Teresa Morris, NOVA Director, Advocacy & Government Relations

Greetings NOVA Members –

Congress has recessed for the Holidays and is expected to return  in January to begin the second session of the 117th. There are several packages of Veteran-related bills which remain on the agenda for the House and Senate VA Committees that will now move to January for final debate and votes. NOVA continues pushing H.R. 5575, the VA Nurse and Physician Assistant RAISE Act, which would increase pay caps by amending Title 38 for RNs, APRNs, PAs and others working at VA.  I am hopeful that it will be included in one of the larger bills next session.

In other news, Congress cleared another continuing resolution (CR) which funds the Federal Government until February 18, 2022. As noted in the previous newsletter article, VA is funded under advance appropriations which provides funding in advance, so the agency is not held hostage to the annual budget battles in Congress, but any long-term CR would have serious effects on VA services. Under a CR, all programs, services and benefits would remain funded at fiscal year 2021 levels, which would fall short of what VA needs to take care of Veterans.

FY 2022 funding for VA, includes about $270 billion in total discretionary funding with $97.5 billion included for Medical Care.

I encourage all of you to remain engaged with your members of congress about H.R. 5575 and the need for more staffing, stronger HR, and critical incentives to hire healthcare professionals within VA.

Urge Congress to Support the VA Nurse and Physician Assistant RAISE Act - Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs

VA must remain competitive with the private sector and with COVID still in the forefront, hiring in all areas of healthcare is critical.

I look forward to continuing our advocacy in the next session and working with all of you to make sure VA nurse voices are heard in Washington. What you do is, and continues to be critical to the health and well-being of our Veterans.

For a complete list of NOVA advocacy in action to include letters and congressional testimony, visit the NOVA website. NOVA Advocacy Toolkit (vanurse.org)

Wishing all of you a happy, healthy and peaceful Holiday Season!

Stay Tuned!

Why NOVA?    

Membership provides support and resources for VA nurses.

VA nurses serve a unique population and are faced with challenges and situations distinctive to the VA patient population. Rarely are VA nurses confronting a single set of patient issues. Rather, they often deal with a combination of factors—mental health, homelessness, multi-system failures—that affect Veterans. Through it all, NOVA remains a rich forum for camaraderie and shared experiences that provide support for VA nurses, and help to build and support the programs that ensure strong services for America’s heroes. 

Support of Colleagues

When Sharon A. Johnson, MSN, RN, Nurse Emeritus and Past National President of NOVA, was tasked with opening a Flow Center at her VA facility, she called upon fellow NOVA members for help.

“I knew that the Boston VA had  a very successful flow center, so I called Cecilia McVey, BSN, MHA, CNA, Associate Director, Nursing/Patient Services, and asked for their help,” said Johnson. “I went to Boston and they showed me everything they were doing. They showed me successes and failures, all to help me build the Flow Center at my own VA facility.” Johnson also traveled to the VA Center in Tampa, Florida, to tour their flow center, as well. 

This  show of camaraderie on the behalf of better patient care is, to Johnson, the hallmark of what NOVA stands for.

“Working at the VA is not easy,” said Johnson. “That experience is shared, and our NOVA colleagues don’t hang onto what they know; they share their experiences. I have always had the support of my colleagues in NOVA, and that’s been the most valuable part of NOVA membership for me.”

Expanding Impact

NOVA was initially founded with the goal of supporting and connecting nurses working in the unique and complex VA environment. “When I first joined NOVA, it was appropriate for me to continue my membership here as the members understood the environment and the needs of the people working in the VA,” said Johnson. “People don’t understand what Veterans have been through, the issues that they are facing. It is a unique clientele and we provide a unique service.” 

Today, the organization is responsive to the VA nurses’ needs, offering continuing education and networking opportunities for members. In addition, the organization is heavily involved in advocacy work to advance the mission of the VA nurse and support those working in the VA.

“As the national President and a national officer, I had the opportunity to go on Capitol Hill and sit in on Senate and Veterans Committee meetings,” said Johnson, who is still active on NOVA’s Policy and Procedure Committee and Finance Committee. “NOVA is non-partisan, we are here for the Veterans and stay focused on who we serve.”

For the VA Nurse

VA nurses who have not yet joined NOVA have a wealth of resources awaiting for them. “The support from NOVA makes membership particularly valuable,” said Johnson. For VA nurses, the NOVA directory makes it possible to connect with members at any VA. 

“Through my experience with NOVA, I’ve been able to talk to people and validate that we have a connection that no other organization has, because we have the privilege of taking care of Veterans,” said Johnson. VA nurses in search of camaraderie and resources to help them better serve America’s Veterans, will find it by joining NOVA. 

Learn more about the benefits of NOVA membership.

WE WANT YOU …

To join our team as an Advocate and Member of the Legislative Committee. This year we are looking for at least one member from every State – Representation from all 50 States will provide us with a strong voice in Congress! Help us fill the map!

Online Volunteer Form

Veterans Parade 

NOVA Chapter 226 was honored to participate in the Veterans Parade on November 6, 2021 in Boston.

