  
|
Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Thursday, October 22, 2020
|
Teresa Acosta, DNP, RN
El Paso VA Health Care System, El Paso, TX
NOVA Membership Secretary
Teresa Acosta, DNP, RN, is currently the Occupational Health Nurse for the El Paso VA HCS, overseeing the management of the health and wellness for all employees, staff and volunteers. She coordinates Employee Occupational Health Program efforts to ensure that all areas influence and develop integrated process procedures to improve the overall operation of employee occupational health programs. Teresa presented at Nurse Call on Needle Stick and Sharp Injuries, Employee Influenza Vaccine Acceptance and Employee TB Surveillance Program. She created a tracking system for pre-employment physicals to meet the President's initiative for hiring and recruitment.
Teresa has been a nurse for 28 years. She joined the VA system in 2010 at the El Paso VA HCS – El Paso Texas, and brings diverse nursing experiences comprising public health, community, psychiatric, quality, infection control and ambulatory care nursing. She is active in multiple professional VA activities including the Accident Review Board, Construction Committee, Consultative Ethics Committee, and Infection Control Committee. She is the Co-Chair, Retention and Recruitment Committee and Nurse Professional Standards Board, El Paso VAHCS. Teresa is also a Flu Team Champion at her facility.
Teresa is a post master's graduate of Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program at the Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Lubbock. She obtained a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nursing Administration from Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Lubbock, Texas in 2013. Teresa has a master’s degree in Community Health Nursing and a bachelor’s degree in Nursing and Spanish from University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas. She is a clinical instructor in mental health nursing at the University of Texas at El Paso for the undergraduate nursing program.
Teresa upholds professional standards of practice in the delivery of Veteran- centered care. Since 2012, she has been an active NOVA member and a member of the NOVA Legislative Committee. Teresa joined NOVA’s Board of Directors in 2015. She was appointed as NOVA’s Membership Secretary for a 1-year term which began in January 2020. Teresa is also a member of the American Nurses Association, for which NOVA is a proud Organizational Affiliate. She is a member of the Texas Nurses Association District 1 and Sigma Theta Tau. Teresa is the current President of the Texas Nurses Association District 1 and a member of Texas Nurses Association Governmental Affairs Committee for District 1. Teresa is passionate about nursing and understands the significance of the nurse’s role in advocating for nurses, the nursing profession, and quality health care for all in today’s complex health care system.
This post has not been tagged.
Permalink
| Comments (0)
|
|
|
Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
|
Mary Hill, LPN, BS VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA NOVA Chapter 226 Mary Hill has been an LPN for 30 years. She proudly shared that she has worked in every department but the OR over the course of her career. In September 2019, Mary transferred from the White River Junction VAMC to the VA Boston Healthcare System when she first met Carol McTavish, co-chairperson of the NOVA LPN/LVN Committee, during New Employee Orientation. At that time, Mary was not familiar with NOVA. Carol explained to Mary what NOVA is, NOVA’s mission, and the numerous NOVA membership benefits. Mary didn’t take much convincing. She joined NOVA on the spot. Mary enjoys calling into the monthly NOVA LPN/LVN committee meetings on the second Tuesday at 12:00pm EST while she is on her lunch break. Mary currently works in the telehealth department at the VA Boston Healthcare System. She has worked there since September 2019. However, Mary worked in telehealth at the White River Junction VAMC prior to transferring, so she has a total of 2.5 years of experience working in telehealth. In her role, she is responsible for patient and provider VA Video Connect (VVC) training. VVC provides Veterans and their caregivers real-time access to their health care providers through live video on any computer. During the coronavirus pandemic, telehealth has expanded across the healthcare continuum. Mary admits that she is busy but her priority is to ensure the Veterans’ health care needs are met. Mary has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Penn State University. She is finishing her first semester at UMass Boston in the Master's in Rehabilitation Counseling Program. Mary hopes to better serve the Veterans after obtaining the counseling degree. She truly believes that education is essential to growing as an individual and a professional. When Mary is not at work or studying, she enjoys taking long walks and spending time with her family and pets.
This post has not been tagged.
Permalink
| Comments (0)
|
|
|
Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
|
Teresa Morris, Director, Advocacy & Government Relations
Greetings NOVA Members –
We are nearing the end of the 116th Congress with less than a few weeks left of what may be a lame duck session. Unable to get funding cleared for FY 2021 (which began October 1) Congress passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through December 11.
