On October 9-10 NOVA presented its 44th Annual Conference at the Hilton in Virginia Beach, VA.  The Mayor of Virginia Beach, Bobby Dyer, and the Acting Director of the Hampton VA Walt Dannenberg welcomed NOVA members to the 44th Annual Conference.  Representative Jen Kiggans, a fellow nurse and Veteran, spoke to NOVA nurses during the morning’s first keynote session.

Emily Larimer MSN BA RN spoke on "Donation and the VHA:  Strength to Strength" and Joan Clifford DNP RN spoke on "Our High Reliability Journey:  The Critical Role of Leadership, Psychological Safety, and Just Culture."  Katherine Allen BSN RN presented "Phototherapy" and Joellene Skoog led the attendees in a Meditation Exercise. Heather Arredondo DHA RN VHA-CM Associate Director Policy, Legislation, and Professional Standards ONS presented "Keys to Success for Nurse Promotion Consideration and Annual Evaluation," and Dr. Jennifer Strawn DNP RN NEA-BC Executive Director ONS presented "Nursing Town Hall."  Ahnnya Slaughter DNP CNS-BC RN-C presented "Nurse Safety," and Megan Rumzie DNP MBA CNL RN HNB-BC presented "Innovation."   

Podium presentations were done by Andrea Kossoudji MS MBA RN AMB-BC "Empowering Nurses to Serve Veterans with Military Environmental Exposures," Elizabeth Edmiston PhD RN "Empowering Nurses in Research (ENIR): A VANEOHS Initiative," and Lawrence Rasca MSN RN CRRN CNRN SCRN CCRN "High Five in First Five:  Achieving Excellence in Code Resuscitation." Lawrence Lemos DNP RM NEA-BC presented "Caring for Patients with Cognitive Impairment," and Beth Waters BSN RN CCRN PHN presented "Pathway to Healthy Work Environment: HRO Journey Benefits All." The closing session was a Legislative Panel moderated by Teresa Morris, NOVA's Director of Advocacy and Government Relations. 

Members of NOVA's Legislative Committee met after the conference Wednesday at Murphy's.

At the Awards Luncheon, NOVA's awards were presented by Past President TJ Wilcox-Olson MHS RN CPHQ and President Cathy Giasson DNP MHA RN NE-BC CPHQ. The APRN Excellence Award was presented to Jennifer Moseley DNP FNP-BC VA Boston HCS NOVA's RN Excellence Award was presented to Marva Griffin RN  and accepted by Lynette Short) Hunter Holmes McGuire VAMC. NOVA's Veterans Service Award was presented to the Arizona Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (AzPVA) and accepted by Morgan Brown, PVA) .
NOVA's Poster Winners presented were (1) Lawrence Rasca-Baltimore (2) Jennifer Eubanks and Jennifer Mason-Lexington (3) Judy Santelices Washington DC & Members of the DC Chapter.  
    
NOVA 2024 Scholarship Recipients are as follows:

• Nursing Leadership Scholarship in Honor of Catherine J. Rick - Kelly Loven MSN RN FNP-BC CEN 
• Veterans Advocacy Scholarship in Honor of Anthony J. Principi - Joe Domen, RN 
• Nursing Excellence Scholarship in Honor of Vernice Ferguson - Kamala McGee MSN RN MBA-HC CNML (Durham)
• Commitment to Serving Veterans Scholarship in Honor of Jesse Brown - Lyn Sheperd DNPs MSN RN
• Nurse Emeritus Academic Scholarship in Honor of Mary Raymer - Namrata Patel RN

NOVA Special Event Winners:

• NOVA Bingo Winners were Sheila Arrington-Washington DC and Orkie Bradley-Kansas City
• NOVA Icebreaker Winners with Sonia Thurman-Washington DC and Jennifer Moseley-Boston

NOVA thanked the sponsors & exhibitors! Ruby Sponsors: AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Genentech. Platinum Sponsor: Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Gold Sponsors: Attends, Post University. Silver Sponsors: AstraZeneca, Taiho Oncology, Cytokinetics. Bronze Sponsors: Agiliti, Aurie, Ascendis Pharma, BeiGene, DSS, Federal Benefits, Issio, Johnson & Johnson, Promedtek, Tranquility, Merck, Organogenesis, Recon Supply, Renegesis. Symposia Sponsors: Johnson & Johnson, PeerView. Exhibitors: Right at Home, University of Colorado College of Nursing, Alkermes. 

Save the date: NOVA’s 45th Anniversary Conference will be held in Nashville, TN from October 21-23, 2025.