Summer on the Hill is always hectic. The 118th Congress is coming to an end with many legislative priorities still on the table. For NOVA, we continue to advocate for VA healthcare and what you as healthcare providers, need to take care of Veterans.
As I have reported the last few months, a Veterans package has been introduced after months of negotiations between House and Senate VA committees - H.R. 8371, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act contains provisions that would expand access and services to the most vulnerable Veterans, and strengthen benefits and health care for families, caregivers, and survivors.
NOVA supports most of the bill but has serious concerns about provisions that would erode internal funding and further jeopardize the VA healthcare system. We sent a letter to both House and Senate VA Committee Chairs and Ranking Members noting our concerns. Sections 101 and 105 of the bill would further expand use of community care with NOVA President Catherine Giasson saying, “we believe that funding should be utilized to hire critical staff, rebuild infrastructure, and strengthen the VA’s healthcare system.”
The bill has some opposition and negotiations continue as others – AFGE, APA and several VA organizations have noted similar concerns. Secretary McDonough in testimony and at several press conferences since the bill was introduced has continued to argue that “there are a series of mandates in the bill that do not come with any funding.” Our partners in the VSO community have urged quick passage and continue to speak out against the politics that will erode Veterans care.
As we move into the final months of this session of Congress, we must continue to speak up and advocate by reminding policy makers that VA remains the only Federal health system that provides the highest level of coordinated care. VHA also trains many doctors as well as providing critical research that helps not just Veterans but the U.S. population writ large.
I have provided the links to both the House of Representatives and United States Senate so that you can locate the District/State offices closest to you.
Keep in mind that with the November election just a few months away – most legislators will be hosting Town Hall meetings which is another wonderful opportunity to discuss VA and NOVA priorities.
Keep advocating for yourselves, Veterans, and the VA System!
Did you know that NOVA started in 1980, when there was a nationwide shortage of registered nurses? Similar to current times, nurses were leaving the profession, enrollment in schools of nursing had decreased, and there were significant staffing shortages in the VA nursing system. When Public Law 96-330 was passed by Congress without the benefit of direct input from VA nurses giving a raise only to physicians, VA nurses from American Lake, Tacoma, Washington; Long Beach, California; Palo Alto, California; and Hines, Illinois had been meeting to share concerns about VA nursing. Registered nurses at Hines VA Hospital spearheaded the action for VA nurses nationwide to start their own professional nursing organization.
In the spring of 1980 a group of Hines RNs were enrolled in a management course taught by Chief Nurse Jennie Umbel McKoy. Barbara Chambers, Chuck Naparalla, and Tom Fiala wrote a proposal for a nationwide professional nursing organization with an educational and legislative thrust. The name of the organization would be the Nurses Organization of the Veterans Administration or NOVA. NOVA was chosen as an abbreviated title because of its definition as a new brightly shining star. NOVA’s first interim board members were President Barbara Chambers, Vice President Thomas Fiala, Corresponding Secretary Vivian John, Membership Secretary Nancy Schliefer, Treasurer Janet Norton, and Board Members Janet Paice, Cathy Gawron, and Isaac Wilson. National dues were set at $12.00 per year, and the first issue of News from NOVA was published. Information was mailed to every Chief Nurse and one other Registered Nurse at every VA healthcare facility. The mailings generated an overwhelming response with 600 RNs representing 90 VA facilities joining NOVA.
In 1981 a highly successful reception was held at the Rayburn Building in Washington, D.C. for Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committee Members and their staff. NOVA members from. The NOVA Board spent three days in Washington consulting with the Senate and Congressional staff members; VA Central Office staff including Dr. Donald Custis, Chief Medical Director and Vernice Ferguson, Deputy Assistant Chief Medical Director for Nursing Programs; Veterans Service Organizations including the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars; and Dr. Paul Schaefer, President of the National Association of VA Physicians On September 21, 1981, NOVA President Barbara Chambers welcomed VA nurses to an Annual Meeting at the Bismarck Hotel in Chicago. National election results were announced: President, Barbara Chambers (Philadelphia, PA); Vice President, Thomas Fiala (Hines, IL), Treasurer, Tom Adamski (Manhattan, NY); Corresponding Secretary, Vivian John (Hines, IL); Membership Secretary Catherine Gawron (Hines, IL); Directors, Marilyn Abraham (Tucson, AZ), Betty Beardmore (Miami, FL), Verdelle Bellamy (Atlanta, GA), Jerry Freeman (Manhattan, NY), Elaine Lloyd (Palo Alto, CA), and Alice Tulanowski (Lyons, NJ).
