By Thelma R. Serry, BSN, RN, NE-BC

“A Nurse Wiring VA Telehealth”

Angela Marie Harris, LPN, CDN, is a Clinical Technician/LPN at McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) of the Central Virginia VA Healthcare System. She has been working in the role since January 2019.  She supports clinical telehealth encounters for both patients and providers.  She is an imager, providing patient education and technical and/or administrative support telehealth operations. She recently became a certified Diabetes Navigator.

Angela Marie Harris, LPN, CDN

Prior to working in telehealth, Angela worked in the Surgical Specialty Clinics for three years performing clinical duties for patients seeking consultation, follow-up, surgical wound care and ambulatory ENT procedures.  Prior to join McGuire, she was the Soldier Readiness Coordinator/LPN at Kenner Army Hospital, Fort Lee, Petersburg, Va. from 2009 to 2015.  There, she was a subject matter expert for medical readiness of military and civilian personnel for deployment.  In addition, Ms. Harris completed plans, coordinated and executed administrative and logistical requirements. She also worked for McGuire VAMC from 2006 to 2008 at the Fredericksburg CBOC performing intake of Veterans in preparation for provider visits. 

Ms. Harris has a background in corrections.  She worked for the Greensville Correctional Facility for more than one year from 2005 – 2006.  

She obtained her Practical Nursing diploma from Richmond School of Health & Technology in Richmond, Virginia and later obtained an Associate Degree in Health Science in June 2017 John Tyler Community College Chester, Virginia.

Angela is a member of Lambda Psi Nu, Incorporate, a professional organization for LPNs.   She serves as president of CHUMS, INC., Petersburg Chapter, enriching the lives of children by helping them to develop to their fullest intellectual, moral, emotional, physical, and social potential. She is a long-standing member of the Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA) and promoted education and advocacy for nurses within the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Angela understands the importance of giving back to the community. She is not only involved in service to others through her church and through local organizations.  She is a volunteer with the Central Virginia Medical Reserve Corp, Volunteer and the Tri-City Area Health & Wellness.  

Angela has received many recognitions including the Secretary award  and Veteran Affairs Service to the Citizen Award.

Thank you, Ms. Harris for your service to Veterans through advancing the use of technology through telehealth and serving those in need in your community.

The Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA) is tying a membership campaign to our 2023 Hill Day event to help increase our voice on Capitol Hill.

Current members participating in the Hill Day Membership Challenge can earn a free
night stay in Washington DC during NOVA’s Hill Day event planned for March 2023.

To qualify for the free night stay, a member must sign up a total of five new APRN, RN
or LPN/LVN members. Renewals do not count. The membership challenge will run from September 10, 2022 to January 5, 2023.

This is a fantastic way to bolster membership while also encouraging participation in our
advocacy work and attendance at our Hill Day event.

In January 2023, we will begin a new Congress (118^th) with changes to leadership and members on critical committees like the House and Senate VA Committees. We need your voices to continue advocating on behalf of nursing and VA healthcare professionals working across the country.

Join us and participate in the Hill Day Membership Challenge today!

Resources:

• 2023 Hill Day Membership Challenge Email Script Sample
• Membership Application and Promotional Materials 

By Nancy Claflin, DNP, MS, RN, NEA-BC, CENP, CCRN-K, CPHQ, FNAHQ

Did you know you may be able to receive financial assistance from your facility to attend NOVA’s Annual Meeting? You should check with staff in the Education or Nursing Education Department to see what is required from your facility.  

Event Details

Although each facility has its own forms and requirements, this is some of the information that you may need:

• Event or Training Title:  NOVA 42nd Annual Meeting: Celebrating Health, Wellness, & Resiliency

• URL for the Event:  https://ashq.eventsair.com/2022nova42ndannualmeeting

• Location (Address, City, State, Zip):  Harrah’s New Orleans, 228 Poydras St., New Orleans, LA 70130

• Start Date of Training: 10/19/22

• End Date of Training:  10/20/22

• Sponsor/Vendor of Training:  Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs

• Billing Address: 1120 NJ-73, Suite 200, Mt. Laurel, NJ, 08054

• Email of Sponsor/Vendor:  nova@vanurse.org

• Phone Number of Vendor:  703-444-5587

• Total Tuition/Registration Fees: 

  • RN or APRN: $500 

  • LPN, Nurse Emeritus, Non-licensed Student: $240 

  • Non-Member. $600 

• Type of Conference: The NOVA Annual Meeting is a professional meeting and an elective conference that is useful for professional development and skills enhancement.  It provides Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) contact hours.

Training Justification

Here is some information that you can use for training justification. 

My objectives for attending the course:

• Improve ability to accomplish mission and carry out daily operations to assist veterans

• Find innovative ideas to implement to improve veteran healthcare

• Learn latest information and best practices regarding VA healthcare

• Experience knowledge sharing with like-minded professionals regarding VA healthcare

• Participate in in-depth discussions around VA healthcare

• Network with dedicated experts regarding VA healthcare

• Receive education and professional development (receive Nursing Continuing Professional Development Contact Hours) regarding VA healthcare

How the program will improve my competency/how I will apply it to my job:

This program will improve my competency because I will receive information on resources to support shared governance for VA nurses. I will be able to identify methods for VA nurses to mitigate nurse burnout by managing stress and self-care. I will be able to describe methods for VA nurses to find resiliency. I will be able to provide a positive impact on patient care by describing treatment options supporting sobriety for veterans experiencing opioid crises. I will be able to provide a positive impact on patient care by describing a comprehensive approach to identify veterans at risk for suicide and identify treatment plans for those veterans.

