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Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Monday, January 18, 2021
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Kelly D. Skinner, DNP, APRN, NP-C, GNP-BC, CRRN, WCC, CFCN
VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA NOVA Chapter 226 COVID-19 Vaccine The VA Boston Healthcare System started administering the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to patients and staff on Monday, December 21, 2020. Here are some of the NOVA Chapter 226 NOVA nurses who have received the first dose of the vaccine. 
National CRNA Week During National Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) week, NOVA Chapter 226 recognizes the safe and effective care provided by CRNAs to our Veterans. Special shoutout to NOVA member, James Egan, MSN, APRN, CRNA! 
New Job, New Beginnings Congratulations to NOVA Chapter 226 Directors: Theresa Presley, Danielle Newman and Valentina Ward! Theresa is now the ACNS, Inpatient Acute Care at the West Roxbury Campus. Danielle is the Nurse Manager of Urgent Care at the Jamaica Plain Campus and Valentina is the Clinical Resource Nurse at the Jamaica Plain Campus. Best wishes in your new positions! 
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Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Monday, January 18, 2021
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Steven Powell, MSN, RN, RN-BC, CRRN
NOVA Director
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX
NOVA Chapter 388
Steven Powell Hello NOVA Colleagues! I am happy for the opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Steven and I serve as a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Registered Nurse & People With Disabilities Program Manager at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) in Houston, TX. I have been working at MEDVAMC since 2013, where I started with the Veterans Affairs Learning Opportunity Residency (VALOR) Program in SCI. After graduation I accepted a position on a medical-surgical telemetry floor until 2017 when I returned to SCI. I have served in numerous auxiliary roles for my facility, with notable current roles including Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high yield Explosives (CBRNE) Decontamination Instructor and Disaster Emergency Medical Personnel System (DEMPS) Volunteer. Through DEMPS, I was deployed January 2020 to Puerto Rico in response to their 6.4 earthquake, one of my most rewarding experiences as a nurse. 
My path to nursing was rather atypical. Nursing was not the first career that I chose, nor was anyone in my family in the healthcare industry. Originally, I worked in the music industry of New Orleans, and I wore many different hats from show production to DJing. The most notable position I had was with Sony Music as a College Marketing Representative. I was quite effective in this role, earning a gold record through Columbia Records for my efforts on the debut album of MGMT titled "Oracular Spectacular". While the work was fun, there was something missing. Thus, I left music as a career to do some soul searching in Houston. In the process, I began volunteering at a hospital and knew I wanted to be a nurse. I attended the Kramer School of Nursing at Oklahoma City University. I fully credit my graduation to my grandparents, who I lived with during the course of the program. My grandfather is a Marine Corps Veteran, and he has been my inspiration in serving as a nurse with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The love I have for the VA is what led me to choose Duke University in pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing. As I grew in my career as a nurse, I began to understand the value of professional organizations and became a member of NOVA. One of my favorite things about NOVA has been the opportunity to serve on the Legislative Committee. I'm looking forward to co-chair this committee with Ceci McVey alongside Teresa Morris, Director of Advocacy & Government Relations. For those who have not interacted with Teresa, she is one of the best on the Hill. I encourage everyone to read her updates on what is happening in Congress, or even take that next step and join the Legislative Committee. If you have never worked in the world of legislation, now is a perfect time to become involved as the 117th Congress begins. It is my hope that NOVA continues to grow in membership, and that the valuable voice we have to offer continues having a seat at the table on VA legislation. 
