activity for the veterans to watch the video and then process the contents of the video with them. The next day, Colleen emailed me that she facilitated a group with the veterans, watching the video on YouTube and provided me with the feedback the veterans shared in group. The veterans she serves experience her compassion and their needs and safety are always placed first. She also provides leadership and education to her peers and colleagues, orienting new employees to Behavioral Health, role modeling, and mentoring staff and educating nursing students to PMH nursing practice.
She possesses an impressive commitment to the VA and PMH Nursing. She consistently volunteers for overtime for both acute inpatient BH and RRTP programs and alters her days off/leave to meet the needs of the BH inpatient programs for the veterans. Recognizing the need for nursing leadership and skill, she transferred to the RRTP for several months, assisting the ACNS-BH with scheduling staff and covering TOD vacancies with overtime staff. She is very conscious of managing time and costs for the organization and schedules staff to meet the needs of the veterans and the organization. This made her work environment very challenging but she remained fair and equitable with managing schedules and overtime to ensure there was coverage. She is always receptive to accepting veterans requiring inpatient LOC when leadership deems necessary to go over census, her focus is always providing the care the veteran needs, not her own needs.
She is able to establish a level of trust and cooperation from veterans admitted to the BH programs and she uses her intuition and instincts with our veterans, especially when behavior is escalating. One instance I was involved with was on the acute inpatient program. Day shift staff experienced a very challenging, chaotic day with the veterans, and one of the veterans was pushing limits and had to be restrained and secluded for a greater portion of the shift. She came on duty on evenings, received report and proceeded back to the seclusion room to assess the veteran. She spent time listening/talking to the veteran and after a period of time she came to me, reported she thought the veteran was in control of behavior and advocated for the veteran to be tried out of seclusion. She spoke with the psychiatrist, the veteran was released from seclusion and with Colleen's support, remained out of seclusion. Morning report indicated the veteran had not demonstrated any further behavioral issues through the evening or night shift and continued to work on his recovery plan for discharge the remainder of his admission. Many of the veterans admitted to the acute inpatient program are known to the nursing staff, and she has developed a therapeutic relationship with many of the veterans where she can approach a veteran who is exhibiting loud or bizarre behavior and provide both clinical and emotional support that is calming and comfortable.
Throughout her long career at the Lebanon VA and PMH nursing, Colleen has demonstrated unwavering support and outstanding contributions across all VA and PMH nursing values and practice. She strives to meet and exceed the veterans needs and goes above and beyond to be an advocate for veterans diagnosed with mental illness.