NOVA hosted its annual Hill Day this month (March 7) with over forty-five nurses coming into DC to advocate for VA healthcare and the nursing profession.
Speaking from our 2024 Legislative Priority Goals, NOVA nurses met with their congressional members and urged support for a strong budget to enable VA to continue providing timely access to high quality healthcare for Veterans. View a list of our Priority Goals.
As they walked around Capitol Hill all were wearing buttons noting “VA Nurses Fighting for Veterans and VA Healthcare,” to remind everyone of the importance of the work they do at VA facilities around the country. NOVA continues to strongly advocate for
a VA that provides the highest level of coordinated care in a setting that understands Veterans’ medical needs.
The NOVA Board met with VA House and Senate Committee staff to discuss critical issues and to push for provisions from several bills (S.10 VA Careers Act, Elizabeth Dole Home Health Act) we believe are critical to what healthcare will look like in the
future. This includes efforts to bolster recruitment, retention, hiring and salaries for VHA and others (H.R. 1315, The HEALTH Act and S. 2649, Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act) that would harm VA by reducing internal funding by increasing
healthcare dollars to community providers.
As we move into April and May, it is likely that some of the language /provisions from these bills will be debated on the House & Senate floor as part of an Omnibus Veterans Package which is being negotiated between House and Senate VA Committees now.
There will also be hearings and debates on Fiscal Year 2025 funding for VA which is key to taking care of Veterans throughout the system.
Speaking up and advocating for what you need to take care of Veterans is key to VA remaining strong and continuing its coordination of care for all Veterans.
I urge all of you to continue the conversation by meeting with members in your District and State offices. As we approach the 2024 election, rest assured members want to know what is happening in their hometown and States. Find your member and Senator’s
offices and sign up for their newsletters so you know when they are home hosting Town Halls and other community events.
It is the best way to have your voice heard – along with voting of course!!
Posted By Administration,
Monday, January 22, 2024
by: Nancy Claflin DNP MS RN NEA-BC CENP CCRN CPHQ FNAHQ Chair, NOVA Education Committee
In 2023, NOVA completed a successful first 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 hours of Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) credit, and completion of each 12-month series, and all three series provide a certificate.
Outstanding programs were presented in 2023 and are available on the NOVA website. Kimberlee Bayless DNP FNP-BC presented a webinar on Acute Pain Management. Mercedes Moore CRNP presented a webinar on COVID-19. Rebecca Brown MSN MBA RN presented a webinar on Breast and Cervical Screening Updates. Gretchen Werle RN MSN and Scott J McAllister, Sr. LICSW presented a webinar on Addressing Homelessness and the HUD-VASH Program. Rosetta M Brown-Greaney MSN ANP presented a webinar on Eligibility for VA Care Compensation, and Pension. Leigh A. Paz LCSW presented Fundamentals of Military Culture. Samantha McCandless MSN RN CEPC presented Community Based Interventions for Suicide Prevention: Community Engagement and Partnership Programs. Linda R. Droste MSN RN CWOCN CBIS presented Wound Care. Daniel Hawks RN presented the Caregiver Support Program. Maura Miller PhD APRN GNP-BC presented Hospice and Palliative Care for Veterans, and Karen Justi BSN RN NBC-HWC presented Whole Health. Viewing these programs will help you and other VA nurses provide the best care to veterans.
In 2024, look for programs on Providing Care to Veterans with Rehabilitation Needs, How You Help Save Lives: Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donation, Safe Patient Handling, Providing Equitable Healthcare: Caring for LGBTQ Veterans, What is PTSD and How Do You Address it with Veterans, Infectious Disease Exposures Veterans Encounter, Community Care Update, Traumatic Brain Injury, Chronic Pain Management, Suicide Prevention Strategies, Military Sexual Trauma/Intimate Partner Violence, and Substance Use Disorders.
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 the 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 their 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: https://www.vanurse.org/default.aspx
Posted By Cathy Giasson, DNP, MHA, RN, NE-BC, CPHQ,
Monday, January 22, 2024
Happy New Year and Welcome to 2024! It is with great pride and honor that I serve as the President of the Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs and I am very humbled by your support and believe that I will lead the organization professionally and innovatively for the next two years.
I pledge to steer the organization in alignment with our mission: to educate, communicate and advocate for the Department of Veterans Affairs nurse professionally, personally and legislatively. I will work with the NOVA board as well as members to move NOVA forward in an innovative way and to ensure its continued growth.