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Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Monday, January 18, 2021
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Kimberlee Bayless, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah NOVA Chapter 414
Kimberlee Bayless
Dr. Kimberlee Bayless is a Nurse Practitioner and the Director of the Transitional Pain Service at the Department at George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Utah, where she subsequently received her Master’s degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Doctorate of Nursing Practice with an emphasis in micro-dose intrathecal pump guidelines. Kimberlee is board certified by the American Board of Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Dr. Bayless has practiced pain management in the private sector and has been a nurse for over 22 years in the hospital and academic setting. Dr. Bayless is Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) certified for addiction treatment. She is currently serving as the co-chair for the Utah Nurse Practitioner Pharmacology Conference and on the Legislative Committee for the Utah Nurse Practitioner Association. Dr. Bayless presented at NOVA’s 40th Annual Meeting in October 2020 and several NOVA webinars. She is a member of ONS Pain Management Field Advisory Committee. She is the 2019 Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Nursing recipient for the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
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Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Monday, January 18, 2021
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Nancy Claflin, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CENP, CCRN-K, CPHQ, FNAHQ
Nurse Emeritus NOVA Chapter 110
Nancy Claflin
NOVA presents webinars every month, giving you the opportunity to gain knowledge and ask questions of presenters, as well as obtain nursing continuing education/continuing professional development credits. The Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA) is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
There are seven steps in the registration process, and you have to complete each step in order to be registered. You will receive an email notification from NOVA telling you about the upcoming webinar. On the email that you receive from NOVA, click the "Register Now" button to get started. You have completed the first step in the registration process. 
Next, you will see the following information. It’s important to note that once you complete the registration on the NOVA website, there is an additional link that you need to click to complete your registration. 
Click the "Next" button at the bottom and you will see the next screen, again notifying you that you need to click an additional link following your registration form to complete registration. You have completed the second step in the registration process.
Click "Save & Finalize Registration" and you will receive the Checkout, which has two parts. You have completed the third step in the registration process. 
Click "Proceed to Confirmation". You have completed the fourth step in the registration process. 
Click "Complete Order". You have completed the fifth step in the registration process.
Be sure to click on this page as noted. You have completed the sixth step in the registration process. 
Click on the "Register" button. You have completed the seventh step in the registration process. You will see the following notice that you are registered and can add the registration to your calendar.
You will know that you have successfully registered when you receive the following email.
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Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Monday, January 18, 2021
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Teresa Morris, Director, Advocacy & Government Relations
Greetings NOVA Members – Welcome to 2021 and the 117th Congress – now that the Georgia runoffs are in the books, both the Senate and the House will be controlled by the Democrats. As you may recall the House was democratically controlled in the 116th and the Senate held a Republican majority. What this means is that all of the chairmanships of Senate committees will change along with other leadership. For NOVA, it means that Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) will take the gavel for the VA Committee. Some of the issues likely to be taken up include VA’s electronic health record overhaul, implementation of community care programs and expansion of the newly expanded caregiver benefits. I also believe it is likely that Chairman Tester will spend more time delving into VA’s collaboration with community doctors and hospitals than his Republican predecessors, given the Democrats’ concerns over privatization. On the House side, the VA Committee will again see Mark Takano (D-CA) as Chairman, with new Ranking Member Mike Bost (R-IL) taking over as Ranking Member since Representative Phil Roe retired at the end of last year. Look for oversight on MISSION, the pandemic, more legislation to combat suicide among Veterans as well as VA’s caregiver program rollout and most likely VA infrastructure with the AIR Act Commission beginning its work this year.
*At the time of this publication a list of members for either committee has not been made available -keep watch as I will have more on HVAC and SVAC committee structure later.
Some fun facts, the new Congress will include over 91 Veterans, 50 who served in the military after 2000; 15 that are first-time lawmakers and 6 that are women. There are 2 nurses (RNs) – Lauren Underwood was reelected to the 14th district of Illinois, and Cori Bush (MO-1) is a newly elected member and hails from the St. Louis area. Finally, I wanted to provide a quick look back with thoughts on funding for VA which was wrapped into a COVID-19 relief package and signed by the President on December 27. Congress reached a deal and cleared a $1.4 trillion FY 2021 spending package, along with nearly $900 in coronavirus relief. The funding package keeps the government running through September 20, 2021. VA received $243.2 billion in both discretionary and mandatory funding with $90 billion for medical care accounts. Notably, $10.3 billion was provided for mental healthcare services, of which $313 million is for suicide prevention outreach activities, $815 million for VA medical and prosthetic research, $661 million for women veterans’ health care, and $2.6 billion to modernize the VA’s electronic health record system. For more on final 116th legislation and a list of bills and all VA Committee legislative activity check out the HVAC and SVAC websites: https://veterans.house.gov/ https://www.veterans.senate.gov/ NOVA posted our Advocacy Year in Review which relays all of the activity we had in 2020. Thanks to Legislative Committee Chairs Michelle Salazar and Cecilia McVey along with the entire legislative committee for making it a terrific year for VA nurses and advocacy. As always, I look forward to working with all of you and our new Legislative Team as we educate and mobilize to find the best way to advocate for the VA Nursing community. Stay Tuned!