NOVA Nurses: Sony Fernandes, Kattie Davis, Danielle Newman, Billie Jo Watson, Katie Shute, Kelly D. Skinner, Valentina Ward, Katie Judd, and Mindy Shackelford

LUNGevity’s Breathe Deep 5K

On November 6, 2021, Theresa Presley, Matie Pizziferri and Joan Clifford participated in the LUNGevity’s Breathe Deep 5K in Boston.

Left to Right: Theresa Presley, Marie Pizziferri and Joan Clifford and 5K Group Photo

Golden Glove Award

The Golden Glove Award was given to the Clinical Resource Nurses: Seneca Martensson, Amanda Brillhart and Kelly Sullivan for ensuring a culture of safety at the VA Boston.

Left to Right: Grace Conley, Seneca Martensson, Amanda Brillhart, Kelly Sullivan and Theresa Presley.

HRO Webinar

On October 13, 2021, Kelly D. Skinner (VA Boston), Valentina Ward (VA Boston) and Marilyn Simpson (VA West Texas) presented: Journey to High Reliability: HRO Fundamentals. The webinar was recorded and can be viewed any time. Click this link: https://www.vanurse.org/events/register.aspx?id=1563380

Left to Right: Kelly D. Skinner, Marilyn Simpson and Valentina Ward

Specialty Certification

Congratulations to Nicole Monteiro! She obtained the Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (PMH-BC) certification.

Nicole Monteiro

Congratulations to Ellen McCarthy for obtaining the Certified Case Manager (CCM) certification! You can take advantage of the NOVA certification discount. https://www.vanurse.org/page/CCMC

Ellen McCarthy

Congratulations, Jose Dos Anjos for obtaining the Diabetic Wound Care (DWC) certification! You can also take advantage of the NOVA discount. 

https://www.vanurse.org/page/wcei

Jose Dos Anjos

Wipeout Wounds Tour 

NOVA nurses from VA Boston were well represented at the 2021 Wipeout Wounds Tour in Boston!

Left to Right: Tiffanie Williams, Alberthe Mardy, Heather Slaney, Gilda Cain, Kelly D. Skinner, Sandra Zsikla, Marion Tinsley, Nancy Brooks, Madison Gray, Jennifer Leonard, Maytilda Park, Karen Gonzalez, Sterline Desjardins, Darlene Hanley, and Meriele Goaga

Patriot Award

Congratulations to Melissa D’Andrea! She was honored with a Patriot Award by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) in recognition of extraordinary support of her employee(s) who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

Left to Right: Melissa D’Andrea, (SICU Nurse Manager), Vincent Ng (Medical Center Director) and Cecilia McVey (ADPCS/NE)

Monument Dedication

NOVA Chapter 226 nurses attended the Monument Dedication of Susie Baker King Taylor, the first Black US Army nurse. NOVA Chapter 226 Nurses’ photo was signed by Acting Mayor Kim Janey. 

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.

Heard on the Hill

Teresa Morris, NOVA Director, Advocacy & Government Relations

Greetings NOVA Members –

Congress has an increasingly busy schedule as the session heads into its final weeks.  NOVA continues its push for H.R. 5575, the VA Nurse Physician Assistant RAISE Act, which would increase pay caps by amending Title 38 for RNs, APRNs, PAs and others working at VA. We are hoping to get it finished before the end of the year. Our advocacy alert can be found on the website - Urge Congress to Support the VA Nurse and Physician Assistant RAISE Act - Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs  . I encourage all of you to contact you Member of Congress and urge their support for the bill.

NOVA submitted testimony in strong support of the legislation acknowledging the importance of VA’s ability to recruit and retain healthcare professionals, especially in high-cost areas. We have been actively involved in advocating to change the current salary pay cap which has affected VA’s ability to hire and meet its mission to provide timely access to high-quality care for Veterans.

In other news, the current continuing resolutions (CR) which funds the Federal Government expires on Friday, December 3 which means if an agreement about the FY 2022 Appropriations is not met, the government faces a possible shutdown by midnight. Note – VA is funded under advance appropriations which provides funding in advance, so the agency is not held hostage to the annual budget battles in Congress, but any long-term CR would have serious effects on VA services.  The advance appropriations process only works properly if funding levels are adjusted to address increased demand for benefits and services as part of the following year’s regular appropriations process, as is necessary for fiscal year 2022. Under a CR, all programs, services and benefits would remain funded at fiscal year 2021 levels, which would fall short of what VA need to take care of Veterans. 

As noted in previous newsletter articles, FY 2022 funding for VA, includes about $270 billion in total discretionary funding with $97.5 billion for Medical Care.

The House recently cleared the Build Back Better bill which includes social reform programs like paid family and medical leave, lower health care and Rx drug costs, extended child tax credits, universal pre-K and climate initiatives. This bill bookends the Infrastructure bill which the President signed as part of his Build Back Better Agenda, included in the package are several VA provisions - for the House VA Committee fact sheet on how VA will benefit from the new law: BBB Fact Sheet.pdf (house.gov)

I encourage all of you to remain engaged with your members of congress about the need for more staffing, stronger HR, and critical incentives to hire healthcare professionals within VA.

For a complete list of NOVA letters and congressional testimony, visit the NOVA website  Understand the Issues (vanurse.org)

Stay tuned!