Atlanta VA officials talk safety changes after nurse attacked by patient

DECATUR, Ga. — The Atlanta Veterans Affairs hospital is implementing new safety and security improvements after an 11Alive News investigation revealed reports of staff members being injured on the mental health floor.

In that investigation, VA mental health nurse Latisha Shannon said that she was attacked by a patient and suffered PTSD in addition to her physical injuries.

She alleged the VA did not investigate the attack thoroughly. When she requested the surveillance video of her attack be reviewed to analyze police and staff response time, she was told the camera system on the floor didn’t record.

“Why is there not something showing what happened?” Shannon asked. “How is that safe for us and the patients?”

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Less than three months later, the Atlanta VA has installed an updated camera system on the mental health floor.

Dr. Kevin Miller, chief mental health nurse for the Atlanta VA, says the new technology will better protect patients and staff in the future.

“It has playback features and records in real-time,” he said. “So that issue was addressed. We want to restore trust.”

Miller oversees the 40-patient inpatient unit, which he said consists of 61 beds and about 13 outpatient clinics. He said a part of his role is ensuring staff feel safe and heard.

“We allow the entire team to voice their concerns,” he said. “We document the concerns, and then we follow up and address any outstanding issues.”

However, not everyone on the mental health floor feels that this has been true.

Shannon and other nursing staff on the mental health unit who requested anonymity said that in the wake of Shannon’s July attack, no VA leaders came to speak with them or interview them about what happened.

VA leaders determined no formal fact-finding was needed and, despite Shannon’s recorded wishes to press criminal charges against the patient who attacked her, opted not to pursue those charges due to the patient’s health status.

Miller maintained that he met several times with his team after Shannon’s attack.

“I personally held several safety forums within the last couple of weeks immediately following the event,” he said. “I sat down with staff, met with them one on one to find out what could we do better, how can we make them feel safe, what changes need to be made?”

Dr. Bekh Bradley-Davino, overall chief of mental health for the Atlanta VA, addressed why no higher-up leaders like himself met with or interviewed mental health staff following the attack.

“I try to get the team that’s most immediately in the area first to address it,” he said. “While we want staff to feel we do make ourselves available if every manager is in the room as soon as possible, that can make folks feel a little anxious.”

11Alive News Investigates’ story about Shannon’s attack prompted other nursing staff who requested anonymity to reach out, alleging several other attacks on mental health staff in 2024 alone.

VA leaders promptly provided the requested data, emphasizing a desire to be transparent. A spokesperson said that in 2024, six physical assaults required medical attention in the mental health unit.

Bradley-Davino said every one of those incidents was analyzed to determine where there may be room for improvement.

“We want to take every opportunity to look and see when something occurs, what could we have done to prevent it, and what can we do in the future to bring that to this point?” he said. “I never want to say we made all the improvements that we can possibly make because I feel like we can always make more improvements, but I think it’s clear that we have made an improvement.”

Atlanta VA leaders say they’ve also ramped up hiring, with plans to onboard 19 new police officers by February. Miller said they’re also adding more nursing staff to the mental health floor. 

“Our percentage vacancy rate is less than 15% at this point,” he said, noting that is the lowest vacancy rate he’s seen in his 15 year tenure with the Atlanta VA.

Miller said he’s added more de-escalation training for staff, too. 

“We have placed a lot of emphasis on making sure that we get all of this staff trained again,” he said.

That training will also now be mandatory for everyone on the mental health floor, addressing concerns that some staffers had previously utilized waivers to opt-out.

“It’s a change from the old process with the waivers,” he explained. “If you’re not physically able to engage, preserve the safety of veterans and staff, you cannot be in mental health.”

Miller and Brad Ley-Davino both said that their agreeing to an interview is a direct reflection of their desire to be open and accountable and maintain trust among VA staff and patients.

“I don’t want veterans to be deterred by negative stories,” Miller said, “The Atlanta VA Health Care team: we’re dedicated, we’re highly skilled at taking care of veterans. We want you and welcome you to come seek services again. We’re going to do an exceptional job.”

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