I would like to welcome our newest NOVA Directors: Tiffany Keller-Hale, DNP, RN, BBA (Dayton, Ohio VA); Rockne Jacque MSN, RN VA (Central Western MA); Jessica Tynan BSN, RN (VA Boston Healthcare System); Michella Savoy-Carter, BSN, RN, CDCES, RN-BC (VA Maryland Healthcare System); and Betty Ogren LPN (Phoenix VA).
It is also a pleasure to congratulate Michelle Salazar-Rodriguez VA Black Hill South Dakota as newly elected President Elect.
NOVA thanks Taryn-Janae Wilcox-Olson, MHS, RN, CPHQ for leading NOVA the past two years and welcome her as Immediate Past President. NOVA is thankful to outgoing board members Kelly D. Skinner DNP, APRN, NP-C, GNP-BC, CRRN, WCC, CFCN, CPHQ for her service on NOVA Board for 15 years and to Miriam Rogers- Holy MSN, RN, ACM. Thank you for your service to NOVA nurses!
In December, NOVA Board of Directors conducted strategic planning, focusing on membership, engagement, and rebranding of NOVA to ensure its future success. NOVA Board and staff are dedicated to ensuring NOVA has the necessary resources to support members for years to come. It was an exciting time and the board is currently working hard on completing the plan to move NOVA forward ensuring its continued growth and success for years to come. Stay tuned for news on the strategic plan!
I sincerely look forward to leading NOVA and thank you for your service!
NOVA begins 2024 under the helm of President Cathy Giasson. Cathy is the Associate Director of Patient Care Services/ Nurse Executive at VA Central Western MA. She is responsible for the day-to-day operation of Nursing Service and all nursing care provided within the health care system. As the Associate Director, she provides 24/7 leadership for all nursing care provided in the inpatient and outpatient settings for the main campus and five community-based outpatient clinics. As a member of the Executive Leadership team, Cathy participates in the decision-making process and governance of the entire system.
Cathy has been at the forefront of conducting salary surveys for all Advanced Practice Nurses, Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical nurses, and Nursing Assistants to ensure retention, recruitment, and competitive salaries in her community. It is worth noting that this is and has been one of NOVA’s standing legislative priority goals.
Cathy holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice, a Master of Science/Health Administration, a Bachelor’s, and an associate degree in nursing – all of which she earned with high honors.
An interesting fact about Cathy: she spent time in 2023 at the Montana VA, home of Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair, Jon Tester!
Working as second in command is Michelle Salazar-Rodriguez. Michelle joined NOVA in 2015 and quickly became active in her chapter (364/Black Hills) and in many of its national committees. She was named the chair of the Legislative Committee and remained in that role until 2020.
In her current role as a Patient Flow Coordinator and Bed Manager at the Black Hills, VA, Michelle works in a complex healthcare delivery system and is dedicated to its improvement. She has a background in a broad range of clinical nursing tasks with over 16 years of nursing experience and three years in program management. She has also been involved with the Nurse Professional Standards Board and Nurse Professional Practice Council for over seven years and is currently co-chair for both committees.
Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science and an associate degree in nursing and is currently obtaining a Master of Nursing in Leadership and Management.
A fun fact about Michelle: she was recently married and spoke her vows in Spanish embracing her and her husband's culture.
Posted By Teresa Morris, Director of Advocacy & Government Relations,
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Welcome to 2024 and buckle up for the final session of the 118th Congress.
NOVA will be posting its 2024 Legislative Priority Goals in the coming weeks, so stay tuned to the NOVA website.
Before we begin 2024, I would like to look back at NOVA’s advocacy successes and other issues we are still hoping to get over the finish line this year.
In May, NOVA testified before a joint hearing of the House VA Subcommittees on Health and Oversight and Investigations on recruitment, staffing and retention issues. Kelley Saindon, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CHPN and Chair of the Legislative Committee represented NOVA – testimony can be found here.
In July, NOVA, alongside our partners at American Psychological Association, Association of VA Psychologist Leaders, Association of VA Nurse Anesthetists, National Association of VA Physicians and Dentists, Veterans Affairs Physician Assistant Association, National Association of Veterans Affairs Optometrists and the Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute submitted a statement for the record opposing several of the provisions of S.1315 - Veterans' Health Empowerment, Access, Leadership, and Transparency for our Heroes (HEALTH) Act; and S.2649, Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act. We also testified in support of several other bills on the agenda.
We continued to work with our partners in the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) which sent over 25 letters to the Hill, held meet and greets with key leaders in Congress who affect healthcare and nursing issues and weighed in, via testimony, on funding for Title VIII – nursing workforce development programs and the current continuing resolutions / appropriations.