The bill will extend current funding levels (FY 2020) for all federal agencies, but another stopgap measure could become necessary if the lame duck Congress decides to punt on line-by-line funding measures in the weeks immediately following the election. As a reminder, the House has passed 10 of the 12 annual spending bills, and the Senate has yet to approve any of its bills, even at the committee level.
In other news, the House passed several Veterans bills which had cleared the VA Committee in late September. Three of the bills contain provisions to enhance mental health and combat suicide among Veterans – a top priority for both House and Senate VA Committees. NOVA commented on several of the bills and provided our thoughts on provisions we believed should be part of any package. Unfortunately, none of the provisions were included in final language, but we intend to continue advocating for these critical issues in the 117th.
NOVA’s thoughts on legislation can be found on our website at: https://www.vanurse.org/page/congressionalstatements
A list of the bills and all VA Committee legislative activity can be found on the HVAC website: https://veterans.house.gov/
As we inch closer to the 2020 Election, NOVA continues its
Get Out the Vote campaign. I hope all of you have had a chance to look at your State information on the websites we provided as part of the informational campaign. Stay tuned to our social media for more in the coming weeks leading up to November.
I would also like to take this opportunity to ask any NOVA member who is interested in advocacy and policy and helping us move our agenda and priorities forward to consider joining the NOVA Legislative Committee. As we enter into a new Congress (117th) in January, we will need individuals to help us develop our annual legislative agenda and priority goals and help to educate other members on the best way to advocate for the VA Nursing community.
A call for new members will be going out soon with more information and details about the committee.
Stay Tuned!
This post has not been tagged.
Permalink
| Comments (0)
|
|
|
Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
|
Bridget Keefe, BSN, RN
VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA NOVA Chapter 226
Bridget Keefe, BSN, RN
Bridget Keefe is a full-time nurse on nights in the Surgical ICU at the West Roxbury Campus at the VA Boston Healthcare System. She is a graduate of Norwich University’s Nursing Program of 2018 where she received her commission as an Officer into the Army. Bridget is a U.S. Army First Lieutenant Nurse with the Massachusetts Army National Guard and serves as a Medical Treatment Platoon Leader within the 182nd Area Support Medical Company. During the Commonwealth of Massachusetts crisis, she was placed on active military duty with her National Guard unit to support the patients impacted with the Virus at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. The virus devastated the elderly residents, and The National Guard was tasked to deliver care, establish protocols to help control the spread of the virus, and provide acute care to the patients. From March through August 2020, Bridget oversaw 60 Army and Air Force medics, and 20 Army and Air Force nurses and 8 military Doctors. She filled the role of Acting Night Shift Supervisor at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, implementing training to both military and civilian personnel on the new policies and procedures to control the COVID-19 outbreak. She assisted the Infectious Disease administration in creating a PPE policy, COVID testing policy, aerosol medication administration policy, End of life COVID management policy, and COVID patient transfer policies. “When we first got to the Holyoke Soldiers Home, we were told we would mostly be assisting in nutrition repletion and assisting the staff in any way we could. It quickly turned into us filling in roles as nurses, nursing assistants, and administration personnel along with the decimated Holyoke Soldiers’ Home staff due to the severity of the COVID outbreak within the facility. As soon as we walked in the facility, we were 100% invested with the Soldiers’ Home Staff in doing whatever we could to take care of and support these Veterans and their families.” Bridget took this opportunity to put her nursing skills and military leadership to use by also serving as a Day Nurse Supervisor to the Holyoke Soldiers Home. She coordinated scheduling and staffing for the units, implemented education and training for staff, continued to facilitate end of life measures, implemented infectious disease policies, as well as coordinated family visitation and computer “FaceTime” meetings with the use of iPads donated by the Military Friends Foundation. “COVID-19 definitely showed how strong and versatile nurses are as well as how critical they are throughout the healthcare field. We wear many hats, as I quickly learned during the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home mission. I am thankful I had such a strong support system with my National Guard unit and my amazing co-workers at the VA continuously checking in with me, giving me the guidance and support needed during these very trying times. I realized how much I have learned from serving as a VA Nurse. The mentoring and teaching I received from our great VA healthcare professionals allowed me to make a difference. It gave me the tools I needed to accomplish our mission, and make sure the patients that recovered from the virus, and those that we kept from becoming infected, were protected and received the medical attention all patients and Veterans hope for when entering a medical facility.” 
