Did you know that NOVA started in 1980, when there was a nationwide shortage of registered nurses? Similar to current times, nurses were leaving the profession, enrollment in schools of nursing had decreased, and there were significant staffing shortages in the VA nursing system. When Public Law 96-330 was passed by Congress without the benefit of direct input from VA nurses giving a raise only to physicians, VA nurses from American Lake, Tacoma, Washington; Long Beach, California; Palo Alto, California; and Hines, Illinois had been meeting to share concerns about VA nursing. Registered nurses at Hines VA Hospital spearheaded the action for VA nurses nationwide to start their own professional nursing organization. 

In the spring of 1980 a group of Hines RNs were enrolled in a management course taught by Chief Nurse Jennie Umbel McKoy. Barbara Chambers, Chuck Naparalla, and Tom Fiala wrote a proposal for a nationwide professional nursing organization with an educational and legislative thrust. The name of the organization would be the Nurses Organization of the Veterans Administration or NOVA. NOVA was chosen as an abbreviated title because of its definition as a new brightly shining star. NOVA’s first interim board members were President Barbara Chambers, Vice President Thomas Fiala, Corresponding Secretary Vivian John, Membership Secretary Nancy Schliefer, Treasurer Janet Norton, and Board Members Janet Paice, Cathy Gawron, and Isaac Wilson. National dues were set at $12.00 per year, and the first issue of News from NOVA was published. Information was mailed to every Chief Nurse and one other Registered Nurse at every VA healthcare facility. The mailings generated an overwhelming response with 600 RNs representing 90 VA facilities joining NOVA.

In 1981 a highly successful reception was held at the Rayburn Building in Washington, D.C. for Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committee Members and their staff. NOVA members from.  The NOVA Board spent three days in Washington consulting with the Senate and Congressional staff members; VA Central Office staff including Dr. Donald Custis, Chief Medical Director and Vernice Ferguson, Deputy Assistant Chief Medical Director for Nursing Programs; Veterans Service Organizations including the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars; and Dr. Paul Schaefer, President of the National Association of VA Physicians On September 21, 1981, NOVA President Barbara Chambers welcomed VA nurses to an Annual Meeting at the Bismarck Hotel in Chicago. National election results were announced:  President, Barbara Chambers (Philadelphia, PA); Vice President, Thomas Fiala (Hines, IL), Treasurer, Tom Adamski (Manhattan, NY); Corresponding Secretary, Vivian John (Hines, IL); Membership Secretary Catherine Gawron (Hines, IL); Directors, Marilyn Abraham (Tucson, AZ), Betty Beardmore (Miami, FL), Verdelle Bellamy (Atlanta, GA), Jerry Freeman (Manhattan, NY), Elaine Lloyd (Palo Alto, CA), and Alice Tulanowski (Lyons, NJ).