We also stood with our partners in the Veterans Service Organization community in supporting the Independent Budget, 118 Congress – The Independent Budget Veterans Agenda, as well as legislation that reinforces our legislative priority goals.
NOVA believes and strongly advocates for a VA that provides the highest level of coordinated care in a setting that understands Veterans’ medical needs. We continue to work with VA House and Senate Committees to push for provisions from several bills we believe are critical to what healthcare will look like in the future. This includes efforts to bolster recruitment, retention, hiring and salaries for VHA and others that would harm VA by reducing internal funding by increasing care which equals dollars being sent into the community.
Below are several critical bills that are of interest to NOVA which remain on our radar - it is likely that some of the language /provisions from these bills will end up in an Omnibus Veterans Package which is being negotiated between House and Senate VA Committees.
S. 10, VA Careers Act - In addition to modification of pay limitations for specialty clinical positions and increasing pay caps for certain leadership positions in VHA, the bill would allow VA to pay for licensure costs for recipients of VA scholarship programs; require additional staff training on care models for managing older veterans’ health care needs; expand leave options for clinicians during national emergencies; provide reimbursement for continuing education costs for all levels of nurses; and modernize VA’s human resources program. NOVA strongly supports this bill.
H.R. 3347/S. 2070, the "Protect Lifesaving Anesthesia Care for Veterans Act of 2023," would prohibit VA from modifying its policy relating to anesthesia care - this goes to full-practice authority for CRNA's and any finalizing, implementing, or enforcing provisions relating to anesthesia care of in the proposed rule - Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (81 Fed. Reg. 33155).
NOVA strongly opposes this bill and has sent a letter to both House and Senate sponsors of the bill. and are working with our partners in the NCC to advocate against its passage.
H.R. 1315, The HEALTH Act and S. 2649, Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act -
Both bills contain provisions that would harm Veterans by allowing substantial amounts of funds to be diverted from VA facilities to the private sector. This will force more reductions of VA staff, curtail in-house programs, and closures of inpatient units, emergency rooms, and even entire facilities. The bills could rapidly turn the VA healthcare system from its current primary role as a provider of health care into a payer for private sector care.
Speaking up and advocating for what you need to take care of Veterans is key to VA and its sacred mission. With that in mind, I urge all of you to join us in Washington D.C. on March 7 as we host our NOVA on the Hill Day. It is the best way to advocate for what you need to take care of Veterans every day. Congress listens to their constituents and nurses are the most highly respected of professions – it is time to let your voices be heard!
Registration and information can be found here. Stay Tuned!
Posted By Administration,
Monday, November 20, 2023
On August 25-27, 2023, I attended the Nursing Alliance Leadership Academy (NALA) with NOVA President TJ Wilcox-Olson, NOVA President-Elect Cathy Giasson and NOVA Executive Director Jennifer Redmond in Louisville, Kentucky. It was a great opportunity to develop and enhance our knowledge and skills related to governing and leading an organization effectively. The agenda included: “Professional Identity as a Board Member”, “Introductions, Lunch & Networking”, “Organizational Leadership”, “Legal Stewardship for Association Leaders”, “Financial and Legal Stewardship for Association Leaders”, “World Cafe”, “Compassion Fatigue: A Nurse’s Story”, “This is Me: The Power and Complexities of Showing Up and Leading with Authenticity” and a “Panel Discussion: Leadership Development”. The information shared on effective volunteer governance leadership was very informative. We especially enjoyed the bus tour and reception at Patrick O’Shea’s.
Submitted by: Kelly D. Skinner, DNP, APRN, NP-C, GNP-BC, CRRN, WCC, CFCN, CPHQ National NOVA Immediate Past President Treasurer, NOVA Chapter 226, Boston, MA
Posted By Administration,
Monday, November 20, 2023
I can’t believe how 2023 has flown by in the blink of any eye! NOVA has had a very busy and productive year. The 43rd Annual Meeting in Las Vegas last month was a huge success thanks to all of you. One of the biggest benefits of being a NOVA member is the networking and I saw networking in full force during the meeting. Our theme focused on the stars of healthcare-all of you! The speakers were fantastic and our sponsors and exhibitors really helped to make this one of NOVA’s best events.
I am excited to see all of you in March at our Hill Day event in Washington, DC, and then again in Virginia Beach, VA, for the 44th Annual Meeting in October. These meetings and events wouldn’t be possible without our engaged committee members bringing ideas to the table. If you aren’t involved in one of NOVA’s committees, please consider joining one. That’s where the work gets done.
