The 2020 Nursing Leadership Scholarship in Honor of Catherine J. Rick

Recipient: Jonlyn Glenn, BSN, RN

I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to the NOVA Scholarship Committee and to all who generously support this wonderful organization making these scholarships possible. I am so thankful to NOVA for its commitment to supporting the growth and success of VA nurses. Over the years, NOVA has provided me with mentors and role models who have inspired me to further my education.  Now, NOVA is making that goal even more attainable by providing additional support with an educational scholarship. Answering NOVA’s essay questions provided a great opportunity for me to reflect on my last five years with the VA healthcare system and to appreciate, all over again, what a privilege it is to serve our nation’s Veterans. It helped me to clarify my nursing goals and put to words the ways in which I hope to give back to an organization that has already given me so much.

Not only will the NOVA scholarship be a great help to my family financially, but more importantly it has given me a renewed sense of motivation, pride in my work and  excitement for the future of my nursing career. After receiving this scholarship, I spent some time reading about Ms. Catherine J. Rick and her years of dedicated service to the VA. In doing  so, I have become even more inspired and enthusiastic about pursuing my nursing passions and  making a tangible difference for others, as Ms. Rick has so impressively done. I am grateful to add another role model to my list and I am committed to giving my best effort in living up to the title of this scholarship. I hope to one day be able to give back to the nursing profession, and to NOVA in particular for the opportunities it has afforded me. Thank you for helping me to continue my education and for widening my eyes to so many possibilities. Please know that NOVA has made a profound difference in my life and I appreciate your generosity and support immensely.

Jonlyn Glenn

The 2020 Veterans Advocacy Scholarship in Honor of Anthony J. Principi

Recipient: Ashley N. Jones, MS, BSN, RN, OCN, CHPN, NE-BC

I have been a VA Nurse for almost nine years. I was also a student nurse technician at the VA for two and a half years while completing my BSN. To say the VA has shaped the nurse I am is an understatement. I have grown both professionally and personally during my career at the VA. I started as a student nurse technician and am now a nurse manager. I also completed my BSN and MS while at the VA. I am currently in pursuit of my DNP. My VA Journey has been a fulfilling one thus far and is far from stalling. I will be starting the research and project portion of my degree soon. This award will help me evaluate the effectiveness of telemedicine in the prevention of cancer in the Veteran population. This scholarship will afford me the opportunity to complete my DNP program and fully dedicate myself to this endeavor. Words cannot express my gratitude and appreciation for this generous scholarship. Thank you for the opportunity!

Ashley N. Jones

The 2020 Commitment to Serving Veterans Scholarship in Honor of Jesse Brown

Recipient: Danielle L. Alderman, BSN, RN

Receiving this scholarship alleviates some of the stress and anxiety associated with pursuing a graduate degree. In addition to the financial burdens graduate school can place on an individual, I have been tasked with many other competing factors in the last year such as maintaining full-time employment, raising a family in a single parent household, caring for an ill parent, recovering from a COVID-19 infection, and parenting school-age children during a pandemic. However, I consider it all worth it for the value of receiving an advanced degree knowing the impact it will have on my career as a VA Nurse. A graduate nursing degree with a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) certification will help advance nursing practice and the quality of care provided to Veterans at the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System. Veterans have sacrificed so much in service to this country that they deserve that same sacrifice and commitment from me and all VA nurses across the country. Thank you, NOVA, for your support!

Danielle L. Alderman

The 2020 Nurse Emeritus Academic Scholarship in Honor of Mary Raymer

Recipient: Kim Claude, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC

It is a privilege to be awarded with the Nurse Emeritus Academic Scholarship in Honor of Mary Raymer by the Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs. This scholarship will help me achieve my goal of completing my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. 

I am a nurse practitioner at the VA Boston in surgical services, otolaryngology. Currently, my scholarly project is implementing a perioperative pathway for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Untreated OSA, especially in conjunction with medication that depresses respiratory drive, can lead to death. To provide safe, efficient and evidence-based care for our nation’s Veterans, implementing a perioperative clinical pathway for surgical patients with suspected or verified OSA is imperative. The goal of this project is to reduce postoperative adverse events for patients with confirmed or suspected OSA, and to improve referrals to sleep medicine for newly identified patients who fail OSA screening.

Once I receive my DNP, I will continue to examine current practices within the Veterans Health Administration and think of ways to improve the quality of care to Veterans.

Thank you,

Kim Claude

The 2020 NOVA Annual Meeting Scholarship

Recipient: Nancy Brooks, BSN, RN, WCC, CFCN

Being a NOVA member is important to me. Over the years, I have attended several NOVA annual meetings. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting San Francisco, New Orleans, Dallas and Miami where I was able to meet other VA nurses, attend many informational lectures and view poster presentations. When I saw the opportunity to apply for a scholarship for the 40^th Annual Meeting, I didn’t hesitate. I am very appreciative that I was selected to receive an annual meeting scholarship. Although it was virtual, the feeling of being a part of something as great as NOVA didn’t change. Thank you again for the opportunity to attend this year’s annual meeting as well as the many great annual meetings over the years. I am already looking forward to attending next year’s meeting in Las Vegas!

Nancy Brooks

TJ Wilcox-Olson, MHS, RN

NOVA President-Elect

Portland VAMC, OR

NOVA Chapter 332

This year is certainly one to remember and NOVA has had to make many changes to activities in response to COVID-19. This included changes surrounding the NOVA Annual Meeting and fundraising. Members of the Annual Meeting Planning Committee and the Nurse Emeritus Committee had to get creative about some of the activities traditionally held during this event.

