For more than two decades, nursing has given Paul Harris a front-row seat to change—and countless opportunities to learn about people, life and himself.
Paul began working at Providence Behavioral Health Hospital in 2002 as a nurse on the detoxification unit, now referred to as Acute Treatment Services. He remained through the hospital’s transition to MiraVista Behavioral Health Center in 2021 and today continues his work as a nurse in our Opioid Treatment Program.
Over the years, Paul has cared for people from many different backgrounds, each with their own circumstances, challenges, and story. He has also worked alongside generations of colleagues who have shaped his experience and contributed to the nurse—and person—he is today.
Paul’s path to nursing began when an employment counselor encouraged him to take a career assessment, and nursing emerged as the standout choice. More than 20 years later, he has no regrets.
“Not everything was perfect in my nursing career, but I gained personally more from the imperfections.”
That perspective can also be found in the many thoughtful quotes Paul shares through his email signature. Two seem to capture his outlook especially well:
“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.” And “I survived because the fire inside me burned brighter than the fire around me.”
Together, these words reflect resilience, perspective, and an understanding that even life’s difficult or unexpected moments can shape us in meaningful ways. They also speak to qualities that matter deeply in behavioral health and substance use treatment, where hope, perseverance and the ability to see beyond someone’s present circumstances can make a lasting difference.
At MiraVista, we are fortunate to have nurses like Paul who bring experience, honesty, and humanity to their work. His story is a reminder that this is a place where nurses can learn from one another, grow through every chapter and build careers that continue to matter—year after year.
Thank you, Paul, for your many years of service and for continuing to share your knowledge, perspective, and commitment with our patients and the entire MiraVista team.