As 2023 comes to an end, I will be handing the gavel to NOVA’s next President, Cathy Giasson. I know you are in good hands and I am excited to watch NOVA continue to grow under her leadership.
I will move into the role of Immediate Past President and I want to thank NOVA’s current Immediate Past President, Kelly Skinner, for her years of leadership and commitment to NOVA. She led the organization through some tough times during her tenure including the height of the COVID pandemic. I know she will continue to be one of NOVA’s biggest champions.
Being part of NOVA’s Board of Directors has been one of the best experiences of my life. I have learned so much more about caring for Veterans, advocacy, and VA in general than I would have without NOVA. NOVA is the only nursing organization that advocates for VA nurses and I am so proud to be surrounded by the best nurses in the business.
Posted By Administration,
Monday, November 20, 2023
Last month in Las Vegas, attendees at NOVA’s 43rd Annual Meeting were given the opportunity to share their stories and ask critical questions to experts and boy did they shine.
A panel of representatives from the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) to include the American Nurses Association (ANA), American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), Association of VA Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) and the Hospice & Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) spoke about advocacy and the importance of sharing ideas and stories with your Members of Congress. They reminded the group that nurses are the most respected profession and policy makers want to hear what you have to say – your experiences matter.
NOVA is a member of the NCC and works with the 63-member coalition to advocate for the nursing profession in Washington D.C.
Another advocacy themed session included staff from both the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees and a member of the VSO-MSO community. Professional staff members from both sides of the aisle – minority & majority were on hand to discuss important legislation that will influence VA and how healthcare professionals provide care to Veterans. Joining the panel was Rene Campos from the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) who provided the Veterans perspective on policy moving through the 118th.
Issues like community care, staffing, salaries, infrastructure, and bills NOVA is supporting were frankly discussed. NOVA nurses and guests clearly had a lot to say about how VA is the premier provider of care for Veterans!
Advocacy was centerstage and at work throughout the meeting, and I ask all of you to join us in supporting VA and its mission.
Posted By Administration,
Monday, November 20, 2023
The past month has been quite remarkable on the Hill. The House of Representatives was without a speaker for over 3 weeks, which meant that nothing was taking place – no hearings, no legislation introduced, no funding bills debated or voted on. But, on October 25, a new speaker was elected – Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA) - and now a rush to complete critical year-end items is underway.
Many of the items are vital to a working government to include FY 2024 funding for VA and other agencies as well as a slew of Veterans bills that could change how VA provides healthcare.
NOVA believes and strongly advocates that VA provides the highest level of coordinated care in a setting that understands Veterans medical needs.
We continue to work with VA House and Senate Committees on our legislative priorities to include passage of S. 10, VA Careers Act which will enhance VA’s efforts to bolster recruitment, retention, hiring and salaries for VHA staff.
There is good news from the Federal Government that for 2024, the across-the-board base pay increase will be 4.7 percent and locality pay increases will average 0.5 percent, resulting in an overall average increase of 5.2 percent for civilian Federal employees. This would go into effect in January 2024.
It was wonderful to see so many of you at the NOVA Annual Meeting in Las Vegas in October, the enthusiasm was infectious. Many of you helped advocate for your facilities and other nurses by delving into questions about policy with House and Senate VA Committee staff and our partners in the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC).
Relaying your experiences and struggles is critical. If you are ready for the next step – watch your email for a Call for New Members to join the Legislative Committee and save the date for our 2024 Hill Day – March 7, 2024.
Speaking up and advocating for what you need to take care of Veterans is key to VA and its sacred mission.
Posted By Administration,
Monday, November 20, 2023
The 43rd NOVA Annual Meeting opened with a pre-conference session by Linda Benton from Johnson & Johnson "Accelerating Nurse-Led Innovation to Transform Healthcare" and was followed by an opening reception in the Exhibit Hall.
NOVA's first day included the Desert Pines High School JROTC Color Guard, national anthem, and opening remarks by Catherine Giasson DNP MHA RN NE-BC CPHQ NOVA President-elect, and NOVA President TJ Wilcox-Olson MHS RN CPHQ. The opening presentation was Essentials for Success in Self-Assessment by Heather Arredondo DHA RN VHA-CM from the Office of Nursing Services. This was followed by Aromatherapy/Essential Oils: The History, the Design, the Application, and the Benefits with Tara Wright RN and Heidi Kaufman MSN RN.
