VA Overhaul Spurs Atlanta Nurses’ Protests Over Patient Care, Mental Health Safety

Veterans Affairs nurses and their advocates are raising concerns about staffing reductions and reassignments in the metro Atlanta area. They caution that the changes implemented by the Trump administration in the Department of Veterans Affairs may increase the risk of hospitalization and suicide among at-risk veterans.

Registered nurse Sharon Kuluwa spoke this week at a rally held outside the Atlanta VA Medical Center about the emotional impact of the recent changes. Kuluwa, who collaborates with veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and other severe mental health conditions, reported that her team has been informed that at least half of its nurses will be moved to different specialties.

“If you are taking staff from this program, then what is going to happen?” she asked, her voice trembling with emotion. “Rises in suicide attempts.” Hospitalizations are once again increasing.

The Mental Health Intensive Case Management unit is among several undergoing transformations as part of a nationwide overhaul. In a recent development, VA officials revealed plans to reassign thousands of staff members, alongside a significant reduction of nearly 30,000. Attrition, a hiring freeze, and retirements will reduce the department's workforce. The agency asserts that the reductions will not affect the quality of care for patients.

A representative from the VA indicated that the changes aim to transition nurses from areas with less demand to those experiencing greater need, including non-intensive mental health care and substance abuse treatment. The agency contended that the caseload for the Atlanta team has decreased and that reassignment will improve the care of veteran patients.

However, union leaders and frontline nurses challenge that evaluation. National Nurses United, representing VA nurses, has charged the administration with dismantling the VA and increasing the outsourcing of care to private providers. “Taxpayers will incur higher costs for care that falls short of VA standards and lacks the same level of rigorous oversight,” the union stated.

Veterans organizations expressed similar concerns. Chris Purdy, a veteran of the Army National Guard and head of the nonprofit Chamberlain Network, described the reassignments as indicative of a larger trend by this administration aimed at undermining the VA and depriving veterans of their health care.

Ed Anderson, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force from Clarkston and a member of the advocacy group Common Defense, cautioned that rural veterans would face the most significant impact. “In certain areas, accessing a VA hospital could require a drive of three to four hours.” Many believe that community care holds the key to addressing this issue. However, many doctors are hesitant to engage in community care due to the challenges associated with receiving government payments,” he stated.

In a report released in April, the VA’s Office of Inspector General highlighted a significant increase in staffing shortages across the nation, noting a 50% rise over the past year, with over 4,400 positions identified as challenging to fill. The three VA facilities in Georgia—located in Decatur, Augusta, and Dublin—were responsible for 109 of the reported shortages.

For Kuluwa and her colleagues, the figures hold significant meaning. “If they reassign people,” stated Julie Ekunwe, a nurse with the Atlanta homeless veterans program, “the veterans are going to be the ones who suffer.”

For veterans and service members facing a mental health emergency, assistance is available through the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 (press 1), via text at 838255, or by visiting VeteransCrisisLine.net.

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