Danielle A. Newman, MSN, RN

NOVA Chapter 226 President Elect

VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA

Black History Month, also known as African American History Month, is an annual observance in the United States. It has received official recognition from both the United States and Canadian governments, and more recently has been observed in Ireland and the United Kingdom.Black History Month is an opportunity to understand Black history by going beyond stories of racism and slavery to spotlight Black achievement. This year's theme is Black Health and Wellness.

To kick off Black History Month, NOVA Chapter 226 would like to introduce you to Susie Baker King Taylor, the first African American US Army Nurse. Susie King Taylor was born as Susan Ann Baker, a slave at a plantation in Liberty County, Georgia, on August 6, 1848 . She became the first Black US Army nurse. She tended to an all-black army troop named the 1st South Carolina. Volunteers (Union) later redesignated them as the 33rd United States Colored Infantry Regiment, where her first husband, Edward King, served as a noncommissioned officer. For three years, she moved with her husband's and brothers’ regiment, serving as nurse and laundress while teaching many black soldiers to read and write during their off-duty hours. Like many African American nurses, she was never paid for her work. As the author of Reminiscences of My Life in Camp with the 33d United States Colored Troops, Late 1st S.C. Volunteers, she was the only African American woman to publish a memoir of her wartime experiences.

Susie Baker King Taylor was also the first African American to teach openly in a school for former slaves. At this school in Savannah, Georgia, she taught children during the day and adults at night. Edward King, died in September 1866, a few months before the birth of their first child. In the 1870s, Susie Baker King traveled to Boston as a domestic servant of a wealthy white family where she met and married her second husband Russell L. Taylor. She remained in Boston for the rest of her life, returning to the South only occasionally. Taylor kept in contact with her fellow veterans' group, the Grand Army of the Republic and she founded (or helped found) Corps 67 of the Women’s Relief Corps. After a trip to Louisiana in the 1890s to care for her dying son, she wrote her book Reminiscences, which was  privately published in 1902. She died 10 years later.

We would like to encourage other members to highlight and share stories that represent this year’s theme: Black Health and Wellness.

On Saturday October 2, 2021 NOVA Nurses had the honor to be present at Mount Hope Cemetery in Boston, MA where a Memorial was dedicated to the life of Susie King Taylor.

Left to Right: Katie Judd, Kelly D. Skinner, Linda Costello, Acting Mayor Kim Janey, Linda Costello, Samentha St Pierre, Kattie Davis, Nacha Pierre, Danielle Newman, Robert Leaston, Jr. and Billie Jo Watson.  

Carol McLean RN

Nurse Emeritus

VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA

NOVA Chapter 226

VA Ambassadors are some of the most inspiring individuals I have met. The team strives to make a difference by creating a positive experience for our Veterans. Many of the team members are Veterans themselves, still paying it forward. 

Joining this team has opened my eyes to how powerful first impressions can be. When Veterans and their family members arrive at the VA Boston Healthcare System in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, they are greeted by a VA Ambassador with a gentle approach offering guidance within the facility and often assistance transporting them to their destinations.  

When first joining the team, I thought it would be an easy job, greeting Veterans, giving directions and transporting veterans and their families. But I quickly learned that was not  the case. In fact, it was quite the opposite. It is truly amazing how many fires the ambassadors put out on a daily basis. Notably, they facilitate coverage for missed or wrong day appointments, provide snacks for diabetic patients, untangle transportation snags, and expedite dressing changes as well as initiating code blues.

While all VA Ambassadors are dedicated to our Veterans, one in particular comes to mind. Walter Vetromile, an Air Force Veteran, volunteers his service several times a week. Not only does Walter exhibit a strong commitment to his fellow Veterans and families, but he also lives it every day.  Walter always has words of encouragement for fellow Ambassadors and Veterans. It is truly a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated Ambassador and team.

VA Ambassadors are like a pro baseball team that make truly “good catches” on every shift. They excel at distinguishing fires! Thanks to all our VA Ambassadors for your dedicated service. 

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

NOVA’s Empower Mentorship Program is designed to guide a mutual relationship between an experienced VA nurse, a mentor, and a nurse who may be entirely new to the VA system, or transitioning into a new role. It is a framework for the passage of wisdom, caring, and confidence between the mentee and experienced VA nurses. The program is based on principles of adult learning with a focus on meeting the needs of the mentee.  The ultimate goal of this mentoring program is to contribute to the personal and professional development of VA nurses through relationships that are nurturing and supportive.

