Tonya Mease
July 2023
Tonya
Mease
,
BSN, RN, PCCN
Surgical Specialty Clinic
Western NC VA Health Care System
Asheville
,
NC
United States
It was clear that this Veteran’s wife had developed a rapport with Tonya that demonstrated Tonya’s excellence in providing respectful, empathetic, and compassionate care.
Tonya exhibits the very definition of a compassionate caregiver. She gives her heart daily to the nursing profession and demonstrates excellence in the delivery of Veteran care. She displays VA ICARE core values in her interactions with Veterans, their families, and her colleagues. She practices with the utmost compassion and strives to help Veterans and their families feel seen, appreciated, and cared for during their visits. She wears her heart on her sleeve and faces each situation with a “how can I help” attitude and it is noticeable in her interactions with patients, their families, and colleagues who have the honor of working alongside her.
Recently, I was privileged to see this demonstration of service to our Veterans firsthand. Tonya and I were standing in the atrium discussing council projects. A veteran's wife approached Tonya, nearly in tears, telling her that her husband was back in the hospital again for another round of strong antibiotics. From an outside perspective, it seemed Tonya immediately recognized this patient’s wife as a familiar face. Tonya asked the patient’s wife how she was doing, to which tears began to well in her eyes. She simply stated that she was exhausted but needed to stay strong for her husband. Tonya then asked her if she needed a hug, to which the Veteran’s wife said yes. Tonya gave her a hug and told her to come by the clinic anytime she needed to and to let Tonya know if there was anything she could do for her. It was clear that this Veteran’s wife had developed a rapport with Tonya that demonstrated Tonya’s excellence in providing respectful, empathetic, and compassionate care. Tonya listened to the patient’s wife when she just needed a gentle ear and reassured her in a difficult moment as well. I am honored to work with Tonya on the council and am thankful for the amazing nurse and mentor she is. She frequently has a positive impact on my day. However, on this day, I know she was exactly the face this Veteran’s wife needed to find the strength to push through another difficult day.
Recently, I was privileged to see this demonstration of service to our Veterans firsthand. Tonya and I were standing in the atrium discussing council projects. A veteran's wife approached Tonya, nearly in tears, telling her that her husband was back in the hospital again for another round of strong antibiotics. From an outside perspective, it seemed Tonya immediately recognized this patient’s wife as a familiar face. Tonya asked the patient’s wife how she was doing, to which tears began to well in her eyes. She simply stated that she was exhausted but needed to stay strong for her husband. Tonya then asked her if she needed a hug, to which the Veteran’s wife said yes. Tonya gave her a hug and told her to come by the clinic anytime she needed to and to let Tonya know if there was anything she could do for her. It was clear that this Veteran’s wife had developed a rapport with Tonya that demonstrated Tonya’s excellence in providing respectful, empathetic, and compassionate care. Tonya listened to the patient’s wife when she just needed a gentle ear and reassured her in a difficult moment as well. I am honored to work with Tonya on the council and am thankful for the amazing nurse and mentor she is. She frequently has a positive impact on my day. However, on this day, I know she was exactly the face this Veteran’s wife needed to find the strength to push through another difficult day.