DMV Doers: Virginia nurse helps colleagues get through challenging times

ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now) — Alyssa Sunga knew she wanted to be a nurse from a young age.

When she was a teenager, she helped take care of a family member, which she said gave her the confidence that she could help others when she got older.

After she graduated from college, she returned to the Northern Virginia area.

“I came back here in the summer of 2010,” explained Sunga. “I applied at VHC Health, and I began my career as a new graduate nurse in the psychiatric and addiction unit.”

She’s now been with Virginia Hospital Center (VHC) Health for 15 years.

During that time, she said working during the pandemic was one of the biggest challenges of her entire career. Though there was a lot of uncertainty, she said the entire staff worked together to get through the tough times.

Sunga helped start the Nursing Membership Council and Nursing Connections within VHC, with a goal to provide support to nurses at all levels.

“Sometimes you need that safe space and someone you can trust and talk with,” she said. “It is important to have the work and life balance, and no one else can understand that more than another nurse.”

Alyssa says the program has played a key role in nurse retention at VHC Health and strengthened the bond of the entire nursing staff.