Dear NOVA Members,

Dr. Richard Stone, Executive in Charge of the Veterans Health Administration, announced the #IWearAMaskFor America social media campaign. On behalf of NOVA, I am asking you who do you wear a mask for? Send a message to NOVA via Facebook Messenger or email NOVA at nova@vanurse.org with your photo, name, title and VA facility, as well as who you wear the mask for. Your photo will be displayed on the NOVA Nurses Participating in #IWearAMaskFor America banner on the NOVA website: https://www.vanurse.org . Don't forget to use the #IWearAMaskFor in your social media posts. 

Without hesitation, the national NOVA Board of Directors jumped right in to participate in this social media campaign. Understanding how important this call to action is, we donned our masks and shared who we mask up for. Please join us in this effort to save lives and inspire others to do the same during this public health crisis.

Stay safe and healthy!

With appreciation,

Kelly D. Skinner, DNP, APRN, NP-C, GNP-BC, CRRN, WCC, CFCN  

#IWearAMaskFor America Social Media Campaign

Dr. Richard Stone: #IWearAMaskFor America

https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/77334/dr-richard-stone-iwearamaskfor-america/

National NOVA Board of Directors Participating in #IWearAMaskFor America Social Media Campaign

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

Teresa Morris, Director, Advocacy & Government Relations

Greetings NOVA Members –

We have made it to August, which means that Congress is on recess and working in their District/State offices for the entire month.  It is particularly important this year as the November elections are looming and many will be on the campaign trail – most likely in a different format than we are used to because of the pandemic – discussing issues important with their constituency.

I urge all of you to watch their websites and plan to join the conversation and a take part in our 2020 August Recess Challenge. Be an advocate for VA healthcare and what you do every day for our Nation’s Veterans.

NOVA continues to be the leading advocate for VA nurses.  How to find your Representative and Senators local office information, and guidance on How to Schedule a Meeting with Your Member of Congress and other critical information can be found on the NOVA website under the Advocacy/2020 August Recess.

NOVA continues to remind Congress the importance of passing a robust budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure the delivery of timely, quality healthcare and other services for Veterans. We support and stand by the recommendations of the Independent Budget (IB). The IB, is put together by Veterans Service Organizations - DAV, PVA and the VFW – it is recognized as an accurate assessment of what is needed by VA to provide care for Veterans. Recommendations for FY 2021 and FY 2022 Advance Appropriations are all assessed and projected.

As stated in their opening remarks the IBVSOs believe that “the ever-growing demand for health care and benefits, particularly with more health care being provided in the community purchased by VA, certainly validates the continued need for sufficient funding. Although VA has fared better than most federal agencies in budget proposals and appropriations, the real measure should be how well the funding matches the demand for Veterans’ benefits and services.

http://www.independentbudget.org/116-congress/

I urge you to take a look at the all of Advocacy links on the NOVA website and our August Recess Toolkit to be prepared for August.   Educate yourself on our 2020 Legislative Priority Goals and ask the tough questions.

Stay tuned to our Social Media sites for other important legislative updates as we move through August and get ready for the final months of the 116 ^th Congress.

As always, all the COVID news and resources continue to be available on the Department of Veterans Affairs and both House and Senate VA Committees’ websites and social media with up to date information on the pandemic for Veterans and those taking care of them.

Thank you again for all you do and for your heroism every day! 

Stay Tuned!

Veda Forte, NP

Central Virginia VA Health Care System

Richmond, VA

NOVA Chapter 420

Glenda A. Tidale, DNP

Dr. Glenda Tisdale graduated in August 2019 from George Washington University with her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) . Her concentration is in leadership and management. She currently serves as the Supervisor and Lead for the Home Telehealth (HT) program at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System. Dr. Tisdale is a member of Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, the American Nurses Association (ANA), and Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. 

Dr. Tisdale is a proud wife and mother of 3 daughters and has worked tirelessly to be a great role model and inspiration to young girls. She has been active and is a faithful servant in the community.

Dr. Tisdale was selected to be the student speaker for George Washington’s School of Nursing Class of 2020 during the virtual commencement ceremony. Her speech was entitled The Other 'Big C' – Courage. The highlight of the speech was the dynamic quote by Maya Angelou, “courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently”.

Dr. Tisdale also serves as the HT liaison for the Richmond VA’s national telehealth program. In her current job capacity, she is often looked to for guidance from the VISN 6 HT staff. She participates in VISN HT leads calls on behalf of the VISN lead. 