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Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Monday, January 18, 2021
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Nancy Claflin, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CENP, CCRN-K, CPHQ, FNAHQ
Nurse Emeritus NOVA Chapter 110
Nancy Claflin
NOVA presents webinars each month, with nearly all of them offering continuing professional development credits. The Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA) is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
If you can’t attend the live webinar, you can view the webinar on demand. You can find the webinar on NOVA’s web page, vanurse.org. You are able to view the webinar, complete the evaluation and receive nursing continuing education/continuing professional development credits.
To find the webinars, go to NOVA’s web page: vanurse.org. Under Education, Click on "Webinars". 
The webinars are listed under topics, including Clinical, Non-Clinical, LPN/LVN, APRN, and Proficiency.
Select the topic type, and then select a topic. I’ve selected Non-Clinical Topics. You can see some of the Non-Clinical topics available.
From the list of available Non-Clinical Topics, I’ve selected the topic “Mentoring for Starting and Revitalizing NOVA Chapters.”
The next step is to fill in your first and last name and email address. Then, click on "Register". 
You will see the webinar. Click on the arrow to start the recording. 
After you complete watching the webinar, click to take the survey to complete the evaluation. You will see your information, name, email address, and phone number. Click the "Begin Survey" link at the bottom. 
The evaluation will appear. Complete each section and click "Complete Survey" at the bottom. 
Then, click to obtain your certificate demonstrating nursing continuing education/professional development. 
You will see a list of the webinars you have completed, with the most current on top. 
If you click on the printer icon on the left under options, you will be able to print your certificate.
If you click on the letter icon under options, you will be able to email yourself the certificate.
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Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Monday, January 18, 2021
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All retired VA nurses or those planning on retiring in the next 6 months, are cordially invited to join Nurse Emeritus. If you or anybody you know fits these criteria, please give them this information, which includes the direct link to join.
https://www.vanurse.org/page/join
The Nurse Emeritus Group exists to support the mission and vision of NOVA through continuing engagement of nurses who have retired or have immediate plans to retire from active employment in the VA.
This group seeks to recognize and value the expertise of retired VA nurses through projects that support working VA nurses and the Veterans they serve. We strive to recognize and celebrate the contribution of retired VA nurses through positive affirmation programs and projects. The dues for NOVA Nurse Emeritus members are $50 per year.
Two projects that the group is currently supporting are the mentoring program
and the Mary Ramer Scholarship
. Details about both of these projects can be found on the NOVA website.
Join Today! https://www.vanurse.org/page/joi
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Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Monday, January 18, 2021
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Your Opinion Matters! Deadline to submit is January 31, 2021. NOVA Members, NOVA would like your opinion on educational topics for future webinars and Annual Meetings. We want to provide educational programs that meet your needs. Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey and let us know what kinds of educational topics would interest you. Thank you! Please complete the survey by January 31, 2021. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NEEDS2021
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Posted By Administration,
Monday, January 18, 2021
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During the pandemic, NOVA nurses have been on the frontline caring for Veterans at hospitals, VA medical centers, outpatient clinics, and even traveling to assist in COVID-19 hot spots. Now, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is distributing COVID-19 vaccines to Veterans and health care personnel.