VA nurses do an amazing job in caring for veterans every day and NOVA developed a series of webinars to assist VA nurses in providing that care. NOVA is in the second year of our three-year program the “Caring for Veterans” webinar series. These programs are designed to provide specific information about veterans and veterans’ healthcare. The Caring for Veterans webinars are focused on providing information to not only new graduate nurses and nurses who are new to the VA but also to all of the VA nurses who care for veterans every day. These programs provide a wonderful foundation for caring for veterans, and NOVA recommends that they be included in Nursing Orientation and Transition to Practice programs. The three year series includes twelve webinars presented each year. Each webinar provides 1.0 contact hour of Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) credit, and completion of each 12 month series, and all three series provides a certificate. Outstanding webinars were presented in 2023 and 2024 in the Caring for Veterans Program and on other topics. These webinars are currently available on the NOVA website.
Webinars are scheduled at 12:30pm Eastern time. Upcoming webinars include:
“Contacting Congressional Representatives During August Recess” by Teresa Morris BS on July 23
“Gulf War Illness” by Mercedes Moore CRNP on August 6
“Visually Impaired and Blind Veterans and Blind Rehabilitation Services” by Amy Wheeler MS OTR CLVT CAPS, Amy Rebovich OTD OTR/L SCLV CLVT, and Heather Solberg CVRT MSW on August 20
“Safe Patient Handling” by Lori Swope RN BSN MHA on September 5
“Suicide Prevention Strategies” by Samantha McCandless MSN RN CEPC on September 19
As a NOVA member, please register for the current webinars. You can also schedule a room in your facility to view a webinar. Communicate with Nursing Education and Education departments about the upcoming webinar, and send an email from your private email address to VA nurses with information about upcoming webinars. You can also post a flyer in break rooms and/or on educational bulletin boards, etc. with information about the webinar. During the webinar, have people sign an attendance sheet with name and email address, and send that to nova@vanurse.org after the webinar so people who attend can receive an evaluation and a certificate for nursing continuing professional development credits. Share information on NOVA’s webinars including the Caring for Veterans series with your colleagues. The webinars are available on demand on the NOVA website.
During the last week of June, I was honored to be invited to the American Nurse Association (ANA) Membership Assembly to represent NOVA. The Membership Assembly is the governing and official voting body of the ANA. The assembly consisted of nearly 400 nurses from state ANA chapters as well as organizational affiliates such as NOVA, all with the goal of determining the association’s positions on key issues for nurses and the nursing profession. Attending the assembly presented an opportunity for NOVA’s voice to be heard and to support NOVA's mission to educate, communicate, and advocate for the Veterans Administration nurse professionally, personally, and legislatively.
NOVA’s Director of Advocacy & Government Relations Teresa Morris and I were invited by the ANA Board to be a part of a panel that presented on improving veterans’ care. The proposal directs the ANA to improve nursing knowledge related to the unique health care needs of the Veteran population and their families. The proposal requested the ANA to work with educational institutions and credentialling bodies to incorporate the health care needs of Veterans within basic and graduate nursing educational curricula, and to coordinate with VHA to develop, implement and disseminate educational resources to prepare community nurses and other health care providers to meet the needs of the Veteran population.
Another aspect of the proposal was to reinforce the efforts to remove all restrictions and barriers to care for nursing practice within VHA – “allow all nurses to practice to the full extent of their education and training to meet the healthcare access needs of all Veterans and improve timeliness of care.” The proposal was passed by the voting members!
While summer is upon us, it is never too early to start thinking about the annual conference. This year the conference is in beautiful Virginia Beach at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront hotel October 9-10th. Registration is currently open. Hurry as early bird rates end September 5th!