This post has not been tagged.
Permalink
| Comments (0)
|
|
|
Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
|
NOVA Past Presidents
NOVA is proud to recognize and thank the following Past Presidents for their tremendous service to NOVA and VA Nurses. 
This post has not been tagged.
Permalink
| Comments (0)
|
|
|
Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Monday, September 21, 2020
|
Every year since 2008, Congress proclaims a Saturday in December as National Wreaths Across America Day. This year, on Saturday, December 19, 2020, NOVA will be helping Arlington National Cemetery to Remember and Honor our Veterans by sponsoring Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country's fallen heroes. Please help us honor and remember as many fallen heroes as possible by sponsoring remembrance wreaths, volunteering on Wreaths Day, or inviting your family and friends to attend with you. 2020 Theme: Be an American Worth Fighting For Inspired by Staff Sgt. Daniel Strong and his keynote address during the 2018 escort to Arlington at Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School (Monty Tech), located in Fitchburg, MA. As an infantryman in the Marine Corps, he lost 18 Marines during his service, three were his friends when he was a Lance Corporal, six as their Squad Leader, and the remaining nine as their Platoon Sergeant. SSgt. Strong's raw emotion was felt by all on that cold December day, as he spoke about his strong conviction to teach his JROTC students to exemplify, on a daily basis, the Wreaths Across America mission. “Be an American worth the sacrifice. In your daily operations, and in how you deal with one another and how you live your life. Those young men and women who are in Arlington National Cemetery and other cemeteries, they earned the right for you to be an "American worth fighting for.” Order online through the direct link to the NOVA page by November 30th https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/NJ0179P - Click Sponsor Wreaths
- Select the # of wreaths to sponsor
- Add other options (grave specifics, etc.) as desired.
- Complete checkout process with credit/debit card or PayPal. Be sure to verify that NOVA’s group ID: Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs and location ID: Arlington National Cemetery are indicated on your order prior to submitting. Thank you so much for supporting the Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs and Wreaths Across America!
This post has not been tagged.
Permalink
| Comments (0)
|
|
|
Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Monday, September 21, 2020
|
|
If you plan to retire from the VA within the next six months, please consider joining as a NOVA Nurse Emeritus Member. https://www.vanurse.org/page/join
GOVERNANCE
The Nurse Emeritus Group is composed of NOVA members who have retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs or who are planning retirement within the next calendar year. The Group is an established group within the Nurses Organization
of Veterans Affairs (NOVA) and, as such, adheres to all policies and practices as governed by the Bylaws of NOVA.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Nurse Emeritus Members exist 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 VA.
The Nurse Emeritus Group:
-
Seeks to recognize and value the expertise of retired VA nurses through projects that support the working VA nurses and the Veterans they serve.
-
Strives to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of retired VA nurses through positive affirmation programs and projects.
-
Participates in projects such as NOVA membership promotion and fundraising efforts to support nursing scholarships.
The dues for NOVA Nurse Emeritus members are $50 per year.
NOVA is welcoming Nurse Emeritus applications.https://www.vanurse.org/page/join
|
This post has not been tagged.
Permalink
| Comments (0)
|
|
|
Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Monday, September 21, 2020
|
Dear NOVA Members,
National Leadership Day is celebrated on September 4th. It is a day to recognize leaders who strive to make the world a better place; those who add value to the lives of the people they serve.
In August 2020, prior to National Leadership Day, I attended the virtual conference, Nursing Alliance Leadership Academy (NALA): Educating Leaders in Nursing, with several national NOVA board members: TJ Wilcox-Olson, Ruth Holmes, Terry Acosta, Thelma Roach-Serry, Cathy Giasson, Betty Ogren, and Deb Dupnik. It was a great opportunity to develop and enhance our knowledge and skills related to governing and leading an organization effectively. Presentation topics included: “Leading with Joy”, “Leading Successful Virtual Meetings & Conferences”, “Legal & Financial Stewardship for Association Leaders”, “Leadership Styles in Times of Crisis”, “Developing an Effective Board-Executive Director Partnership”, “Coping with the New Reality as Leaders (Mental Health), and a “Virtual Sip, Laugh & Chat Closing Session”. The information presented on effective volunteer governance leadership was very valuable. I also enjoyed learning how to concoct the Mint Julep, a Kentucky classic; it was a fun way to end the program.
