Our new normal has brought about many changes. We no longer just ‘run to the store’ or ‘grab a cup of coffee with a friend’ like we did a few months ago. Instead,  we use technology and new social protocols when we leave home. As with everything else, the process of buying and selling homes has changed too. Whether you’re looking for your first home, you’ve outgrown that ‘starter’ home, or finally sent the kids off and are ready to downsize, here are some tips to help you navigate the new normal:

1. The ‘Open House’ has gone Virtual!

   Whether you’re selling or buying, you’ll likely be embarking on Virtual Home Tours. These tours are an extension of the pictures you see on popular sites, such as Zillow© or Realtor.com©.  In many cases, these are video walking tours of the property.

   If you’re the seller - consult your realtor on the best ways to have your home standout.  He/she will have suggestions on how to ‘shoot’ the best walking tour or may have an in-office expert who will come out to create the video. If you’re shooting your own video and have a newer smartphone, many of the tools are built in to create a great experience and quality images. Home shopping/buying during this time may mean you are putting in an offer without walking through the property at all.  So be patient, take your time, pay close attention during these virtual tours!

2. A Pre-approval might be the key to your Dream Home

   Consult your realtor for your home market’s specific requirements, make note that where ‘Pre-Approvals’ were once a ‘nice-to-have’, today they have become a necessity in this real estate market. Sellers are seeing multiple offers in a very short time period due to the speed of Virtual Open Houses.  To make sure your offer stands out - - as well as get in to see the home in-person -- a Loan Pre-Approval is crucial to showing you mean business.

3. Let your Budget by your guide

When thinking about that new housing payment, you have more variables to consider these days with COVID-19. Some questions to ask yourself:  If you missed 2 weeks of work due to illness or an injury, could you still afford that month’s mortgage payment? Would an unexpected hospital bill put you behind a month or more? Is your savings enough to get you by or would you need to use credit cards to stay afloat? If something happened to you, would your family be able to stay in that new home? Tough questions to be sure, but questions that need answered before you leap into that next home mortgage.

FED Benefits Center can help with the unexpected curves life can throw at you. If you are about to start the process of buying a new home, let us help put your mind at ease with a quick Benefits Review by calling FED Benefits Center at (800) 440-2468, scheduling your appointment here, or email us at admin@FEDBenefitsCenter.com.

Theresa Presley, MSN, RN, CNL, CCRN

Ms. Theresa Presley began her career in the Department of Veterans Affairs in 1990 after graduating from Quincy College’s Licensed Practical Nurse Program. She began working as a Graduate Nurse Technician on a general medical floor at the VA Boston Jamaica Plain Campus prior to her passing the boards. Ms. Presley returned to Quincy College in 1992 to obtain her Associates Degree in nursing. She went back to school again 16 years later earning her Bachelor’s degree from Curry College and then her Master’s degree from Curry College in 2012. Ms. Presley is certified as a Clinical Nurse Leader.

Ms. Presley’s career has spanned through a variety of settings. She spent 7 years on a general medical/ telemetry unit and 4 years in the Medical Intensive care Unit (MICU) at the VA Boston. In 2000, Ms. Presley moved to the West Roxbury Campus where she worked as a staff nurse then a manager of the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) for over 15 years.

Ms. Presley has been the Associate Chief of Nursing Service (ACNS) of Specialty and Outpatient services at the VA Boston Healthcare System since September 2015. In this role, she ensures that patient-care, clinical, and staffing standards are met and collaborates with senior management on best practices. She provides input into policies and procedures, participates in cross-departmental decision making, conducts performance improvement activities, and represents nursing services regarding outpatient and specialty clinics. Ms. Presley is a leader, educator and consultant utilizing systems management theory in collaboration with numerous clinical and administrative services throughout all three campuses and the community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs).

In June 2016, Ms. Presley presented on Shared Governance Concepts at NOVA’s 36th Annual Meeting, “Strengthening Nurses! Empowering Veterans!” which was held at the Peppermill Resort, Spa, and Casino in Reno, NV. She was the recipient of NOVA’s 2016 Professional Nurse Award for Leadership. Ms. Presley was elected as a NOVA Director in 2017 and 2019. She is a Co-chair of the national NOVA LPN/LVN Committee and the NOVA Awards Committee. Ms. Presley is also active on the local NOVA board at her facility serving as a Director, Treasurer and is currently the President of NOVA Chapter 226.

Teresa Morris, Director, Advocacy & Government Relations

 

Greetings NOVA Members –

NOVA continues to advocate for our nurses during these unusual times and we had a chance to provide our thoughts on how the VA responded to the COVID-19 Pandemic at a hearing held by the House VA Committee (June 11).

Thanks to those who responded to our two COVID -19 surveys, we were able to use the information as a firsthand look into how nurses felt about VA’s work and response during the Pandemic. The testimony touched on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), communication, testing and comments and concerns that you had during the height of the virus. We discussed the findings from the survey and thanked Congress for providing the $19.6 billion in emergency supplemental funding for VA. The funds helped to hire new staff, provide overtime pay, and purchase supplies needed for those caring for Veterans and other COVID patients.

We also discussed the importance of VA’s role and its 4^th Mission - providing backup health care for Veterans and civilians when called up during times of federal emergencies. The VA is asked to assist their Federal partners in providing healthcare expertise, emergency-ready personnel, supplies, and equipment to mobilize in disasters. A critical role which has been activated with staff mobilized in previous emergencies, including Hurricanes Maria (Puerto Rico) and Harvey (Houston) and during the California wildfires.

