Crista Bergosh
January 2021
Crista
Bergosh
,
RN, BSN
Emergency Department
Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center

 

 

 

I have been struggling for months, thank you so much for walking by this morning and taking the time to talk to me, I feel like you have given me a second chance at life.
This morning Ms. Bergosh arrived at work and overheard from her office that there was a homeless Veteran in the ER waiting room that was awaiting a call back from social work on placement as all homeless shelters were full. Ms. Bergosh collaborated with our AOD on resources that had been called and what other options were available for the Veteran. The Veteran had been in the ER waiting room for several hours and was discouraged when Ms. Bergosh arrived. Ms. Bergosh first provided the Veteran a meal as he was hungry and spoke to the Veteran about going to passageways a homeless shelter/program for Veterans. The Veteran agreed to this plan and Ms. Bergosh and AOD contracted passageways where they accepted him into their shelter/program. The Veteran was set up for transport to passageways and very thankful/tearful for the help, stating, "I have been struggling for months, thank you so much for walking by this morning and taking the time to talk to me, I feel like you have given me a second chance at life." Thanks to Ms. Bergosh for advocating for the Veteran he was able to obtain transportation and housing to passageways where he will be able to focus on treatment and a warm and stable housing situation.