Kelly D. Skinner, DNP, APRN, NP-C, GNP-BC, CRRN, WCC, CFCN

VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA

NOVA Chapter 226

Staff Recognition

Karen Tepper, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC is the VISN1 Clinical Contact Center Director. Her DNP degree was conferred December 2020 from Frontier Nursing University. The title of her DNP project was Patient-Centered Health Promotion for Overweight Prevention and Management in Primary Care. Congratulations, Karen!

Karen Tepper

National IV Nurses Day 

National IV Nurse Day was established on January 25, 1980. The U.S. House of Representatives designated this day to honor and recognize the accomplishments of the infusion nurse specialists, as well as the Infusion Nurses Society. This year, NOVA Chapter 226 took the opportunity on National IV Day to recognize Casey Hightower, ADN, RN, RN-BC, CRNI, a certified infusion nurse who works in Specialty Clinics at the VA Boston Healthcare System.

                                                                     Casey Hightower

PeriAnesthesia Nurse Awareness Week

The nurses working in preanesthesia and postanesthesia care, ambulatory surgery, and pain management at the VA Boston Healthcare System deserve recognition for their commitment and passion. The PeriAnesthesia Nurses at the Jamaica Plain Campus attended a presentation on the Nurse Professional Standards Board and Proficiencies on February 3, 2021 during PeriAnesthesia Nurse Awareness Week.

Left to Right: Niamh Daly, Peter Russo, Kattie Davis and Sara Pelletier 

National Wear Red Day

On Friday, February 5, 2021, NOVA Chapter 226 nurses wore red to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease. They support the common goal to save lives by eradicating heart disease and stroke. 

Top Row (Left to Right): Donna Simono, Sandra Terry, Kelly D. Skinner and Valentina Ward

Bottom Row (Left to Right): Denise Dulude, Theresa Presley, Ceci McVey, Linda Costello, Mary Boudreau, Entela Izzo and Theresa Presley

COVID-19 Vaccination Report

COVID-19 vaccination efforts are still going strong! More than 40% of Veterans enrolled in the VA Boston Healthcare System already have been vaccinated. That’s over 28,000 shots! The Moderna and Janssen COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be given to Veterans at our facility, COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics in the community and in their own home.

Left to Right: Danielle Newman, Mindy Shackelford, and Grace Conley

Left to Right: Theresa Presley, Danielle Newman, Mindy Shackelford, and Kattie Davis

Left to Right: Danielle Newman, Sandra Terry, Grace Conley, Danielle Newman and Kelly Sullivan

Left to Right: Vincent Ng (Medical Center Director), Mindy Shackelford and COVID-19 Vaccination Team

Left to Right: Rachel Meears, Sandra Terry, Chizoba Nwosu, Mindy Shackelford, Danielle Newman, Theresa Presley, Rachel Meears, and Mindy Shackelford

Left to Right: Newman, Theresa Presley, Mindy Shackelford, Chizoba Nwosu, Danielle Newman and Ellen McCarthy

Left to Right: Diane Maggio, Sandra Terry, Chizoba Nwosu, and Danielle Newman

Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Clinic

On February 23, 2021, the VA Boston treated the first Veteran at the new monoclonal antibody infusion clinic at the West Roxbury Campus. According to Kattie Davis, NOVA Chapter 226 Member and Nurse Manager of Ambulatory Surgery, “The monoclonal infusion clinic was created as a collaborative effort by multidisciplinary teams including pharmacy, nursing, infectious disease, and infection prevention. It was established in the midst of the global pandemic to ensure certain Veterans with COVID-19 receive antibody therapy to help minimize worsening of symptoms and hospitalization. The clinic is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00pm – 4:00pm EST.”

Front: Zina Cassulo (Veteran)

Back Row (Left to Right): David Thornton, Rebecca Madjarov, Tamiko Porter, and Kattie Davis     

NOVA Fleece Vests

NOVA Chapter 226 members: Ellen McCarthy, Karen Boenig and Linda Costello are proudly wearing their NOVA fleece vests! Planning for National Nurses Week (May 6-12, 2021) is already underway. Three NOVA Chapter 226 members (1 LPN, 1 RN and 1 APRN) will be eligible to win a NOVA Fleece Vest during Nurses Week. Stay tuned!

Left to Right: Ellen McCarthy, Karen Boenig and Linda Costello