Dear NOVA Members,

If I were to ask if you wanted a national NOVA Board Member to provide a presentation on the importance of belonging to a professional nursing organization to the nurses at your VA facility, what would you say? In case you are not aware, focusing on member outreach initiatives is a priority for the national NOVA Board.

The 2021 national NOVA Board of Directors: President Kelly D. Skinner, President Elect: TJ Wilcox-Olson, Treasurer/Secretary Ruth Holmes, Membership Secretary Cathy Giasson, Immediate Past President Thelma Roach-Serry, and Directors: Theresa Presley, Yvette Twum-Danso, Betty Ogren, Steven Powell, Miriam Rogers Holy and Cindy Solomon are passionate about NOVA’s mission to educate, communicate, and advocate for the VA nurse professionally, personally and legislatively. NOVA’s vision is for VA nurses to provide high quality nursing care, have an optimal work environment, and be informed on relevant issues that impact VA health care and nursing practice. We strive to maintain a strong voice in the legislative arena, have a presence at the VHA corporate leadership level and aim for VA  nurses to be NOVA members. 

NOVA continuously invests in its board members to promote strategic vision. In August 2021, NOVA board members: Kelly D. Skinner, Ruth Holmes, Cathy Giasson, Thelma Roach-Serry, Betty Ogren, Cindy Solomon, Miriam Rogers Holy, Deb Dupnik and TJ Wilcox Olson attended the Nursing Alliance Leadership Academy (NALA) Virtual Event. The presentations  addressed knowledge related to board leadership roles, responsibilities, governance, and organizational strategies for success. This was a great educational opportunity to increase innovation and improve board performance.

To better serve you, the NOVA Board is eager to enhance knowledge and to raise awareness related to the numerous benefits of NOVA membership including education, certification partnerships, tuition discounts, education scholarships, mentorship, networking, committee participation opportunities, webinars, blog, newsletter, and many more. In 2021, Eula Davis, MPH, MSN, RN-AMB, Nurse Educator, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VAMC, Pennsylvania; Kim Schmidt, MSN, CCRN, Deputy Educator, Tomah VAMC, Wisconsin; and Tess Ramos, MSN-Ed, RN, Chief Nurse, Education, Salt Lake City VA, Utah reached out to NOVA and requested  support to help promote NOVA at their facility. NOVA board members: Kelly D. Skinner, TJ Wilcox-Olson, and Cathy Giasson; Nurse Emeritus/NOVA Past President Nancy Claflin; and Director of Advocacy and Government Relations Teresa Morris discussed the positive impact of belonging to a professional nursing organization with the nurses. While in Utah, Teresa Morris and I were able to visit with Penny Kaye Jensen, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, FAAN, FAANP VACO/ONS, National APRN Program Manager and NOVA APRN Committee Chairperson. It is essential to establish and continue a beneficial relationship and trust between NOVA and our members. 

Please do not hesitate to contact NOVA by emailing nova@vanurse.org to schedule a virtual or in person presentation. NOVA board members are from the states of Massachusetts, Oregon, Virginia, South Carolina, Indiana, Texas, and Maryland, and are also willing to drive to a nearby VA facility for an in person visit.  

Since NOVA was founded in 1980, it has grown to represent all VA nurses – APRNs, RNs, LPNs/LVNs, and is the only professional organization for VA nurses who work for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Let’s get the word out!

With appreciation, 

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