 

You can read our entire testimony which is available on the NOVA website – https://www.vanurse.org/news/512414/-NOVA-Submits-Testimony-to-House-VA-Committee-on-Pandemic-Progress.htm

In  case you missed it, I also want to call attention to a report  that was released in June by the White House that has ties to the VA and DOD. It is called The President's Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS) report . The report is the work of a Task Force established by an Executive Order which the President signed in March 2019. The report  calls for a number of steps to be taken, including a nationwide public health campaign to change the culture around suicide and mental health.

The Task Force made ten recommendations of which many will be overseen by the VA. The recommendations include - Identifying and prioritizing suicide surveillance and research that focuses on a Veteran’s unique combination of individual, relationship, community, and societal factors; promoting foundational changes to the way research is conducted - including improving the speed and accuracy with which research is translated into practice by improving efficiency through data sharing and data curation practices; and developing effective partnerships across government agencies and non-government entities and organizations to increase capacity and impact of programs and research to empower Veterans and prevent suicide.

The entire report and recommendations can be found at: https://www.va.gov/PREVENTS/docs/PRE-007-The-PREVENTS-Roadmap-1-2_508.pdf

I urge you to continue to watch the NOVA website and follow us on social media for news on NOVA’s Annual Meeting – October 29-30. The NOVA Program Planning Committee has designed an extraordinary educational event this year – all focusing on providing outstanding care for our Nation’s Veterans. 

 

As always, all of 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!

We all have, at one time or another, had to deal with conflict in the workplace. For NOVA members, those situations may range from harmless—like dealing with a difficult colleague—to potentially life threatening. In this month’s blog we asked some NOVA members if they have had to deal with difficult situations and how they resolved those conflicts in the workplace.

Dealing with Difficult Coworkers

Some situations may be easily resolved by talking to a coworker with whom you are experiencing a conflict. However, sometimes it’s not you, it’s them. Ernestine Goode, MSA, BSN, RN, CRRN, CBIS, had a situation where she felt she was being treated unfairly even though no issues or concerns had been raised by TJC, CARF, PVA, or OIG. “There were no findings, but this person proceeded to document opinions and not facts,” Goode said. “The situation was dealt with using human resources and administrative means. This person was removed from the VA.” Taking the issue to her employer’s human resources department allowed the right people to handle the situation. Had Goode tried to resolve the issue herself, she may have exacerbated the false reports and documentations leading to an even bigger problem. While you might be able to resolve issues with a colleague by yourself, sometimes you need to enlist the help of HR or your superior.

For More Serious Matters

Betty Ogren, LPN, had a situation that had the potential to put lives at risk. Some employees at her facility were not wearing masks that help prevent the spread of COVID-19. “Employees were educated regarding the importance of using masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said Ogren. Yet she regularly saw staff not complying with mask-wearing recommendations. “I asked leadership to send weekly reminders to all staff to address the situation.” Ogren’s conflict resolution skill was to go directly to leadership. She saw a problem that had the potential to be dangerous, and engaged leadership to address it.

The Role of Self Awareness

An important part of conflict resolution is self awareness. Sometimes you have to step back and look at yourself—are you overreacting? Are your colleagues’ problems caused by them or you? It may be difficult to remove yourself from your emotions and objectively consider your role in the conflict, but it may remedy the situation. 

When in a leadership position (or as an employee), it may be difficult not to take comments personally. For Kelly D. Skinner, DNP, APRN, NP-C, GNP-BC, CRRN, WCC, CFCN, it was difficult at first for her to talk to the staff and supervisors about advancements/promotions recommendations, of which she was involved. “I serve as chairperson for the Nurse Professional Standards Board at my facility,” Skinner said. “When I assumed this role, I wasn’t initially comfortable discussing the board action results with unhappy staff and supervisors who didn’t get advanced or promoted. However, I quickly learned not to take their comments personally.” 

Skinner used this as a learning opportunity to provide professional guidance. “I don’t become defensive, aggressive, or angry when staff express their frustration,” Skinner said. “I use it as an opportunity to listen carefully, explain the proficiency process, respectfully provide constructive criticism on their proficiency or reconsideration request narrative, and offer advice and support. I keep the conversation goal-oriented and try to avoid any drama. I actually enjoy these encounters at work now.”

Dealing with a difficult situation at work may sometimes be uncomfortable, knowing some conflict resolution techniques can really change how your workplace functions when tensions run high between yourself and colleagues. You may be able to handle some conflicts by yourself, while others are more appropriately handled by leadership or HR. Finally, when you do directly or indirectly deal with the situation, take it as a learning experience, or if you're in a leadership position, use it as a way to give guidance and offer assistance. 

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Learn from other NOVA members through NOVA’s Mentorship Program!

Learn more at www.vanurse.org/page/Mentorship

The Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA) is seeking two (2) general members to serve on the Nominating Committee.

 

The Nominating Committee is responsible for soliciting and developing a slate of candidates for the NOVA Board of Directors election for 2020.

 

If you are interested in serving on the Nominations Committee, please submit an application by 

August 12, 2020 at 5:00 pm EST.

 

 

We look forward to hearing from you!

 

 

Click Here to Submit an Application