I will be able to summarize changes in the promotion process for VA nurses, including the role of the Nurse Professional Standards Board. I will demonstrate the process of facilitating the development of an evidence-based culture. I will be able to provide a positive impact on patient care by facilitating the development of an evidence-based culture. I will be able to describe practices to increase VA nurse satisfaction in today's workplace. I will be able to provide a positive impact on patient care by identifying ways that I can work with members of Veterans Service Organizations to strengthen partnerships to work together on behalf of veterans.

How I will share knowledge gained:

I will share the knowledge I have gained by presenting an in-service for my peers, or by sharing information during informal discussions with my peers, or by developing a poster for my peers, or by providing information for a newsletter. I will implement at least one new idea that I learned at this conference in my work setting.

Click here to learn more about and register for this year’s Annual Meeting

The Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA) is excited to be back in-person for our 42nd Annual Meeting. Join us October 19-20 in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the only conference solely dedicated to VA Nurses. The Schedule at a Glance is now available to help you plan your itinerary and get the most out of the meeting.   

Attendees can claim up to 12.5 Nursing Continuing Professional Development Contact Hours (NCPD) for their participation in this year’s event.

Upon completion of the Annual Meeting, participants will be able to:

• Identify resources to support shared governance for VA Nurses

• Identify methods for VA Nurses to mitigate burnout by managing stress and self-care

• Identify improvements in healthcare for veterans through contributions from APRN practice, education, advocacy, research, and leadership

• Describe methods for VA Nurses to find resiliency

• Describe treatment options supporting sobriety for veterans experiencing opioid crisis

• Describe a comprehensive approach to identify veterans at risk for suicide and identify treatment plans for those veterans

• Summarize changes in the promotion process for VA Nurses, including the role of the Nurse Professional Standards Board

• Demonstrate the process of facilitating the development of an evidence-based culture

• Describe practices to increase VA Nurse satisfaction in today’s workplace

• Identify ways NOVA and Veterans Service Organizations can strengthen partnerships to work together on behalf of veterans

Click here to learn more about this year’s Annual Meeting and register by Thursday, September 1 to take advantage of early bird pricing!

By Kellie Lovett, BSN, RN

I went to West Virginia Wesleyan College for my BSN and graduated in May 1987. I started my first job at Allegheny General Hospital, a Trauma Center (Pittsburgh, PA) in the neurosurgery department, where I worked for two years. We took care of patients who had brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, back surgery, brain surgery, eye surgery, seizure patients and those with multiple traumas.

My next job was at Holy Spirit Hospital (Harrisburg, PA), where I worked in the ICU and was ACLS certified. We took care of medical and surgical  patients. I went through a six-week critical care course where we learned a lot about multiple organ issues and learned how to monitor critical patients. I worked with central lines, arterial lines, intubation, ETT placement and management. We monitored the patients continuously and used life-saving medications. I learned how to rely on my coworkers to help me when needed and I helped them when they needed something. I worked there for two years and it was one of my best experiences. 

I then moved to Richmond, VA to work in the ICU at Stuart Circle Hospital. It was similar to my other ICU experience. After a couple years in the ICU, I moved to the PACU. It was a new experience, but we still took care of some critical patients. I helped the anesthesiologist with blocks and line placement. My ICU experience helped me transition into the PACU. I worked there until six months before Stuart Circle Hospital closed. 

Then, I transferred to St. Mary’s Hospital as a pre-op nurse and post-op nurse. I continued to take care of pre and postoperative surgical patients. It was an ambulatory surgery clinic, so the patients were less critical,  and  I  started taking care of children. I then got my PALS certification with my ACLS certification. I worked with many different surgeons and surgical patients. I worked there for about 10 years before leaving to work as a pre-operative nurse for OrthoVirginia Operatory Center. At OrthoVirginia, I worked closely with the anesthesiologists; I helped with blocks, started IV’s and did pre-op assessments. I helped in both the OR and PACU as needed. I ran the holding area for 10 years and restocked and ordered supplies. I was known for my proficiency in starting IVs. I learned to be good at IVs from my ICU days.  

In 2018, I moved to Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center to work in the 2D Surgical Specialty Clinic. I always loved surgery, so I wanted to stay in the surgical field. On 2D, I have been the charge nurse and lead charge nurse. I am on many committees such as Professional Practice, Staff Methodology, Pharmacy, and Safe Patient Handling. During the beginning of COVID, I was deployed to the COVID ICU. I worked there for three months and I got to use my ICU skills again. I have worked with my supervisor and ENT attending to start a rapid Covid testing lab in the clinic to keep patients and staff satisfied. I am a care coordinator for Vascular Surgery, ENT, and Plastic Wound Ostomy. I have worked on many of the surgical services in the 2D clinic.