Mentoring is a reciprocal and collaborative learning relationship between two individuals with mutual goals and shared accountability for the success of the relationship. The mentor often serves as an expert guide to the mentee, allowing them to gain more experience in a VA nurse position. A good fit between a mentor and mentee occurs when mentors are both genuine and willing to disclose information about themselves and their experience. Mentees need to be open to accepting feedback and willing to learn more about themselves and their expected role.   

This relationship involves the mentee as an adult learner engaged in a life experience that presents new opportunities for growth and development. The quality of this partnership determines the true value of the learning experience. As adult learners, mentees assume responsibility for their learning and behaviors. As teachers, mentors act as guides and facilitators of learning. The partnership must be based on the belief that the learner is at the center of any significant adult learning activity. Learners must be involved in all phases of the learning process, which includes identifying needs, planning, participation, and evaluating the learning outcome. As facilitators of adult learning, mentoring is approached as a development sequence, requiring an awareness of the mentees’ learning needs and their stages on the learning curve.  In considering mentees as unique adult learners, mentors must be willing to make adjustments based on the mentees’ maturity and learning style. Effective mentoring becomes a continuous learning process that is a synthesis of events, experiences, observations, feedback, and analyses.

A successful mentorship requires willingness and skill in giving and receiving feedback. This is important for both the mentor and the mentee since one of the greatest learning opportunities occurs through the critique we give to and receive from others.  Both individuals must offer constructive feedback, positive and negative, to assure that common needs and goals are being met. They need to know how the other is doing in the relationship to determine their future direction. It is most helpful the mentor and mentee agree on how to give each other feedback earlier in the relationship.

Mentoring doesn’t just happen. It involves a significant expenditure of time and energy from both the mentor and the mentee. Successful mentees are willing to assume responsibility for their learning and growth by seeking challenging assignments and opportunities. While they are receptive to feedback and coaching by the mentor, they also are willing to constructively give feedback.  If they are not receiving the feedback they need or desire, mentees must assert themselves and ask for it. The demonstration of accountability, or living up to promises and commitments, is important. Mentees learn to achieve a balance between their independence and reliance on the mentor. After spending time with a mentor, mentees often feel refueled and inspired to make a difference in their practice.

Mentors are willing and committed to assisting in the developmental growth of the mentee. This involves a reasonable amount of time and personal investment over an extended period. The time invested is well spent for both individuals and the VA as a whole. The mentor’s primary purpose is to help the mentee learn the ropes, their role, the political environment, and the culture of the VA in a formal, yet informal way. Frequent communication offering affirmation and support will help the mentee progress through the mentoring relationship. Mentors are the guides in establishing the criteria by which a successful relationship is developed and evaluated.  They create a warm and accepting environment that allows the mentees to control the relationship, while at the same time permitting the mentees to be themselves and voice relevant concerns and needs.  Mentors are personable, approachable, competent individuals who are committed to helping mentees achieve their success. 

If you are a new nurse, a nurse who is new to the VA system, a nurse who is transitioning to a new role in the VA system, or a nurse who would like help in professional development and achieving professional goals, fill out an application to request a mentor.  If you have worked in the VA for a year or more, know things now that you wished somebody had told you when you first started in the VA, like helping people, want to enrich your time in VA, want to help people navigate the sometimes confusing routes to career development in the VA, want to answer questions from VA nurses who would like help with a situation they’re encountering at work, want to help VA nurses start a NOVA chapter or make a NOVA chapter better, or want to make a difference, fill out an application to be a mentor. 

NOVA’s Mentorship program is designed to help you meet your professional goals.  NOVA members can take advantage of this program to pursue their goals related to professional advancement within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The program helps new NOVA members to connect with more seasoned members to benefit from their expertise and experience. It can provide mentees with specific assistance related to current needs and can help seasoned NOVA members not only serve as both mentors and resources. This can help meet requirements for advancement related to proficiency, education, evidence-based practice, and research, as well as professional development.  NOVA chapters can benefit from mentoring regarding chapter development and potential programs.  The Mentorship Program offers additional support for NOVA members providing excellent care to Veterans and family members.