Come and join in on the opportunity to hear from Office of Nursing Service leaders as well as other VA leaders. This year also promises to be an exciting time for announcements about the future of NOVA!
Nurses Month is a time to stop and reflect on the work done you do every day in caring for veterans. At times this work is easily overlooked and taken for granted. But for the 22nd year Nursing has once again been selected as the most trusted profession.
Every day veterans place their care in your hands and VA trust scores continue to increase. You spend your day providing care to those who have defended our country whether it be for a day or for years. As NOVA nurses you are educators, innovators, leaders and at times family to the veterans you care for.
Recently I heard a new employee talking about working in the VA. She said that maybe we are not always perfect but it is our VA, we are a family and we have something that the community does not – we have a tenderness here at the VA. Her words made me pause and think about a few things.
As a VA system, as staff, and as nurses we are not perfect. Some days we struggle, some we feel drained as if we have nothing left to give to others. Some days are good and others not so good. Yet as nurses we come to work each day. Why? Because we are resilient, we are dedicated, because it is an honor to care for veterans and because we have a tenderness for veterans and each other that does not exist anywhere but in the VA.
I am not only proud to work at the VA but also to work with incredible NOVA nurses who strive to improve the care we deliver.
Take time this month to reflect on your passion for nursing.
Rejuvenate yourself this year by joining other NOVA nurses at this year’s annual Conference being held in beautiful Virginia Beach October 9-10th. Register here!
Posted By Nancy Claflin DNP MS RN NEA-BC CENP CCRN CPHQ FNAHQ Chair, NOVA Education Committee,
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
NOVA is in the second year of our three year program of webinars on Veteran healthcare topics, the “Caring for Veterans” webinar series. VA nurses do an amazing job in caring for veterans every day and this series of webinars was developed to assist VA nurses in providing that care. These programs are designed to provide specific information about veterans and veterans’ healthcare. The Caring for Veterans webinars are focused on providing information to not only new graduate nurses and nurses who are new to the VA but also to all of the VA nurses who care for veterans every day. These programs provide a wonderful foundation for caring for veterans, and NOVA recommends that they be included in Nursing Orientation and Transition to Practice programs. The three year series includes twelve webinars presented each year. Each webinar provides 1.0 contact hour of Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) credit, and completion of each 12 month series, and all three series provides a certificate. Outstanding webinars were presented in 2023 and 2024 in the Caring for Veterans Program and on other topics. These webinars are currently available on the NOVA website. Upcoming webinars include “Infectious Disease Exposures Veterans Encounter” by Mercedes Moore CRNP; “Visually Impaired and Blind Veterans and Blind Rehabilitation Services” by Amy Wheeler MS OT CLVT CAPS; “Traumatic Brain Injury” by Chenal-Christine Roberts BSN RN; “Contacting Congress: Who and What You Need to Know for Success” by Teresa Morris BS; “Changes to the Promotion Process,” “Promotion to Nurse II with an Educational Waiver,” and Promotion to Nurse III” by Nancy Claflin DNP MS RN NEA-BC CENP CCRN CPHQ, FNAHQ.
As a NOVA member, please register for the current webinars. You can also schedule a room in your facility to view a webinar. Communicate with Nursing Education and Education departments about the upcoming webinar, and send an email from your private email address to VA nurses with information about upcoming webinars. You can also post a flyer in break rooms and/or on educational bulletin boards, etc. with information about the webinar. During the webinar, have people sign an attendance sheet with name and email address, and send that to nova@vanurse.org after the webinar so people who attend can receive an evaluation and a certificate for nursing continuing professional development credits. Share information on NOVA’s webinars including the Caring for Veterans series with your colleagues. The webinars are available on demand on the NOVA website here.