I came away from the NALA conference energized and inspired, but I recognize that actually staying inspired and energized after the conference isn’t so easy. Let’s face it. Leadership is hard work. Leaders are supposed to set the standard for work ethic while inspiring others to give their best. Feeling pressed for time, like there aren’t enough hours to do everything you want to do, is a reality. Everyone is so busy with personal and professional commitments these days, but having a healthy work life balance in order to maintain performance, efficiency and professional welfare is essential. In honor of National Leadership Day, I would like to acknowledge some of our NOVA Nurse Leaders who deserve recognition. They serve in a variety of roles such as a VA Medical Center Director, VA Associate Director, Patient Care Services/Nurse Executive, Director on the national NOVA Board, Chairperson of a national NOVA Committee, and NOVA Facebook Administrator. See the photos below. These NOVA Nurse Leaders are LPNs, RNs, and APRNs who work in a variety of clinical settings and wear multiple hats. Not only are they functioning in numerous leadership positions, but they are also involved in a variety of professional nursing activities and volunteer opportunities. Through ambition and resilience, they are consistently pursuing greater goals. To all our NOVA Nurse Leaders, thank you for your leadership and vision. These are unprecedented times, and the fact that you continue your ongoing efforts at the local, state and national level advancing the profession of nursing to ensure Veterans receive the quality care they deserve is commendable. Stay safe and healthy! With appreciation, 
Kelly D. Skinner, DNP, APRN, NP-C, GNP-BC, CRRN, WCC, CFCN
NOVA Nurse Leaders
VA Medical Center Director and ADPCS/Nurse Executives 
National NOVA Board of Directors
National NOVA Committees Chairpersons and Facebook Administrator
This post has not been tagged.
Permalink
| Comments (0)
|
|
|
Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Monday, September 21, 2020
|
Sometime between the week of NOVA’s Annual Meeting (October 25-31, 2020) and Veterans Day complete your 5K. That’s just 3.1 miles. You choose how you want to complete those miles - running, skipping, dancing, jogging, walking, swimming. You can do it all at once or break it up over a few days.
SUPPORT A WORTHY CAUSE
Support VA nurses by joining this fun experience to raise money for NOVA educational opportunities such as nursing scholarships.
Each year NOVA’s Nurse Emeritus members champion the Mary Raymer Memorial Scholarship Fund
. Monies raised this year will help to honor Mary Raymer’s contributions to NOVA and provide funds to a deserving nurse to offset educational expenses.
REGISTRATION COSTS
1-3 participants $40 per person
$99 for every group of 4 (save $15.25 on each). All medals will be shipped to one location.
Every participant will receive a medal.
REGISTER NOW! https://www.vanurse.org/page/NOVAVirtual5k
This post has not been tagged.
Permalink
| Comments (0)
|
|
|
Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Monday, September 21, 2020
|
Vanessa Coronel, BSN, RN
VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA
NOVA Chapter 226
NOVA Nurse Karen Flaherty started her federal service career in 1988 as a postal carrier and worked there for 19 years. After her children were grown, she pursued her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. At age 42, Karen began nursing school and in 2006, obtained a nursing degree from Quincy College in Massachusetts. Wanting to continue her federal career, she attended a job fair where she met NOVA President Kelly Skinner and Nurse Recruiter, Regina Bauzys. “I just happened to be at the right place at the right time,” Karen said.
Karen’s father was a Veteran so caring for those who have sacrificed for their country has a special place in her heart. As a new graduate, she started working at the VA on the Spinal Cord Injury Unit. Karen knew that this was a great opportunity to give back to the Veterans and enhance her nursing skills. After working on the acute spinal cord injury unit for 6 years, she transitioned to Endoscopy where she specializes in motility procedures. To help diagnose gastrointestinal orders, Karen places probes in a patient’s nasopharyngeal area - a highly-specialized skill that requires knowledge of anatomy and techniques to place the probe with precision, accuracy and minimal discomfort to the patient. She has been in this role for the past eight years.