In December 2020, the VA began using an additional 128 sites to vaccinate more
health care personnel and Veterans using both the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines. During the first two weeks of providing the vaccine (Dec.14 - Dec. 27), the
VA
administered the first dose in the vaccine series to over 50,000 health care employees and more than 5,000 Veterans
residing in the VA’s Community Living Centers and Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Centers.
“Having a second COVID-19 vaccine will enable us to reach more facilities and vaccinate more health care personnel and Veterans in additional parts of the country,” VA Secretary Robert L. Wilkie said in a press release. “We continue to implement our COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan and are grateful to be one step closer to seeing the end of this pandemic.”
Additionally, the Military Times
reports that tens of thousands of caregivers who give critical medical care to disabled Veterans will soon be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
With the VA hard at work inoculating Veterans and healthcare providers, NOVA wanted to hear from members about their experiences with the vaccine, and what it means to them now that it is finally become available.
Experience with the Vaccine
NOVA nurses expressed a varied range of experiences regarding the vaccine. Some nurses said that receiving a COIVD-19 vaccine shot was just like getting a flu shot.
“I had some mild soreness at the injection site for a day or so,” said one NOVA nurse. “But overall it was just like getting a regular flu shot.”
Another NOVA nurse was informed of the availability of vaccines at their clinic. Nurses were triaged and then sat in an auditorium at an appropriate social distance until their names were called. “We were also given education regarding the vaccine to read,” the NOVA nurse said. “It took about 15 minutes for my name to be called. I received the vaccine and was escorted to another room for 15 minutes for observation of side effects.”
Most of the NOVA nurses said they had some soreness at the injection site that lasted for one to four days. While most of the nurses reported no serious side effects, some reported flu-like symptoms, lingering headaches, and some fatigue. All of these are common side effects of the vaccine, as per the CDC
.
One NOVA nurse commented on feeling a great amount of joy from getting the vaccine. “The elation and excitement from the morning of my vaccine appointment continues.”
Employers and the Vaccine
According to the NOVA nurses we talked to, it’s all hands-on deck when it comes to getting the vaccine into the arms of Veterans and health care personnel. “The organization is making every effort to provide the vaccines for all those interested in obtaining” noted the NOVA nurse. “Emails are sent daily regarding availability and opportunities to schedule an appointment to get vaccinated.”
One NOVA nurse said their clinic is opening another COVID-19 unit and reassigning a fair amount of staff to manage the vaccination clinic and other understaffed areas affected by COVID.
Other employers are asking and surveying nurses if they are interested in receiving the vaccine. One NOVA nurse told us that distribution is based on a survey taken prior to the vaccine’s arrival.
Another NOVA nurse said that vaccinating frontline workers and at-risk employees was a priority, in addition to Veterans. “My employer ensured that employees are a priority and coordinated the Veterans, as per the CDC guidelines, to get their vaccines distributed,” said the NOVA nurse.
A Meaningful Vaccine
The COVID-19 vaccines are a major step toward ending the pandemic and getting the United States back to some kind of normalcy.
An overwhelming amount of the NOVA nurses are excited and hopeful for the nation, and looking forward to when the vaccines are more widely distributed. The vaccine provides a sense of safety and a “light at the end of the tunnel,” to quote one NOVA nurse.
Another NOVA nurse received the vaccine to protect those that they have daily contact with. “It prevents me from getting the virus and thereby protecting anyone I’m in contact with,” said the NOVA nurse, “most especially the vulnerable patients we take care of at work and our loved ones at home.”
For some, it was important to receive the vaccine because it builds trust with Veterans, showing them that it’s okay to get them. “I influence what others do by my behavior, and the Veterans' experience relies a good deal on the trust they place in their healthcare providers,” said one NOVA nurse. “Ultimately it will be their decision, but I can certainly be authentic in the information I give to them by getting vaccinated.”
According to the National Urban League
, African Americans have been infected with COVID-19 at nearly three times the rate of white Americans. For one NOVA nurse, getting the vaccine will set them as an example for minorities that don’t trust the healthcare system due to decades of abuse.
