Dear NOVA Members,

It is hard for me to believe that in approximately 1 month, I will be completing my term as NOVA President. It has been a great 2 years of personal and professional growth. 

I recall joining NOVA 22 years ago, and at that time I was content to just attend  the NOVA Chapter 226 meetings at the VA Boston Healthcare System. That all changed in April 2008 at the NOVA Annual Meeting when I decided to elevate my nursing practice and step out of my comfort zone. I was walking to the Boston Public Garden with NOVA Past Presidents Ceci McVey and Joan Clifford. We had volunteered to help out with the scavenger hunt, the team building activity during the conference. On that walk, Ceci and Joan suggested  that I should consider running for Director on the national NOVA Board. That is all it took…a suggestion  from  two leaders who I respected. I ran for Director and was elected. From that day forward, I continued to seize the opportunities that existed for growth and development in NOVA, and it was too fun to stop.

At NOVA’s Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida in October 2019, I provided remarks as the Incoming Board President at the awards luncheon. It was 2 months before I was to assume the role as NOVA President, and I shared Lisa Haisha’s quote: “Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader. They set out to make a difference. It is never about the role. It’s always about the goal.” This quote still resonates with me today, and as I reminisce about my journey; I know that our achievements would not have been possible without so many of our members stepping forward to contribute in many ways. Therefore, I challenge each of you to step up and get involved. NOVA is the voice of VA nurses, and our organization can only be as great as its members and those willing to be involved. We are stronger together.

Please enjoy this video that captures the highlights of my term as NOVA President.

Though my term as President is ending soon, I will transition into the role of Immediate Past President, with confidence and look to NOVA’s future, as I pass the torch to TJ Wilcox-Olson. Through her leadership, the dedication of the national NOVA board, and our members’ ongoing engagement and volunteerism, I know we will continue to further the mission of NOVA to educate, communicate and advocate for the Department of Veterans Affairs nurse professionally, personally and legislatively.

In closing, it has been my honor and privilege to serve as the President of NOVA. I am grateful that you believed in me, giving me the strength to step out of my comfort zone. My journey has been rewarding and a lot of hard work, but I have truly enjoyed my time serving as President and feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity. I want to thank each of you as I could not have done this without all your support and encouragement. 

With appreciation, 

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