Posted By Nancy Claflin DNP MS RN NEA-BC CENP CCRN CPHQ FNAHQ,
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Mentoring in nursing began with the development of the nursing profession. Florence Nightingale was referred to as the mentor of matrons. NOVA has developed the Empower Mentorship Program to help NOVA nurses meet professional goals. NOVA members can take advantage of this program to pursue their dreams related to professional advancement within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This program helps guide a mutual relationship between with experienced NOVA members who serve as mentors, and mentees who benefit from their expertise and experience. Mentors are able to provide mentees with specific assistance related to current needs, including professional advancement and career development. This program also helps seasoned NOVA members by providing them with the opportunity to serve as mentors, and provide resources to help meet requirements for advancement related to proficiency, education, evidence based practice and research, and professional development. In addition, NOVA chapters can benefit from mentoring regarding chapter development and potential programs. The Mentorship Program offers additional support for NOVA members providing excellent care to veterans and family members.
Membership surveys have identified benefits of having a mentor. These include having someone who explains the VA, and somebody outside your VA and VISN who can listen and give advice,. Mentors have provided guidance for a career, provided knowledge and helpful tips, helped with proficiency input, provided a sounding board for advice, encouraged thinking outside the box, and helped mentees feel supported as well as challenged. Mentees have identified that having a mentor means receiving advice from someone who is really smart and has a lot of VA experience.
There are also benefits for mentors. These include the opportunity of giving back, sharing your knowledge, expertise, and skills; having the ability to impart knowledge and see a mentee grow professionally. adding value to a career, and the satisfaction of helping a mentee. Other benefits include learning while teaching others, creating wonderful relationships, and helping someone learn the VA system. Mentors expressed satisfaction with seeing mentees achieve goals, and helping chapter leaders make plans to improve the chapter.
Should you ask for a mentor? Would you like help navigating the VA system, developing supportive and encouraging relationships, guidance in professional, personal, and interpersonal growth? Would you like to connect with seasoned NOVA members to benefit from their expertise and experience? Would you like specific assistance related to current needs? Are you willing to complete the program requirements and work with a mentor to achieve your goals? If yes, request a mentor on NOVA’s web page.
Should you become a mentor? Have you worked in the VA for a year or more? Do you know things now that you wished somebody told you when you first started in VA? Do you like helping people? Do you want to enrich your time in VA? Do you want to help people navigate the sometimes confusing routes to promotion and career development in the VA? Do you want to answer questions from VA nurses who would like help with a situation they’re encountering at work? Do you want to help VA nurses start a NOVA chapter or help make a NOVA chapter better? Do you want to make a difference? If you answered yes to any of these questions, sign up to be a mentor on NOVA’s web page.
What a wonderful reminder of the hard work, compassion, and amazing care that all of you provide to our Nation’s Veterans. NOVA continues to advocate for that care as Congress debates legislation that will affect the Department of Veterans Affairs in the future.
I wanted to provide a brief list of bills of interest that are still in play until the end of the session: S.10 VA CAREERS Act- NOVA helped introduce and highly supports this bill – talking points can be found here.
S. 2649, Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act* H.R. 1315, The HEALTH Act* *Both bills look to improve VA healthcare by expanding access to care for veterans, safeguard veterans’ ability to choose their own providers and require VA to improve the quality of care veterans receive.
H.R. 542 Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act would address home care and caregiver programs provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R. 3225/ S. 42 - Build for Veterans Act both bills address VA’s capital asset management, planning, and investment plans. H.R. 6324/ FY 24 VA Major Medical Facility Authorization – authorizes VA to conduct specified major medical facility projects during FY24. H.R. 6531, TRAIN VA Employees Act would require VA to develop a training program after consulting with heads of at least three other Federal Departments and agencies, including the Department of Defense, the bill looks to improve the performance of supervisors at the VA in helping employees excel and follow existing law and provide consistency throughout the agency when it comes to evaluating employee performance. H.R. 6538, VA Correct Compensation Act of 2023 would provide registered nurses and others at the VA access to negotiated grievance procedures to correct inaccuracies in their pay. AFGE, NFFE, SEIU AANA, DAV, PVA and the American Legion all support. H.R. 3347/S. 2070 – NOVA opposes this legislation as it would limit CRNA from practicing within VHA without a Physician. It also prohibits the VA from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing the provisions relating to anesthesia care of the proposed rule titled Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (81 Fed. Reg. 33155), or any similar rule.
As we move into the final months of the118th, it is likely that some of the language /provisions from these bills will be included as part of an Omnibus Veterans Package which is being negotiated between House and Senate VA Committees.
