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

 

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.