Karen Harrison
November 2023
Karen
Harrison
,
RN, BSN
Occupational Health Clinic
Lake City Veterans Administration Medical Center
Lake City
,
FL
United States

 

 

 

Karen was exceptional in her approach to the issue, her willingness to be a team member, and her communication skills on the findings embody the ICARE principles of the VHA.
Karen has exemplified the ICARE values of the NF/SG VAMC for many years. I have personally worked with Karen as her nurse manager and witnessed her professionalism in many different situations. She is the Occupational Health Nurse at the Lake City VAMC. She is always courteous and professional to our employees.

Integrity: Karen shows this by her commitment to coming to work every day, rarely calling in sick, and giving 100% as a worker each day. She always does the right thing regarding patient care, never taking shortcuts or workarounds. She goes above and beyond for each employee/patient while in her care. Karen is a team player, always jumping in to help others without being asked, no matter what the duty.

Commitment: She consistently exceeds her role as the LKC Occupational Health nurse, always trying to do what is right and best for employees. Karen is committed to this facility by consistently bringing adverse events to the management’s attention so that change can occur and make the employees' experience better.

Advocacy: Karen advocates for employees’/patients' rights daily by informing each employee/patient she cares for what to expect while in the clinic. If the employee needs special services, she collaborates with others to make sure the needs are met.

Respect: She shows the utmost respect to each employee and patient. She does this when others are rude and upset about an appointment or other issues. She keeps smiling and deals with issues in a very professional manner.

Excellence: From the minute she steps in the door of the LKC Occupational Health clinic to the time she leaves, Karen is full on with working, she doesn’t take her job lightly. She has been a nurse for 30-plus years. She is the type of nurse that all nurses can look up to and be proud to say she is in our profession. She is a vital part of our Occupational Health team.

Recently, Karen was contacted by the Chief of Occupational Health VHA in Maine (VISN 1) regarding a missing employee folder on an employee who transferred from Florida to Maine. Karen not only took the time to respond promptly; she was willing to put in the extra effort to determine if the chart was still located in Florida. Karen was successful in locating the chart and promptly sent the missing file to the Maine VA. Karen was exceptional in her approach to the issue, her willingness to be a team member, and her communication skills on the findings embody the ICARE principles of the VHA. This is one small example of her excellent care.