NOVA’s Nurse Emeritus Committee has long assisted in raising funds for NOVA nursing scholarships with raffles or silent auctions during the meeting. With the meeting format changing from face-to-face to a virtual event, there were new challenges with raising money. Last summer the group proposed hosting a 5K event where NOVA members and supporters could still come together in some way to celebrate NOVA’s 40^th anniversary.

NOVA has historically hosted an optional event where Annual Meeting attendees could spend more time networking during a fun activity in the city where the meeting is held. This year the committees combined fundraising efforts with the optional event in a virtual format and NOVA hosted its first NOVA Nursing Heroes 5K.

Members were encouraged to register for the event and complete it with family and friends, or as a chapter activity as social distancing allowed. Registrants were encouraged to send in photos of themselves completing the 5K, making this a more interactive experience. One of the best parts was that all participants received a NOVA-branded racing medal.

Registration for the event began August 21, 2020 and ended October 31, 2020.  The event took place from the beginning of the week of Annual Meeting (October 29 - 30)  through Veterans Day (November 11). Participants were encouraged to complete those 3.1 miles however they chose--running, skipping, dancing, jogging, walking, or swimming. They could do it all at once or break it up over a few days.

Thank you to all who participated and made this event a success. Monies raised this year will help to honor Mary Raymer’s contributions to NOVA and provide scholarship funds to a deserving nurse to offset educational expenses.

Catherine Giasson, DNP, MHA, RN, NE-BC

VA Central Western MA Health Care System, Leeds, MA

NOVA Chapter 232

During the NOVA’s 40^th Annual Meeting award ceremony on October 29, 2020, Cathy Giasson, Associate Nurse Executive at the VA Central Western MA Healthcare System and national NOVA Director, presented the Distinguished Chapter Award to NOVA Chapter 232 members: John Templeton, Christopher Bennet, and Tim Moran.

                        Cathy Giasson                                   John Templeton, Christopher Bennet

                                                                                                                and Tim Moran

Danielle Alderman is the 2020 NOVA Educational Scholarship: Commitment to Serving Veterans Scholarship in Honor of Jesse Brown Winner. Congratulations, Danielle!

  Danielle Alderman

Christy Rios, BSN, RN

Spark Matsunaga VA Medical Center

Honolulu, Hawaii

Aloha! My name is Christy Rios. I am a NOVA nurse and I work at the Spark Matsunaga VA Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. One of my favorite places on Oahu is Gunstock Ranch where I spend my weekends horseback riding.

I graduated with a BSN from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in May 2018. I was hired as a nurse in Primary Care at the Spark Matsunaga VA Medical Center. I served as a PACT Care Manager for about a year and a half, and recently transferred over to Specialty Care to become our VA facility's Infectious Diseases Nurse.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic affected the U.S. in March 2020, I was selected  to become a part of our Respiratory Response Team (RRT). In collaboration with the Infectious Disease (ID) provider, I established our facility's COVID-19 drive thru testing clinic. I helped develop our standard operating procedure (SOP) and set-up our drive-thru testing hours/schedule. I also tracked the test results of Veterans who are not yet assigned to a PACT and perform follow-up calls to monitor their symptoms. I assisted by doing contact tracing for our COVID-19 positive Veterans & employees. I also train/orient our newer RRT members to drive-thru testing to ensure that they feel confident and our operations run smoothly.

Currently I am a member of our Scarce Resource Committee. We hold bimonthly meetings to discuss any issues and concerns that have been brought forth to us regarding PPE along with staff and Veteran safety.

The Nursing Education Department has asked me to join our "Flu Vaccine Campaign" and take part in establishing our facility's drive thru flu shot clinic. Our Veterans Health Education Coordinator and I recently collaborated to create a "Lunch & Learn" online presentation.

I joined NOVA as a new employee in March, 2019, as I wanted to be part of the professional nursing organization for VA nurses. I am extremely impressed with NOVA’s dedication to the VA, and our Veterans. I love NOVA's presence on social media (Facebook and Instagram) as I am able to see the faces of fellow members and get updates and information about current events. I am very thankful to be a NOVA member and I hope to continue to make NOVA proud.

Michelle Salazar, BSN, RN

NOVA Director

VA Black Hills, Fort Meade, SD

NOVA Chapter 364

Michelle Salazar, BSN, RN

NOVA Director Michelle Salazar, BSN, RN has been with Black Hills Health Care Veterans Affairs since 2012. She began as an Emergency Department Nurse, worked as a Case Manager for Care in the Community and as the Private Hospitalization Nurse. She currently is the Bed Manager and Patient Flow (Transfer) Coordinator and has been working on developing this program for her VA. Michelle was a “late in life” nurse and prior to working for the VA, she worked for Regional Health in the local hospital as well as the main campus in the Emergency Department, and was a travel nurse in the Denver, Colorado area.

Michelle has been very passionate about legislation surrounding VA and Veterans. She was awarded NOVA’s Professional Nurse Award for Clinical Excellence due to her efforts and passion advocating for our Veterans navigating through the Choice Act. She is currently the Chair of the NOVA Legislative Committee and Social Media Committee. “I am so honored to be a member of such a great organization. I have been received with open arms and allowed to step out of my shell for my voice to be heard in honor of all Veterans I care for."