Happy Nurses Month!

Nurses Month is a time to stop and reflect on the work done you do every day in caring for veterans. At times this work is easily overlooked and taken for granted. But for the 22nd year Nursing has once again been selected as the most trusted profession.

Every day veterans place their care in your hands and VA trust scores continue to increase. You spend your day providing care to those who have defended our country whether it be for a day or for years. As NOVA nurses you are educators, innovators, leaders and at times family to the veterans you care for.  

Recently I heard a new employee talking about working in the VA. She said that maybe we are not always perfect but it is our VA, we are a family and we have something that the community does not – we have a tenderness here at the VA. Her words made me pause and think about a few things.

As a VA system, as staff, and as nurses we are not perfect. Some days we struggle, some we feel drained as if we have nothing left to give to others. Some days are good and others not so good. Yet as nurses we come to work each day. Why?  Because we are resilient, we are dedicated, because it is an honor to care for veterans and because we have a tenderness for veterans and each other that does not exist anywhere but in the VA. 

I am not only proud to work at the VA but also to work with incredible NOVA nurses who strive to improve the care we deliver. 

Take time this month to reflect on your passion for nursing.

Rejuvenate yourself this year by joining other NOVA nurses at this year’s annual Conference being held in beautiful Virginia Beach October 9-10th. Register here!