Ernestine L. Goode, MSA, BSN, RN, CRRN, CBIS

Former Chief Nurse, Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders/Polytrauma

Central Virginia VA Health Care System, Richmond, VA

NOVA Board Director, Nurse Emeritus                                               

Ernestine L. Goode, MSA, BSN, RN, CRRN, CBIS is serving as a Director on the national NOVA Board, It is official…she is now the Former Chief Nurse, Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders/Polytrauma at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System and is a new NOVA Nurse Emeritus. Her tenure with the VHA spans over thirty-three years, beginning in 1987 until she “dropped the mic” on June 30, 2020. 

Ernestine began her nursing career as a Licensed Practical Nurse on a Stroke Rehab and Community Placement Unit. She later moved in 1989 to the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)., where she was awarded a Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Scholarship to return to school to eventually obtain a Registered Nurse license. Ernestine worked full time while in nursing school and obtained a nursing diploma in 1993 from Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg, Virginia. She worked on the three units in Spinal Cord Injury over seven years and then transferred to Critical Care in 1995, while pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Ernestine obtained a BSN in 2000 from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

After working in Critical Care for seven years, Ernestine moved into management in 2002. At this time, Ernestine was pursuing a Master’s Degree in Administration, with a minor in Health Services Administration. She obtained her Master’s Degree from Central Michigan University in 2002. Her first management position was as Nurse Manager, House Staff Clinical Resources and the Outpatient Blood Lab, where she had oversight of the inpatient and outpatient services. Ernestine assumed her next management position, Nurse Manager, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in 2004. Later, she moved to Primary Care as a Case Manager in 2005. In 2006, Ernestine became the Nurse Manager of the Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Unit-1U where she worked until 2016; and became Chief Nurse of the Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders/Polytrauma. In this capacity, she served as the Chairperson of the Nurse Professional Standards Board, Licensed Practical Nurse Standards Board, and the Nursing Assistants Standards Board.

In 2017, Ernestine received the NOVA Excellence Award and was elected to the Director position on the national NOVA Board. In her role as NOVA Director, she is currently serving as Chairperson of the NOVA History Committee. Ernestine is responsible for retaining, organizing and preserving NOVA’s historical records. Her retirement plans include advocating for racial justice by being involved with the eradication of systemic racism. Ernestine, may this next chapter of your life bring you endless time to do what’s most important to you!