“Taking the vaccine allows me to show myself as an example to other minorities that are distrustful of the healthcare system and are hesitant to take the vaccine,” another NOVA nurse said.
Overall, the vaccine distribution has been positive for NOVA nurses, Veterans, and other VA personnel. There have been some mild side effects, but due to a tremendous rollout from employers, NOVA nurses are expressing hope for 2021, something that was sorely lacking in 2020.
NOVA has provided a COVID-19 Resources page on our website and can be found here.
Tags:
covid nurses
covid vaccine
covid vaccine stories
COVID-19
nursing
va nurse and covid
va nursing
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Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
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Dear NOVA Members,
The VA has released the COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan and has begun vaccinating the Veterans and frontline staff. On December 14, 2020, Margaret Klessens, a 96-year-old World War II Veteran and resident in the Community Living Center at the Bedford VA Healthcare System, was the first VA patient nationwide to get the COVID-19 vaccine. What a historic event!
NOVA nurses: Steven Powell (Michael E. DeBakey VAMC), Cindy Solomon (Central Virginia VA Health Care System), and Miriam Rogers Holly (Maryland VA Health Care System) who will start serving as Directors on the national NOVA Board in January 2021, have also been given the COVID-19 vaccine. Here is what they have to report.
Steven Powell, MSN, RN-BC, CRRN:
"I didn't feel a thing when I got the COVID-19 vaccine. Eventually mild muscle soreness set in and disappeared akin to the flu shot. I'm happy to have received it and encourage everyone indicated to do so too.”
Cindy Solomon, MSN, APRN, ACNP-BC: “
Thank you to all those that collaborated to make this moment possible. My experience getting the COVID-19 vaccine at the Central Virginia HVCS was a masterfully organized process from beginning to end! Kudos to everyone from planning to implementation.
A little bit of a sore arm was my only side effect. Ready for the second injection in 3 weeks.”
Miriam Rogers Holy, MSN-PH, RN, ACM: “I second-guessed my decision initially to get the COVID-19 vaccine but after reviewing my whys, I decided that receiving it was right for me. I am grateful to the VA nurses for making me comfortable while giving it and watching over me for 20 minutes after. Thank you, VA nurses! I am proud to be among you.”
Catherine Giasson, DNP, MHA, RN, NE-BC,
NOVA Director who assumes the role of NOVA Membership Secretary in January 2021, was given the COVID-19 injection. She said, “On Monday, December 21, 2020, I received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the VA Central Western MA Health Care System
. I chose to receive the vaccine to protect our Veterans, my coworkers, my family, and myself. Get your vaccine today!”
Cathy Giasson
NOVA Past President Cecilia McVey, MHA, RN, FAA, received the COVID-19 vaccine on December 22, 2020 at the VA Boston Healthcare System. She commented, “I am so excited to be getting the COVID-19 vaccine along my fellow staff and patients. Here’s hoping for a healthier and safer 2021!" 
Cecilia McVey
I am happy to share that I received the COVID-19 vaccine on December 22, 2020. I am grateful to be amongst the first at the VA Boston Healthcare System to get it. For those who are eligible for the vaccine, I encourage you to receive it to help protect yourself, your family and our Veterans. Please join us in this effort to save lives and inspire others to do the same during this global crisis.  Kelly D. Skinner On behalf of NOVA, I am requesting that after you receive the COVID-19 vaccine, please send a message to NOVA via Facebook Messenger or email NOVA at nova@vanurse.org with your photo, name, and VA facility. Your photo will be displayed on the COVID-19 Vaccinated NOVA Nurses scrolling banner on the
NOVA website: https://www.vanurse.org. Thank you in advance for your support and participation.
Stay safe and healthy! Happy Holidays!
With appreciation,
Kelly D. Skinner, DNP, APRN, NP-C, GNP-BC, CRRN, WCC, CFCN
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