Joanne Hill, BSN, RN, MM, CGRN
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in March 2020, Karen accepted her nurse manager’s suggestion to be one of the first COVID-19 testers for VA Boston. Her nurse manager, Joanne Hill, who is also a NOVA member, believed that due to Karen’s highly-specialized skill set, she could teach other testers on how to conduct nasopharyngeal tests (nasal swabs) the proper way. “I really did not fear for my safety. In the back of my mind, I knew that there was always a risk of exposure but we have the appropriate personal protective equipment,” Karen said. “I am confident that VA Boston will not put me in a situation where my safety will be compromised. I know that the virus is highly contagious and deadly but if we do things right then there should be no fear. I was concerned but I was not fearful.” As of today, Karen has been free from COVID-19 infections.
The VA’s fourth mission is to provide service to Veterans in times of national emergencies and disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The VA Boston Healthcare System assisted by providing care to Veterans and civilians in the community, therefore, Karen participated in numerous off-site COVID-19 testing. “If the Veterans cannot come to the VA to get tested then we go to the Veterans to deliver this service,” she said. Along with her team, Karen swabbed Veterans at the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home, just outside of Boston, as well as at other Veteran nursing homes in Eastern Massachusetts.
“The most meaningful moment of this experience was when we visited Chelsea Soldiers’ Home,” Karen said. “This was our most vulnerable Veteran population. Due to their age and multiple comorbidities, they would have the worst outcomes if they got infected. They were too weak to go out to get tested. We went to all the Veterans' rooms and got them tested so they could get the appropriate care as soon as possible if they came back positive for COVID-19. It was sad and joyful at the same time. Although the Veterans were vulnerable, we gave them a sense of control by bringing the tests to them. This was a way that we could serve them at the height of this pandemic. It shows our commitment to serve those who have served.”
“People are very anxious and fearful if they get COVID-19. It affects everyone on many levels -- it can affect your livelihood, personal safety and those of their loved ones. It is very satisfying when Veterans and employees come to me and thank me.” Karen said. “They are happy that they are negative so they could go on with their lives. They also thank me when they come back positive so they can quarantine immediately and have a plan in place if their symptoms got worse. Knowledge is power -- knowing if you are COVID-19 positive or negative gives you some sense of control even if we currently do not have any cure or vaccine for COVID-19.”
When Karen was asked to describe her worst experience, she shared that, “Back in March, we had days when it was very cold. With the low wind chill factor, we were out in the tent freezing. Sometimes, it would rain and our shoes got wet,” Karen said. “We are nurses so we improvised “MacGyver-style” and taped the tent in order to continue to conduct the tests despite the freezing temperatures and rain. I am grateful for being a mail carrier. It prepared me to do my job in the COVID-19 testing tent. It taught me to be ready and be very tolerant for whatever the weather may be. Hey, I did it for 19 years and 7 months. Freezing for several hours is no big deal for me.”
In terms of safety, a nurse testing for swabbing must be prepared. “Learn the right way by using evidence-based practice and wear the right PPE. Practice, practice, practice, Karen said. “Explain every step to the patient. Let them know what they will feel and assure them that the discomfort will only last for a few seconds”, Karen said. “Give them emotional support as needed. We need to be cognizant that a lot of our Veterans have PTSD. We need to take it slow, explain every step slowly and allay their fears. Sometimes kind words and a gentle approach to show that you care goes a long way.”
“Good bedside manners matter. As a nurse, show your patients that you care,” Karen said. “Experience is wisdom. What you learned from your past career and what you develop as your professional values will show no matter where you are- as a nurse, a teacher or a mail carrier. “People are resilient,” she adds. “Working at the height of the pandemic as a COVID-19 swabber made me learn a new level of compassion due to the uniqueness and magnitude of the pandemic.”
Karen continues to swab Veterans and VA employees while teaching nurses, medical students and physicians how to conduct a nasal swab test for COVID-19. As of August 6, 2020, Karen has swabbed over 3,000 people but who’s counting?
This post has not been tagged.
Permalink
| Comments (0)
|
|
Print Page
RSS
Blog Home
All Blogs