Member Spotlight
NCNA's Member Spotlights celebrate the voices, experiences, and impact of NCNA members across North Carolina. Each spotlight highlights a nurse’s unique journey, professional insights, and dedication to advancing the nursing profession.
Read Melissa's Member Spotlight below to learn more about her career path, what inspires her work, and the advice she shares with fellow nurses.
Melissa Harmon, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Melissa serves veterans in Western North Carolina as a nurse practitioner and Program Director of Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) and Non-Institutional Care (NIC). She also serves as adjunct faculty at Western Carolina University and brings 28 years of nursing experience to her roles. She is passionate about mentoring nurse practitioner students as they transition from registered nurses to novice NPs, equipping them with the skills to advocate for themselves and the profession. Melissa also prepares them to lead interdisciplinary teams that care for some of our nation’s most medically fragile veterans in their homes.
Share an 'ah-ha' moment when you knew you made a great career decision to become a nurse?
I knew I made a great career decision when I became a nurse, and I discovered home health. Home care is my passion; I have spent more than 24 years in home care (17 as a home health RN and 7 years as an NP in Home-Based Primary Care). When I realized I could sit with a patient in their homes to teach them and make an impact on their family, it became clear to me that I can make a real difference in other people's lives. When I became a nurse practitioner and got a position working in HBPC serving veterans in their homes, it was a dream job. It was amazing for me to have an opportunity to combine my experience as an RN in the home and as an NP as a provider. This solidified that I had definitely made the right career choice.
What inspires you most about being a nurse?
I am most inspired about being a nurse because of the impact I can have. I have learned so much about myself and others through my career. I started out as a shy young nurse with an associate's degree. I am inspired by patients who have such amazing attitudes and strength despite challenging situations and diagnoses. I am inspired to make a change and develop myself. I have learned through the years that we are leaders at every stage of our careers; there is always someone watching and looking up to us. I do not take this lightly. I am inspired to support the nurses around me and share my passion for nursing and leadership with them. I am inspired to see nurses overcome and achieve great things!
Share a nursing experience that stands out to you - when you learned something about yourself, or about being a nurse, that was meaningful to you.
There are several experiences that stand out to me as a nurse, from leadership to the bedside. Working with patients in their homes gave me an opportunity to see patients in the comfort of their homes in their own environment, which shows a new level of the patient's needs. I developed some amazing critical thinking skills to help patients stay in their homes and customize treatment plans to their specific needs. It was also meaningful to me that my supervisors saw leadership and coaching abilities in me. I had the privilege to train new home health nurses and share my skills with others. This was incredibly meaningful to me because I could share something I was passionate about with other nurses. I cherish the nurse leaders who gave me this opportunity; they saw something in me that I did not see in myself at the time.
What (or who) inspired you to become a nurse?
My grandmother and my father inspired me to be a nurse. My grandmother was an LPN in a tuberculosis hospital in rural Georgia. She went back to become a nurse later in life, and she was one of the strongest women I had ever met. She was the matriarch of our family. I remember as a child she cared for my great-grandmother, great-grandfather, and multiple uncles through multiple health problems, from cancer to glioblastoma. I saw her caring, advocacy, and strength for my family members, and was inspired by her palpable calling to be a nurse. She exhibited the spirit of a nurse in all she did. When I was a senior in high school, my father was diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia. This was incredibly scary, and I joined him to multiple hematology appointments, and the nurses let me shadow them. It was an experience I will never forget. Thankfully, my father has now been in remission twice and is thriving today.
What motivates you to participate in the NC Nurses Association?
I am motivated to participate in the NC Nurses Association because I see value in building coalitions and relationships with others. I get inspired by other nurses and feel refueled by their energy. I enjoy learning new things professionally and hearing other nurses' stories. I am also inspired to be a piece of something that is larger than me; this is one reason I wanted to work for the VA. I feel proud to be a small part of something that makes such a great impact on others. I believe in what nurses do, and the mission of the NCNA resonates with me. I want to play a part in addressing issues nurses face and advocating for the health and well-being of North Carolinians. I believe I can have an impact by learning from like-minded nurses involved in the NCNA.
Share something awesome you are doing in your current role as a nurse.
I have started a podcast. I had been thinking of starting a podcast for nurses, and after attending the NCNA annual convention in September, I felt compelled to get started. We know that there is a nursing shortage. I feel like a podcast can be an inspiration to those considering a nursing career and who feel frustrated or confused about where to start. Nursing is the nation's largest health care profession; we need to come together with one voice. I am inspired to host a platform to share nurse stories, the impact that nurses have had in our nation, and how our nation needs the work that nurses do every day. I am embracing the role of a nurse leader and believe that I have the opportunity to encourage others to engage as nurses to be one voice and inspire others to pursue their nursing dreams.
Do you have a favorite quote, cartoon or image about nursing to share?
You are never "just" a nurse. Nurses are skilled, critical team members who play just as significant a role as other team members. Leading an interdisciplinary team to care for incredibly fragile patients lets me see this every day. Each member of the team is valuable and holds an expertise that is necessary to meet the patient's needs. I like to encourage others that they are an instrumental part of the team and that others are as well.
Melissa's Advice for a New Nurse
Never give up, pursue your dreams, and don't be afraid of barriers or difficulties you encounter along the way. Find a mentor who you can trust and engage with. Encourage others along their way and support them in their dreams. Be a loyal team member. It is essential to build others up and see their strengths rather than their weaknesses. Others will always be watching you, and there is always someone inspired and looking up to you. Engage with those around you, look for opportunities to engage with like-minded leaders who build you up and build others up.
NCNA thanks you for being a part of our community and for your passion for nursing, Melissa!
