In the year 2020, nurses are being recognized for their hard work and dedication to our healthcare system. That is why this year has been designated as the ‘Year of the Nurse.’ The initiative was spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO) in honor of the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, but the recognition goes beyond just her. It is a tribute to all nurses who play a critical role in health promotion, disease prevention, and who are on the front lines of healthcare. They play an essential role in providing high-quality care to humans all across the globe.

As a way to show our gratitude for all our incredible VA nurses who work so hard every day, we wanted to take this opportunity to remind you to take a moment for yourselves. Occupational stressors can occur on a daily basis, and that is why nurse self-care is so important. It is a necessity when it comes to physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. We know first hand that nurses give the best care to patients when they are operating at their own peak wellness. So here is a list of tips we have put together on how to implement self-care into your routine. 

During your workdays:

• Listen to music when you are at your desk or on your break - music is a known stress reliever and can give you the momentum you need to continue the rest of your day.
• Take a moment to relax at your desk, meditate and drink some herbal tea or hot lemon water.
• Take a short break to stretch or go for a 10-minute walk.
• Repeat a personal mantra (a word or phrase with a spiritual meaning) to yourself when stressed. This is an innovative form of stress management that is portable, immediate, and inexpensive.
• If you have children or a family member you’ve been wanting to catch up with, take a moment to call them and ask them how their day is. Tell them if you’re having a good day or a bad day. You can use this time as a mini therapy session if needed.
• Download a new podcast about a topic that interests you, and listen to it when you are working at your desk.
• Bring a nutritious snack or lunch with you to work and enjoy it while reading your favorite book.
• Keep a journal with you at work for times when you feel stressed and need a way to release it.
• Practice mental imagery or visualization.
• Use breathing exercises to center yourself. 

During your days off: 

• Take a bubble bath with some relaxing salts to help your weary muscles have a break.
• Check into the spa for a massage, pedicure, or other relaxing treatment.
• Spend 20 minutes reading about a new hobby you’d like to get started on soon.
• Call an old friend you’ve been wanting to catch up with.
• Go to a nearby yoga studio, dance space, or spin class for a recharging workout.
• Cozy up to your cat, dog, or even a nice, big pillow.
• Take a good old-fashioned nap.
• Go for a run or walk around your neighborhood or to your local park. 
• Go catch that movie you’ve been dying to see.
• Put on a favorite record you used to love in high school and take a trip down memory lane.

These are all easy suggestions that you can add to your lifestyle on a daily or monthly basis. We encourage you to start your self-care journey right now! Schedule a block of time in your day to take for yourself and commit to it. Again, self-care for nurses is not a luxury. It is a necessity for the health and well-being of both VA nurses and their patients. Remember, it is ok for you to need time for YOU. After all, 2020 is the ‘Year of the Nurse.’

Dear NOVA Members,

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and a great start to 2020.

I consider it an honor and a privilege to be serving you as NOVA President for the next two years. It is a responsibility that I don’t take lightly. You have my assurance that I will demonstrate the highest level of dedication. I would be remiss if I didn’t express my sincere appreciation and gratitude for the support and mentorship, I have received from Immediate Past President, Thelma Roach-Serry, Past Presidents, Ceci McVey, Joan Clifford and Sharon Johnson, and the NOVA Board of Directors (2008 – 2019). The commitment of this group of dynamic leaders is truly inspiring and continues to motivate me to fulfill NOVA’s mission “to educate, communicate and advocate for the Department of Veterans Affairs nurse professionally, personally and legislatively”.

As we enter 2020, a new year with new beginnings, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our two newest members of the board: Yvette Twum-Danso and Betty Ogren. Yvette is an Assistant Nurse Manager for the Acute Medicine Clinics II- Outpatient Specialty Clinics at the W. J. Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia, South Carolina. Betty, the first LPN to serve on the national NOVA Board, functions as a Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) LPN at the VA Northern Indiana Health Care Systems (VANIHCS), in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I anticipate that their skills and expertise will be an asset to the board. Click here to view the updated list of board members. NOVA is fortunate to have such an amazing board that continues to make valuable contributions to the advancement of VA nurses and the health care of Veterans.

