Tenmile Native, Nurse Selected For National VA Awards Program

ROSEBURG, OR, UNITED STATES

Story by T.T. Parish

Roseburg VA Health Care System

Certified Nursing Assistant Amber Anderson didn’t have to move far from home to find her life’s work – the Certified Nursing Assistant grew up in Tenmile, Oregon, a scenic 30-minute drive to the Roseburg VA Health Care System’s campus.

The Southern Oregon CNA is now up for some unexpected, yet welcome, recognition. She was recently selected to represent RVAHCS and Veterans Integrated Service Network 20 during the VA-wide Excellence in Nursing Award competition. The program, run annually as part of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs’ Award for Excellence in Nursing, recognizes outstanding achievement of individual nurses across the Veterans Health Administration.

“I view it as an honor to be able to take care of our Veterans who have given so much to this country,” said Anderson, who has been with the VA for nearly five years. “My job is very fulfilling. I love being able to give back to our Veterans. I feel like I have accomplished something each day when I leave work, knowing that I have made someone’s day better.”

VISN-20, which oversees VA activities across the Northwest and Alaska, selected four nurses from across all its facilities to represent the nurses corps this year – Amber Anderson in Roseburg; Registered Nurse Donna Vreeland, Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center (MGVAMC) in Spokane, Washington; RN Kayla Cross, MGVAMC; and Licensed Nurse Practitioner Sarah Huffman, Alaska VA Health Care System.

All were selected for demonstrating effectiveness in improving and delivering patient care for Veterans; working with staff to provide outstanding care for Veterans and their families; improving job-related skills through personal development plans; and recognition from co-workers for excellence in providing care.

For Anderson, it’s all part of the job and nothing less than what each Veteran deserves. She also credits her fellow nurses and believes delivering top-tier health care is a team effort.

“I would say that the Veterans I care for have inspired me to do more in the medical field,” said Anderson. “They are amazing individuals and I want to be able to provide the best care I can for them. My colleagues and I work great as a team. Caring for our Veterans takes a lot of hard work and dedication. I am very grateful to have such an amazing group of individuals to work with.”

Keith Allen, Director of RVAHCS, applauds Anderson, and points to a Veteran-centric spirit as the driver behind his nursing staff’s success.

“Our nurses are 100 percent committed to improving the services we provide for our Veterans,” said Allen. “Their spirit of service, their commitment to providing patient-centered care, is critical to goal of making us a medical Center of Excellence within the VA. They are closest to the pulse of our Veteran’s needs, and we rely on all our nurses to help us give our Veterans the very best care they deserve.”

As the strategic vision for RVAHCS continues to sharpen, and as changes continue to improve access for Veterans, nurses are on the frontline of ensuring a positive patient experience, said Allen.

“Our nurses are the most impacted by the changing nature of health care in our catchment area,” said Allen. “They are usually the face our Veterans remember when they think about their experience here. It helps that nurses like Amber have a spirit that reflects on the outside as much as it drives their desire to focus on our Veterans’ needs.”
As with any job, challenges are opportunities for growth. For Anderson, some challenges are bitter sweet.

“I would say one of the biggest challenges would be caring for the Veterans and them becoming like family,” said Anderson. “It makes it very difficult when they leave us. It feels like we have lost one of our loved ones. I know the unit I work on, we do our best to make the best memories for our Veterans, their families and staff to be able to look back on.”

Point of contact for this release is Tim Parish, Public Affairs Officer, Roseburg VA Health Care System; timothy.parish@va.gov; 541-440-3026.