RNs at Atlanta VA blame short-staffing for workplace violence issues

Staffing Shortages and Safety Concerns Highlighted by Recent Tragedy at Georgia VA Clinic

Following a tragic shooting at a Georgia Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic, registered nurses at the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia, are voicing concerns about workplace safety and staffing issues. The incident, which resulted in the deaths of a social worker and the alleged shooter, a VA patient, has intensified calls for improved staffing to ensure timely care for veterans. The National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU) has invited community members to attend a vigil scheduled for this evening to honor the victims and raise awareness.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations reports that on March 17, 2026, Nicholas “Nic” Crews, aged 34, was fatally shot while on duty as a social worker at the Veterans Affairs Clinic on East Church St. in Jasper, Georgia. The suspect, Lawrence Charles Michels, was a patient visiting the clinic for mental health support. Michels exchanged gunfire with both police and an armed civilian as he exited the clinic, ultimately being shot and killed by law enforcement.

Nurses at the facility have expressed concerns that significant staffing reductions and unfilled positions are negatively impacting patient care, particularly in mental health services and safety measures against workplace violence.

“We are experiencing a severe staffing crisis at our facility, where we have far too few nurses and not enough ancillary staff to respond as quickly as we need to our veteran’s needs,” stated Florence Uzuegbunam, a nurse practitioner and NNU chief nurse representative. “When we cut resources for veterans, we see an increase in frustration, untreated mental and physical illness. We don’t know what happened in this case, but we know that when our patients go without treatment, we see negative and even tragic outcomes. We demand that this administration respect the oath this nation made to our veterans and give us the resources we need to care for them all in a timely fashion.”

Event Details:

What: VA RNs rally against staffing cuts and workplace violence

When: Tuesday March 31, 5-6 p.m.

Where: Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center, 1670 Clairmont Road, Decatur

A New York Times (NYT) investigation revealed that since January 2025, the Trump administration has slashed thousands of medical roles, despite Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins' assurances that only “non-essential employees” would be cut. The NYT found over 1,500 unfilled physician roles and 4,900 vacant nurse positions. Additionally, the VA lost around 200 psychiatrists in 2025.

Uzuegbunam further commented, “Those of us who remain at the VA are working from early in the morning to late in the evening to try and make up for all the nurses and practitioners we have lost. I know coworkers who get to the clinic at 5 in the morning, to try and get the paperwork done before they start seeing patients. Many others are working until midnight, doing work in hopes they can get things taken care of before the next day. We are in dire need of help. This is not fair to the veterans; they deserve better.”

National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with more than 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates include California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.

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