Dr. Tisdale has an Associate’s Degree in Nursing, a BSN from Old Dominion, and a MSN from The George Washington University. She has consistently served as a patient advocate and is an innovative thinker. Dr. Tisdale has an extensive nursing background with concentrations in adult med-surg, mental health, orthopedics, oncology, and health informatics. 

Congratulations to Dr. Tisdale for these auspicious accomplishments and being an asset to the Department of Veterans Affairs!

Dear NOVA Members,

As an organizational affiliate member of the American Nurses Association (ANA), NOVA can have one representative at the Membership Assembly. The representative, usually the President of the organization, must be a registered nurse and is eligible to vote on matters except the setting of membership dues and amendment of bylaws. The Chief Staff Officer of the organizational affiliate is given a courtesy seat at the Membership Assembly with a voice but no voting privileges. As NOVA President, I was fortunate to observe the ANA Virtual Special Membership Assembly 2020 Meeting on June 1^stand take part in the ANA Organizational Affiliates Meeting on June 18^th. Deb Dupnik, NOVA’s Executive Director, and I both participated in the ANA Membership Assembly on June 19^th.

The ANA Membership Assembly, the governing and official voting body of the ANA, consists of ANA members, who are representatives from ANA’s constituent member organizations (C/SNAs), Individual Member Division (IMD), and Organizational Affiliates (OAs). It provides an open forum for discussion of national and timely nursing practice and policy issues with input from various nursing leaders, which determines policy and positions for the Association. However, due to the concern that nurses might not be in a frame of mind to discuss topics other than the COVID-19 pandemic, ANA’s Professional Policy Committee made the decision in April 2020 to cancel all Dialogue Forums for 2020. The five scheduled topics: Universal Coverage that Recognizes the Value of Nursing; Global Climate Change; Precision Health and Genomics; Trauma Informed Care; and Attribution of Errors in Nursing-Facing Technologies and Extrinsic Burdens of Health Documentation and the Role of Nursing in the Interoperability of Health Data will be automatically considered for the 2021 Membership Assembly.

Thelma Roach-Serry, currently serving as NOVA’s Immediate Past President, and I attended the ANA Membership Assembly at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C. June 20 – 22, 2019. Unfortunately, having the Membership Assembly in person this year wasn’t an option due to the coronavirus crisis. Since Organizational Affiliates aren’t allowed to vote on bylaws amendments, I just viewed the two-hour Virtual Special Meeting of the Membership Assembly that was held on June 1, 2020. The sole purpose of this meeting was to consider the ANA bylaws proviso so the Annual Membership Assembly could be held virtually and the national elections conducted remotely; the proviso was adopted. 

On Thursday, June 18^, 2020, ANA President Ernest J. Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN called the two-hour Organizational Affiliates Meeting to order, provided the Welcome/Introductions, Meeting Procedures, Update from the ANA, Introduction of Organizational Affiliate Liaison Candidates and led the Group COVID-19 Discussions. All the Organizational Affiliates were asked to submit a brief update on their activities including an Annual Review, Plan for the Future, and Concluding Comments and share this report during the meeting. Here is NOVA’s Report .

The 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting of the Membership Assembly took place on Friday, June 19, 2020. ANA President Ernest Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN called the meeting to order at 5:00pm with a Technology Check and then proceeded to Introductions and Order of Business. He delivered an eloquent President’s Address that spoke to the racial injustices in our country and how COVID-19 has diverted attention away from the "Year of the Nurse". Numerous reports were given from the Nominations and Elections Committee, the ANA Treasurer, Acting Chief Executive Officer, and Professional Policy Committee. There were also COVID-19 Discussions, a Nightingale Tribute, and Voting Instructions on the Dues Escalator Motion and National Elections. An emergent proposal was submitted and a resolution on racial justice for communities of color was adopted. The Membership Assembly adjourned at 8:15pm.

NOVA is a proud Organizational Affiliate of the ANA – We appreciate partaking in the ANA’s Membership Assembly and the opportunity to share our knowledge and experience. Aiming to advance the nursing profession by promoting high standards of nursing practice, a safe and ethical work environment, the health and wellness of nurses, and advocacy on health care issues that impact nurses and the public is a goal we share. Therefore, we consider our partnership with the ANA to shape the nursing profession and future of nursing, and transform health care mutually beneficial.

With appreciation,

Kelly D. Skinner, DNP, APRN, NP-C, GNP-BC, CRRN, WCC, CFCN  

2019 ANA Membership Assembly 

Thelma Roach-Sherry, Ernest Grant and Kelly Skinner