Find information on NOVA’s Mentorship Program at this link: https://www.vanurse.org/page/Mentorship

Thelma Roach-Serry, BSN, RN, NE-BC

National NOVA Past President

NOVA News Editorial Committee Member

Central Virginia VA HCS, Richmond, VA

NOVA Chapter 420

Cheryl D. Winston, MSN, RN, FNP-BC

Ms. Cheryl Winston is a family nurse practitioner with the Central Virginia VA Healthcare System. She has been employed at the McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia for more than 20 years. Her fascination with the VA began as a child when her father introduced her to his work environment. He retired from McGuire after 35 years of service.

Cheryl began her nursing career with the VA after graduating as an LPN from the Richmond Technical Center in 1992. After which she began working on 4D, a Medical-Surgical unit. Since then, her educational matriculation has included obtaining her BSN from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia in 2001 and MSN from The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia in 2012.

In addition to working as a staff nurse on 4D, Cheryl worked in the Emergency Room and Home-Based Primary Care. Currently, she is employed as a board-certified family nurse practitioner in the Neurology Department - Sleep Medicine division. She and her colleagues treat Veterans with dyssomnias (the collection of sleep disorders that negatively impact the quantity and quality of sleep). She is passionate about this field of medicine, and is enthusiastic and committed.

Ms. Winston’s most outstanding professional accomplishments include her academic advancements and implementing interventions that have led to positive impacts for our Veterans. These achievements have produced measurable outcomes that effect Veterans at both an individual and aggregate level.

Cheryl's professional goals include the promotion of access to care and enhancement of patient satisfaction. She is intent on providing seamless, timely and culturally sensitive care.

On a personal note, Cheryl enjoys spending time with family and friends, exercising, horseback riding and participating in various health care ministries.

Cheryl personifies the words of President Abraham Lincoln which have become the VA's motto to continually, "Care for him who have borne the battle."

Kelly D. Skinner, DNP, APRN, NP-C, GNP-BC, CRRN, WCC, CFCN
VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA
NOVA Chapter 226

NOVA Scholarship Program Recipients

Congratulations to three of the 2021 NOVA Scholarship Program recipients: Anastasia Aryee, Marsha Charlton and Melissa Elliott. Anastasia received the $3000 Nursing Scholarship in honor of Catherine J. Rick. Marsha received the $1500 Nursing Excellence Scholarship in honor of Jesse Brown. Melissa Elliott received the $1500 Nurse Emeritus Academic Scholarship in honor of Mary Raymer.

Left to Right: Anastasia Aryee, Marsha Charlton and Melissa Elliott

NOVA Chapter 226 Event

NOVA Chapter 226 was honored to host a NOVA Chapter Event on December 7, 2021 at One Bistro in Norwood, Massachusetts. It was a fun filled evening with an educational presentation entitled: “Understanding the Chronic Wound Continuum:

The Nurses Role in Real Wound Healing, Biofilm Based Wound Management, and Organogenesis Portfolio” and a NOVA Chapter 226 Membership Meeting. 

Top Row Left to Right: Nancy Connors, Sandra Zsikla, Laikyn Nadeau, Marsha Auguste, Sandra Terry, Darlene Hanley, Nancy Brooks, Kelly Skinner, Valentina Ward, Patrick Hill, Kattie Davis, Anastasia Aryee, Ellen Mitchell, Jared Schultz, Diane Maloof, and Maureen Boggie

Bottom Row Left to Right: Julie Szegda, Nacha Pierre, Theresa Presley, Gilda Cain, Danielle Newman and Garline Raymond

Left to Right: Danielle Newman, Julie Szegda, Valentina Ward, Kelly Skinner, Theresa Presley, Nacha Pierre, and Anastasia Aryee

Left to Right: Patrick Hill, Darlene Hanley, Nancy Brooks, Sandra Zsikla, Nacha Pierre and Theresa Presley

Retirement 

Laura Clemente-Padial, RN, served as the Transplant Referral Coordinator at the VA Boston Healthcare System. She worked at the VA for 39 years and four months before retiring in December 2021. Cindy Tibert, BSN, RN, is now the Transplant Referral Coordinator. Congratulations to Laura and Cindy!

Left to Right: Laura Clemente-Padial, Theresa Presley, Laura Clemente-Padial, Laura Clemente-Padial and Cindy Tibert

Specialty Certification

Congratulations to Meriele Goaga, BSN, RN, CRRN for passing the Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) certification exam. Meriele works on A2, the acute spinal cord injury unit at the VA Boston Healthcare System.

Meriele Goaga, BSN, RN, CRRN