NOVA is proud to offer our members a wide array of benefits, including everything from an outstanding Mentorship Program to educational webinars. NOVA nurses know the personal benefits gained from helping others. So, it should come as no surprise that one of the greatest NOVA benefits is participating as a volunteer.

“Our successes don’t just happen. It takes a village of dedicated NOVA members coming together to get things done,” said TJ Wilcox-Olson, MHS, RN, VA Portland Healthcare System, Portland, Oregon, NOVA Chapter 332, President of NOVA.

Wilcox-Olson came across an issue of NOVA News at the nurses’ station in 2010 and was excited to learn there was an organization just for VA nurses. She attended her first NOVA Annual Meeting the same year and volunteered to be on the planning committee for the following year. As a volunteer, she has benefited from networking with other NOVA nurses as they work together to help make NOVA the best nursing organization for VA nurses.

“No matter which VA we each work at, we all share a common purpose: we all care for Veterans,” Wilcox-Olson said. “To be able to reach out for advice to a fellow NOVA nurse who works across the country in a similar clinic or unit is priceless.”

Carolyn Dunbar, MSN, RN, CCM, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System

Lead Nurse Case Manager, Post-9/11 Military2VA (M2VA) Case Management Program, NOVA Chapter 212, agrees on the incalculable value of NOVA. As the Vice President of NOVA Chapter 212, a member of the 2022 Annual Meeting planning committee, Dunbar finds joy in connecting with VA nurses all around the country.

“We all offer something different,” Dunbar said. “We can improve the care that we give to our Veterans because of things we learn from our peers who work at other facilities.”

And for Dunbar, attending NOVA Annual Meetings feels like home. “I enjoy the freedom of totally understanding the NOVA conference,” she said. “We are all on the same page; we all and speak the same language.”

This year’s Annual Meeting, scheduled for October, is especially meaningful to Dunbar, as it will be taking place in her hometown of New Orleans. She and the members of Chapter 212 are looking forward to welcoming everyone to their city. Dunbar is working with the planning committee to schedule entertainment and cultural events for attendees to enjoy in addition to the many educational opportunities that will be offered — including a performance from her own New Orleans Baby Doll Ladies dance troupe.

“I cannot wait to introduce NOVA members to a conference in New Orleans, Louisiana,” Dunbar said. “It’s the first meeting since before COVID, and we want to open up with a bang-shebang.”

The planning committee has put together an excellent program of speakers and activities. Wilcox-Olson is anticipating an exciting event for all to enjoy as this is the first in person conference in over two years. “I am expecting a great turnout, with nurses taking the opportunity to reconnect and get back to networking. I can’t wait to see everyone,” she said.

Reconnecting with our peers is both a professional and personal benefit of NOVA membership. All NOVA members have the chance to develop friendships with their fellow nurses, and those opportunities are even greater when working together as volunteers.

“The greatest personal benefit I’ve gotten from volunteering has been my self-confidence and ability to speak in front of a crowd,” Wilcox-Olson said. “I always think back to speech class in junior high and how I thought I was never going to need that skill. Now I speak in front of people all the time — and even volunteer to do it!”

These opportunities tie back to the core mission of NOVA, which is supporting those who care for Veterans. The dedication of NOVA nurses from across the country with various experiences makes it special to all its members, but particularly to those dedicated members who volunteer their time.

“It is one thing to join a nursing organization and another to truly get something from the experience. In order to make the most of  NOVA, members need to get involved with committees and participate in meetings and activities,” Wilcox-Olson said. “We care for veterans, and by working at the VA and helping make positive changes to Veteran care through NOVA, I am giving back to those who served.”

Dunbar, for her part, began working for the VA in July 1982 in honor of her brother, who is a Veteran. As her 40^th VA work anniversary draws near, she has no thoughts of retiring. “We are working for the Veterans who protected this country,” she said. “We enjoy the benefits of freedom because of their service. And I am honored to take care of those who took care of us.”