The Nursing Community Coalition panel presented “Working Together as Advocates for the Nursing Profession” with moderator Teresa Morris BS, NOVA Director of Advocacy and Government Relations. Panel members included Matthew Thackson AANA, Clare Chmiel HPNA, Christian Campbell AVANA, and Samuel Hewitt ANA. Shereef Elnahal MD MBA, the Under Secretary for Health gave the keynote address, “Leading the Nation’s Health Care.” VISN 1 Director Ryan Lilly MPA presented Building a Better System. The first day finished with an ONS Town Hall with Karen Ott DNP RN and Tracey Weistreich PhD RN NEA-BC NPD-BC VHA-CM.
The second day began with a Hill Panel moderated by Teresa Morris including Hunter Thompson, minority staff member Senate Veterans Affairs Committee SVAC (R); Alexis MacDonald, minority staff member House Veterans Affairs Committee; Kendyl Willox, majority staff member House Veterans Affairs Committee; Abby Roubal, majority staff member Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, and Renee Campos, Military Officers Association of America. Central Western Massachusetts Medical Center Director Duane Gill presented "Improving Organizational Culture Through Transformational Leadership.” His presentation was followed by the Innovation Award Winner Bradley Benick MA MSN RN VHA-CM LSSBB, “Improving Veterans’ Alcohol and Tobacco Cessation in an Inpatient Setting: A Lean Six Sigma Approach.’ Jessica Ash BSN RN presented "Staffing & Recruitment."
Kimberlee Bayless DNP FNP-BC APRB presented "Pain Management Acute to Chronic Pain." Mona Pearl Treyball PhD RN CNS CCRN-K FAAN presented "Taking Care of Our Veterans: Next Steps in Our Profession to Establish this Specialty Area of Practice." NOVA Nurse Emeritus member Margaret Kruckemeyer encouraged participants to bid on items for the Silent Auction, which benefits the Mary Raymer Scholarship Fund. NOVA Board Member Miriam Rogers Holy, and NOVA Nurse Emeritus Members Beverly Ross and Thelma Roach-Serry helped to display a blanket from the auction.
At the NOVA Awards Luncheon, the President's Award was presented to Vermara Williams MSN-ED RN PCCN for outstanding significant contributions to advance the mission of NOVA. The APRN Excellence Award was presented to Terry Guyton-Smith DNP APRN FNP-C for outstanding contributions to the nursing care of veterans through excellence in clinical practice. The LPN Excellence Award was presented to Rhodora Cassady LPN for outstanding contributions to the nursing care of veterans through excellence in clinical practice. The RN Excellence Award was presented to Marie Robinson-McLaughlin MNA MSN BSN RN for outstanding contributions to the nursing care of veterans through excellence in clinical practice. The Veterans Service Award was presented to the Association of Veterans Affairs Nurse Anesthetists for outstanding dedication to improving the healthcare of veterans. Accepting the award was Christian Campbell from AVANA.
The Distinguished Chapter Award was presented to Chapter 212 Southeast Louisiana VA HCS for outstanding chapter engagement and demonstrated passion for NOVA. The 2023 NOVA Innovation Award sponsored by Johnson & Johnson First Place was presented to Bradley Benick MA MSN RN VHA-CM LSSBB and colleagues Janelle Bowden, Shereen Leftridge, and Heather Ertle from VA Northeast Ohio HCS. The 2023 NOVA Innovation Award sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Second Place was presented to Judy Santelices BSN RN and colleague Irish Ann Florendo MSN BSN RN from the Washington DC VAMC. The 2023 Annual Meeting Scholarship recipients were Dinah Lewis MSN RN, Rachel Cozzone MSN RN AMB-BC, Christy Rios BSN RN, and Orla Saunders BSN RN. There were also exhibit hall prize winners. Immediate Past President Kelly Skinner DNP APRN NP-C GNP-BC CRRN WCC CFCN CPHQ who is leaving the Board was honored, and the gavel was passed from NOVA President TJ Wilcox-Olson MHS RN CPHQ to NOVA President-Elect Catherine Giasson DNP MHA RN NE-BC CPHQ.
The Poster Session featured NOVA nurses from across the country. Thanks to NOVA's Moderators for introducing speakers at the 43rd Annual Meeting in Las Vegas! NOVA's 43rd Annual Meeting featured great opportunities for networking and connecting with NOVA nurses from across the country. Another benefit of attending the NOVA Annual Meeting was the opportunity to hear from speakers from NOVA's sponsors. Helen Shih NP sponsored by Merck presented "Discussing Anticancer Therapy Along with Patient Monitoring and Management of Adverse Events. Other sessions were sponsored by Janssen Oncology, AstraZeneca, Western Governors University Recon-Supply, Genentech, and Sumitomo Pharma.
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