On a mission to care: Meet VA Nurse Joey Straw

Registered Nurse (RN) Joey Straw knows every patient interaction is an important one in a Veteran’s care journey. Now in his fourth year at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Nashville, Tennessee, he didn’t always have his eyes set on becoming a nurse. Keep reading to learn more about how he got his start at VA and how you too can join our mission of serving those who served.

What led you to nursing?

“I actually started out as an art student, but did really well in physiology and anatomy. I found that I wasn’t able to make a solid living as an artist, so I pivoted and got my RN license. I started working in both the private sector and state government in California and spent about 33 years there. After my family and I moved to Tennessee, my son and I attended a career day at the Murfreesboro VAMC. We both were hired and now work together in the same unit!”

How does VA support you in getting the job done and done well?

“My current management works side by side with us. There’s mutual respect, and that goes a long way in maintaining morale and the energy on what can be a very difficult unit. I’d call out the resources as well. VA provides its nurses with modern medical equipment and safety devices, and keeps us in the know on any policy and procedure improvements. Those of us on the ground can see what VA is doing to improve the services we provide to our Veterans.”

Can you share a Veteran care experience that inspired you?

“Sometimes we care for patients who come in with low expectations of us. These patients (and often their families, too) might even express resentment toward the nursing staff and their other care providers. I was once assigned to a patient with very complex needs and challenging health issues. His family was very involved in his care and would occasionally be quite confrontational with me, expecting me to fail them. Over time they realized that I, as well as my colleagues in the unit, genuinely cared and were doing everything we could to help him and support his family. This patient unfortunately passed away on a subsequent admission to the hospital. We held a final tribute in his honor (as we do for all our Veterans) by lining the hallway and saluting or holding hands over hearts. The family tearfully approached those of us who cared for him during the last days of his life and expressed deep gratitude for the care and compassion provided by VA and our unit. This patient and his family deeply impacted a lot of us.”

What’s surprised you most about working at VA?

“There’s a team effort from executive leadership down to improve patient care and provide resources to staff whether you’re in an outpatient clinic or inpatient facility. Because of my experience as a nurse in a non-federal hospital, I was expecting more red tape but it’s been very encouraging to see the support from top to bottom.”

What advice would you give to a nurse thinking about applying to VA?

“You’re going to have challenging days, but it’s worth sticking with it. You can’t beat the federal benefits package and pension. There’s staff in critical care here that would not leave for anything. I’m almost 60 years old and I’m still on my feet. Know you’ll be advancing your career while providing care to a patient who signed up to give their life to protect this country from shore to shore. It’s almost like a church ministry to me.”

Join our team

VA is always looking for qualified, compassionate nurses like Joey Straw to join our team. If a career of caring for Veterans sounds like the fit for you, take the next steps and apply today. Learn more at VA Careers.