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Welcome to NOVA Chapter 129 Palo Alto
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NOVA Chapter 129 Upcoming Events - Mark your calendar!
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Board Meetings
12/4/08
1/8/09
January 31, 2009
Advances in Wound Care
Crowne Plaza
Milpitas, CA
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April 24, 2009
NOVA National Meeting
New Orleans, LA
Regional NOVA Meetings
TBA
Nurses Week
May, 2009
Link to July 31, 2008
Lecture by Karen Larsen MD:
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NOVA Chapter 129 Palo Alto - 2008 Annual Meeting: Installation of New Officers
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Left to right (seated): Cherina Tinio RN ECS/331, Vice President; Board members Christine Camp RN ECS/100-4C; Susan Dunn RNP ECS/324; and Wanda Tacey RNP/Community Health. 2nd row (left to right): Mary Lou Faustina RN/Clinical Applications/COS, Treasurer; Sonia Olivar RN/ECS, Membership Chair; Mary Montufar RN/Clinical Applications/COS, President; and Gigi Beckner RN/Ambulatory Care, Secretary.
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Presidents Message -- Fall 2008:
Hello Chapter 129,
"Welcome to the Fall edition of the NOVA 129's webpage. Included in this update is a new edition of INNOVATION, the Chapter newsletter.
In a recent national survey, members identified recruitment and retention as important issues for NOVA's legislative focus (see survey results at www.vanurse.org). An innovative effort to deal with recruitment and retention has been underway at VAPAHCS since April 2007. The VERSANT RN Residency Program has produced 3 graduating classes, each composed of 15-20 new nurse graduates. Participants receive an 18-week orientation program with a preceptor in the candidate's clinical area of interest and mentoring by senior nursing staff. Nationally, turnover rates in the first 2 years of employment for nurses completing RN residency programs is less than 10%. For VERSANT graduates at VAPAHCS, turnover has been 9.1% compared to 28% at California hospitals that don't offer these programs to new graduates. A fourth cohort began in September.
For its success in recruiting and retaining new nurses, Chapter 129 plans to nominate the VERSANT Program and its leadership for NOVA's Distinguished Service Award.
A description of the NOVA awards program is included in this edition of INNOVATIONS. There are many excellent candidates among VAPAHCS who would qualify for recognition. I urge you to look around and consider nominating a colleague(s) who personify the qualities the award program seeks to recognize. There is no specific format for the awards submission. Contact one of the NOVA board members if you have questions or suggestions. Deadline for submission is December 15, 2008.
We are delighted to have one of the new VERSANT graduates, Rosalie Shinsato, running for a position on the Chapter 129 Board of Directors. Rosalie and Noel Botardo are 2 new NOVA members profiled in this edition of INNOVATIONS by their co-workers, Christine Camp BSN and Susan Dunn RNP.
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What does NOVA do for VA Nurses?
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NOVA provides the following professional services:
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- A strong lobbying power on Capitol Hill
- A quarterly newsletter featuring national and local activities of the organization related to nursing practice within the DVA, including a current perspective by the Secretary of DVA
- Timely legislative updates on our webpage and in a quarterly newsletter
- Links (personal, electronic and telephonic) to other nursing/legislative organizations
- National, regional and local educational programs
- Scholarship and research opportunities through the NOVA Foundation
- A voice in policy making through our contacts on Capitol Hill, the DVA, the Veterans Service Organizations and Nursing Headquarters
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NOVA is a recognized force in Washington, deeply involved in the legislative process. Through NOVA, VA registered nurses can directly impact health care policy in the Department of Veterans Affairs and in the health care industry. There is national concern about staffing levels, patient safety, the effects of the nursing shortage, recruitment and retention of a qualified nursing workforce, the impact of the current budget, and the quality of care we are able to give our veteran patients.
NOVA is at the forefront, tackling these issues and impelling Congress to act. NOVA provides VA nurses with a strong, educated and informed voice which speaks for our profession, its rightful place in health care, and its impact on advocacy and optimal care for our patients.
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