NOVA has been working tirelessly for over 45 years fighting for proper care of our Veterans and VA nurses nationwide. Our members have made huge strides working directly with the federal government paving the way for VA nurses to access better pay, benefits, education and more. History teaches us that NOVA membership is essential for Veteran care. We invite you to join our efforts so together we can define the moment today for what our VA nurses and Veterans deserve.

The Top 10 Moments That Redefined VA Nursing:

• The Cadet Nurse Bill, HR 2663 was initiated by a NOVA nurse, Angela Bohannon and the Topeka NOVA Chapter, and signed into law by President Reagan.

• Thanks to NOVA Congress passed a law giving VA nurses Saturday premium pay, tuition reimbursement, and recruitment and retention bonuses. It also required that the Chief Nurse be on policy making and fiscal committees in the facility, and that VA completed a study of recruitment issues.

• NOVA realized a significant accomplishment with the passage of the Nurse Pay Act of 1990, establishing a system of competitive pay for VA nurses allowing local VA medical centers to offer salaries competitive with those offered by other health care facilities in the same local market.

• NOVA worked to get PL 102-585 signed into law which revised nurse pay grade schedules, provided the authority to carry out surveys of labor markets in determining rates of compensation for healthcare professionals, including nurses; and revised the basis for calculating compensation of health care positions.

• NOVA accomplished a legislative priority with the Veterans’ Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 which overturned a 50-year-old law restricting full time RN employment outside the VA.

• NOVA and all VA RNs scored tremendous legislative victory with PL-106-419, the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000 which addressed pay issues affecting RNs, dentists, PAs, social workers, and pharmacists; impacted veterans’ benefits and authorization, mandated increased nursing input in senior management at VISNs and medical centers, and reformed the RN locality pay system. The locality pay changes included: cost-of-living increase; significant survey reform; oversight of medical center director RN salary decisions with authority to modify those decisions, and required annual nurse staffing reports. It also required VISN directors to consult senior nurse executives for patient care policies.

• Thanks to NOVA, President Bush signed the Veterans Affairs Health Care Improvement Act of 2001 (PL 107-135) into law. The act permanently authorizes the Employee Incentive Scholarship Program (EISP) for nurses, reduces the time nurses need to work at VA before they are eligible to receive a scholarship, and removes limits to the amount of money nurses can receive from VA for school, as long as that amount isn’t more than the equivalent of three years of full time study. The act also permanently authorizes VA’s Education Debt Reduction Program, which allows VA to help pay for nurse schooling, up to a total of $44,000.00, with the Secretary able to adjust that amount if needed to coincide with federal pay increases. It also mandates that VA provide Saturday premium pay to Licensed Practical Nurses; gives VA nurses enrolled in the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) the ability to use unused sick leave as part of their retirement calculations, and requires the Secretary and Under Secretary for Health to establish a nationwide policy on nurse staffing standards for VA medical facilities. The legislation also requires the Secretary to evaluate nurse-managed clinics and determine whether they are feasible in the future, and to submit an annual report on what the DVA is doing to keep experienced nurses. The top VA nurse in Central Office reports directly to the Under Secretary for Health, another recognition of the importance of nurses in our health care system. It exempts RNs, physicians, and some dental technicians from the government wide requirement that part time government service performed before April 7, 1986, be prorated in calculating their retirement. It establishes a National Commission on VA Nursing.

• NOVA scored a significant legislative victory with the passage of Senate Bill 1156, the Veterans Health Care, Capital Asset, and Business Improvement Act of 2003 which improved appointment and promotion processes, requiring input from VA nurses and expanded Saturday premium pay.

• NOVA scored a significant legislative victory with Senate Bill 2484 which simplified pay provisions for physicians and dentists, authorized alternate work schedules (three 12-hr tours of duty for full time, work 9 months & get 3 months off; authorized executive pay for nurses from $10,000-$25,000), and required VA to certify to Congress that each VA has a policy designed to prevent nurses working more than 12 consecutive hours or more than 60 hours in a week.

• NOVA launched a series of educational webinars free to NOVA members and became am accredited provider of Nursing Continuing Professional Development credits through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).NOVA launched the program to assist NOVA nurses in writing self-assessments for promotion.

To learn more about NOVA’s impact on Veteran care, listen to our recent podcast episode featuring two nurses who stand at the forefront of NOVA’s mission!

Join NOVA today and stand up for better Veteran care.