We have exciting news to announce. Our quarterly newsletter has changed to monthly NOVA News emails. This is our first one to kick off the New Year. We are thrilled to be able to connect with you regularly and bring you timely news and updates.

2020 has been designated as “Year of the Nurse” and there are several can’t miss events. NOVA on the Hill Day and NOVA’s Legislative Roundtable are scheduled to take place on March 5^th – 6^th in Washington, D.C. and NOVA’s 40^th Annual Meeting: Celebrating NOVA’s Legacy and Promise of NOVA’s Future will be held on October 29^th-30^th at the DoubleTree by Hilton Washington DC – Crystal City. I hope you can join us. What better time to become involved than this year/2020/an election year and important milestone for NOVA as we celebrate our 40^th anniversary.

My top priorities are to strengthen NOVA by increasing membership growth and engagement during my tenure. Therefore, I encourage you to recruit new members, create or build up your local chapter, and join a committee. As you know, you can only get out of membership what you put into it. NOVA membership applications for LPNs, RNs and APRNs, Chapter Formation Guidelines and Become a Chapter Contact can be found on our website: www.vanurse.org. I look forward to working with you as a cohesive team with open communication and transparency. With your ongoing support and active involvement, I am confident that we can achieve great success. Let’s make 2020 a year of positivity and productivity for NOVA.

In closing, I would like to thank you for providing exceptional care day in and day out to America’s heroes across this great nation. Your passion is commendable.

With appreciation,

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

The NOVA Board of Directors met for a two-day board meeting at the Double Tree by Hilton Washington DC – Crystal City in December 2019. While they were together, the board members took the opportunity to recognize outgoing board members: Sharon Johnson, Immediate Past President, and Kristy Cohen, Executive Director, for their service and invaluable contributions by giving them a token of their appreciation. Sharon and Kristy have been essential to the advancements NOVA has made during their tenure. To conclude the board meeting, Thelma Roach-Serry tapped the gavel once and adjourned the meeting. She then handed the gavel to Incoming NOVA President, Kelly D. Skinner. Another productive board meeting is in-the-books for 2019!

NOVA is Looking for Passionate Advocates to Join our Team as a Member of the

Legislative Committee.

WE NEED YOU ... Join the NOVA Legislative Committee and become a strong advocate for VA Nurses!

Click here for information and Call for New Members
Click here for what it means to be a member of the Legislative Team.

The legislative committee was formed in direct response to NOVA's increased need for
a continued strong voice in the nation's legislative arena and on Capitol Hill. We ask that
you, as members help us to 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.

Anyone interested in becoming a member must be a registered NOVA Member, be
interested in helping us move our agenda and priorities forward; be available to attend
quarterly conference calls, and attend NOVA Legislative activities in Washington D.C.

Training and guidance will be provided for all NEW Members upon selection to the Committee.

Join us in continuing to remain a strong voice on Capitol Hill and in the Nursing Community!

Submit your applications here

Please include your name, VA facility, personal email, and a paragraph on why
you are interested in becoming a member of NOVA’s legislative committee.

NOVA would like to recognize the following individuals for their outstanding service and congratulates them on their achievements. 

Educational Scholarship Recipients

Commitment to Serving Veterans Scholarship

in Honor of Jesse Brown

presented to:

Vanessa Coronel, BSN, RN

Nurse Emeritus Academic Scholarship in Honor of Mary Raymer

presented to: 

Leilani Reynado, BSN, RN, PCCN

Annual Meetings Scholarships

presented to: 

Brian Knight, RN

Danielle Alderman, RN

Heather Debe, BSN, RN, MBA, MSA

Ahamefule Epoh, RN

Dalla Simon-Eveillard, RN