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!

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

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.

Yvette Twum-Danso, MSN, RN, CCRN, PhDc

Columbia VA Health Care System, Columbia, South Carolina

NOVA Chapter 362

Maggie Keller, BSN, RN and Medical Director Dr. David Omura

Maggie Keller, BSN, RN, Assistant Nurse Manager, is the recipient of the 2020 Diversity & Inclusion Award. She is the Unsung Hero who demonstrated outstanding efforts in promoting diversity awareness and representation at the facility level and within our community partners. Ms. Keller provided partnerships between nurse managers and employees to resolve diversity workplace issues while promoting diversity workplace education and communication strategic methods through cultural competency and educational initiatives.

Heather Roth, MSN, RN and Medical Director Dr. David Omura

Heather Roth, MSN, RN, Veteran Health Education Coordinator, is the recipient of the 2020 Silver Diversity & Inclusion Award. Ms. Roth demonstrated outstanding efforts in promoting diversity awareness and representation at the facility level and within our community partners. Ms. Roth provided partnerships between employees and Veterans to resolve diversity workplace issues while promoting diversity workplace education and communication strategic methods through cultural competency and educational initiatives.

How Did YOU Celebrate this Year?

2020 has been a difficult year for everyone, including our own NOVA nurses who have been on the frontlines since March taking care of the Veterans. To celebrate the hard work of our members and nurses everywhere, this year was named Year of the Nurse.

NOVA’s Year of the Nurse

With COVID-19 in full swing, NOVA’s Nurses Week and Annual Meeting were different, hosted virtually but still focused on celebrating NOVA members’ resilience and unyielding commitment to patients. NOVA's social media lit up during both of these events with a nod to the Year of the Nurse. See the slideshow video here.

Your Year of the Nurse

Many NOVA nurses celebrated the Year of the Nurse in their own ways.

One NOVA nurse’s facility celebrated the Year of the Nurse during the pandemic by serving food and desserts to different nursing units and other disciplines. During Nurses Week, nurses received a laminated Nursing Prayer, and during hurricane season, NOVA nurses came together and worked diligently to send personal hygiene items, food, and clothing to areas affected by the hurricanes.

Another member reported that their facility ordered t-shirts that nurses could wear throughout the year, posted unit-based videos to their employee site, and had a Nurse Recognition Wall.

Other NOVA nurses celebrated the Year of the Nurse by giving out personalized bags filled with self-care items, a nursing awards ceremony to recognize education advancements and certifications, and more. 

The NOVA community came together to recognize, support, and celebrate their colleagues and friends in nursing. What a proud year for nurses!

What Year of the Nurse Means to You

Looking back on the year, NOVA wanted to know what the Year of the Nurse meant to you, the frontline defense for Veterans during the pandemic.

One nurse said that nurses are the backbone of the healthcare industry; have been trusted year after year by the public to provide quality, safe care; and is glad that the Year of the Nurse is there to highlight the difficult work nurses do for the public.

Another member felt that the Year of the Nurse is a way for nurses to acknowledge their hard work and struggles. They continue to say that nurses are always the first to take on caring for others and that they sacrifice so much of themselves to others with no regrets. 

Another nurse wanted to highlight the nurses who are deep in the COVID-19 response, the ones who are picking up the slack, working short-staffed and in unpopular areas like nursing homes, mental health facilities, and even in primary care.

Continue Celebrating in 2021

How can we keep the momentum going as we start a new year still navigating a challenging healthcare climate?

One NOVA nurse thinks nurses’ voices should be heard in Congress about how nurses were involved with the COVID-19 pandemic response and says that nurses were one of the many heroes of the continuing pandemic.

Another member encouraged NOVA chapters to make a display to acknowledge all NOVA nurses in the country. 

In an effort to showcase the reality of NOVA nurses’ work, one member suggested sharing photos of nurses fighting the pandemic on VA websites, screensavers, and publications as well as a “Thank A Nurse” card-writing campaign to continue showing what our members do.

The Year of the Nurse may be over in 2020, but the solidarity, kindness, and camaraderie displayed throughout this year will carry us confidently, compassionately, into 2021 and beyond.