Shana (Shakhnoza) Rodriguez, BSN, RN, CNOR

NOVA Chapter 420

Central Virginia VA Healthcare System 
Richmond, Virginia

VA Nurses are on the frontlines working at the Screening Stations and Drive Through Clinics to rule out and identify Covid-19 positive patients. Those patients are then cared for and treated on the Covid-19 designated inpatient units. Healthcare providers are required to use personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves and others.

Unfortunately, high demand for PPE due to growing numbers of Veterans affected by COVID-19 is depleting available resources for the surgical facial masks. Health care providers and other staff members that are not in direct contact with patients are allowed to wear masks made of cloth.  

NOVA Chapter 420 members: Tawanna Smith, Victoria Lewis, Amanda Wall and Linda Droste work on the Spinal Cord Injury & Disorders Units at the Central Virginia VA Healthcare System. I would like to recognize these multitalented nurses that in addition to providing excellent care for our Veterans selflessly stepped up and are offering free cloth masks that they make at home on their own time. They have been busy making cloth masks for people who need them. I believe that this is a valuable gift for anyone these days!

We have all heard that nurses wear many different hats and now masks. I would like to thank Tawanna, Victoria, Amanda and Linda. Their generosity, kindness and everything they do for others is very much appreciated.

Tawanna Smith, Victoria Lewis and Amanda Langford