Let us continue to speak up and advocate by reminding policy makers that you are “VA Nurses Fighting for Veterans and VA Healthcare.” The importance of the work you do taking care of Veterans is critical to VA remaining the highest level of coordinated care in the US.
There is always time to schedule a meeting with Congress and staff – I have provided the links to both the House of Representatives and United States Senate so that you can locate D.C. and District offices closest to you.
Posted By Catherine R. Giasson, NOVA President,
Monday, March 25, 2024
March was an active month for NOVA.
On March 7th NOVA nurses joined together to participate in NOVA’s Hill Day in Washington DC. Nurses participated in meetings with Senate and House Members and Staffers. NOVA’s 2024 legislative goals were shared and it was a time to deliver on NOVA’s mission of advocating legislatively for the VA nurses and the care we deliver every day.
NOVA’s legislative round table was also held on March 8th. Representatives from nursing organizations, Veteran Service Organizations, House and Senate staffers, Drs. Christopher Saslo and Karen Ott from the Office of Nursing Service joined the NOVA Board in discussing the legislative goals of NOVA and how we can all work together to achieve a strong Nursing profession and presence.
The NOVA Board meeting was also held in Washington DC. NOVA is moving in a great direction as the Board works toward a new strategic plan. Starting with changes in committee structure, the Board will become more efficient in its work and goals toward advocating for VA Nurses. If you are not currently serving on a committee, take a moment to look and see where you can help make the biggest impact. Join a committee today!
During this month we also celebrate NOVA’s Certified Nurses! Certified Nurses Day is celebrated annually on March 19th. Certification is a testament to your dedication to maintaining the highest standards of practice and staying abreast of advancements in your respective specialties. By obtaining and maintaining certification, you demonstrate not only your proficiency but also your passion for providing quality care to those in need. Take a moment to see the certifications NOVA has partnered with Certification Partners.
Posted By Nancy Claflin, Chair, NOVA Education Committee,
Monday, March 25, 2024
NOVA provides live webinars every month, and the webinars are available on the NOVA website after the presentation. NOVA is in the second year of our three-year Caring for Veterans Program. The webinars in this program provide information on veteran healthcare topics to help VA nurses care for veterans. These programs are especially helpful for new nursing graduates and nurses new to the VA. They make excellent additions to nursing orientation and transition to practice programs. As a NOVA member, you can register for a webinar, and then schedule a room in your facility to show the webinar. You can send an email from your private email address to VA nurses with information about the webinar. You can also post flyers on bulletin boards to let people know about the webinar. Have people sign an attendance sheet, and send it to nova@vanurse.org after the webinar so people who attend can receive an evaluation and a certificate as NOVA is also an accredited provider of nursing continuing development credits (NCPD). In the next few months NOVA is presenting webinar topics specifically designed for VA nurses. On March 12, NOVA member Ahnnya Slaughter DNP RN-C CNS-BC will be presenting a webinar on Nurse Safety: Proactive Personal Protection. NOVA member Linda R. Droste MSN RN CWOCN CBIS will be presenting Legal Issues in Nursing on March 27. On April 11, Cynthia Martinez LSCW will present a webinar on Providing Equitable Healthcare: Caring for LGBTQ Veterans. NOVA member Talisha Hunter RN MSN will present The Impact of the VA Consult Toolbox: Decreasing Post Hospitalization Treatment Discharge and Wait Ties on April 30. On May 16, Rachel Sprunger will present What is PTSD and How Do You Address it with Veterans, and Christie Lucas LCSW will present Veterans Justice Outreach on May 20.
Remember that you can always access webinars on the NOVA website. Some of the webinars currently available include: Caring for Veterans with Rehabilitation Needs, Who and What You Need to Know to Advocate for VA Nursing, Maximize Your Federal Benefits and Win Retirement, Whole Health, Hospice and Palliative Care, Caregiver Support Program, Wound Care, Suicide in the Veteran Population, VA Community Care Quality Improvement Project, Eligibility for VA Care, Compensation, and Pension, Addressing Homelessness Through the HUD-VASH Program, Breast and Cervical Screening Updates, and COVID Vaccination and Mammography.
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