Posted By Administration,
Monday, March 20, 2023
Updated: Tuesday, March 21, 2023
On March 9, NOVA members from across the country gathered in Washington, DC, to advocate for the best healthcare for our Veterans. NOVA’s Hill Day is one of my favorite events. It is exciting to be able to walk the hallowed halls of the House and Senate and to meet with our members of Congress.
It’s so important for nurses to share their experiences with those who create the legislation that impacts the care we provide every single day.
One of our themes of the day was “change is made by those who show up.” Show up, you did! We had the highest number of NOVA nurses ever at a Hill Day. We hope those numbers continue to grow.
NOVA is the only professional nursing organization that advocates for VA nurses. Your voice and your input matter!
It’s important to remember that even if you are unable to participate in person, there are many other ways to be involved in advocacy.
Your representatives want to hear from you as an individual, and as a front-line caregiver.
When NOVA sends out a call to action, pick up a phone to call your Member’s office. Send an email. Build relationships with staff who work for you the voter, and for many, you the Veteran.
NOVA will continue to share opportunities for nurses to get involved with advocacy locally as well. Be on the lookout for information about meeting with your Members in the District, especially as August recess nears. It will be a fantastic opportunity to participate without going far from home.
Thank you for all you do to advocate for Veterans and VA nurses by showing up every day!
Posted By Administration,
Monday, March 20, 2023
Updated: Tuesday, March 21, 2023
NOVA’s 28th Annual Legislative Roundtable was held Friday, March 10, 2023 at the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) Headquarters in Washington, DC. Participants were welcomed by TJ Wilcox-Olson, MHS, RN, NOVA President. Kelley Saindon, DNP, RN, CHPN, Chair, NOVA Legislative Committee, discussed NOVA’s legislative priority goals, assisted by Co-Chair Michelle Salazar, BSN, RN. This was followed by presentations from staff from the Office of Nursing Services (ONS) in the Department of Veterans Affairs, representatives from Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), national nursing organizations, and Congressional legislative staff members.
The following topics were discussed:
Reviewing, adjusting pay scales for nursing workforce; reviewing executive pay for nursing staff; raising aggregate pay limits
Updating qualifications standards for LPNS, and NAs; providing retention and hiring initiatives including continuing education reimbursement for all nursing staff; hiring right and hiring faster; shorten length of time for hiring
Providing sufficient budget to enable additional nurse residency programs and adequate infrastructure to support future nursing workforce
Supporting retention for academic faculty; increasing partnerships and preceptorships
Ensuring a diverse workforce with opportunities for career advancement
Reviewing and addressing human resources issues including onboarding delays; HR staffing to expedite hiring and onboarding; modernizing training for HR staff; requiring salary market analysis (locality pay survey) and transparent reporting annual to VHA and Congress
Providing sufficient funding for VA infrastructure needs, including increase in private rooms for female patients and patients with infections
Providing appropriate funding for Community Care that doesn’t take away from internal medical care funding; ensuring veterans receiving community care come back to VA care; requiring training for community care providers ensuring that veterans receive equivalent care
Supporting VA CAREERS Act of 2023 to improve recruitment and retention; updating salary caps; paying for licensure costs for VA scholarship recipients; supporting additional staff training for managing older veterans; expanding leave options including longer timeframes to take leave and options for lump sum payments
Looking at providing caregiver needs including increasing telehealth and hybrid care models; optimizing nursing practice with telecare; assessing changes due to end of COVID emergency regulations for telehealth and virtual health modalities
Full practice authority for all advanced practice nursing roles (CRNAs); supporting changes optimizing services in community and home care for APRNs
Reviewing evidence-based practice across VA; supporting lifelong learning for all nursing staff
Supporting prevention of workplace violence
Supporting funding for National Institute for Nursing Research (NINR)
Supporting VA Caregivers; continuing to provide appropriate staffing for specialty care for patients with spinal cord injuries, ALS, MS, blindness, and long term care; supporting palliative and hospice care
Accelerating Whole Health programs including expansion of dental care; expanding home care; supporting ICAN Act
Ensuring safe, functioning electronic health record (EHR)
Ensuring full implementation of PACT Act and RAISE Act; supporting VHA Leadership and Transformation Act with 5-year term for VHA Under Secretary for Health; removing restrictions for Under Secretary positions
Including NOVA in discussions with VA
Support veterans’ preference to receive healthcare in VA.
Ensuring VA ensures staff accountability.
NOVA wants to thank all those who attended the roundtable to include our VSO and Union partners, Nursing Community Coalition(NCC) colleagues, Hill Staff and Leadership from the VA Office of Nursing Services.
We could not advocate for VA healthcare, nurses and all those who take care of Veterans without your support and knowledge.
Posted By Teresa Morris,
Monday, March 20, 2023
Updated: Tuesday, March 21, 2023
NOVA members assembled in Washington, D.C. for our first Hill Day since the Pandemic – a lot of things have changed in the healthcare space since 2020. As a group we focused on NOVA’s 2023 Legislative Priority Goals which include staffing, recruitment & retention, HR Modernization, onboarding and ensuring a budget that supports these critical concerns.
The day started with our kick-off meeting with special guest, Rachel Stevenson, MA, Executive Director, the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) of which NOVA is a member. Rachel talked about coalitions and voicing the importance of nursing and its future. Urging all to speak to your passion to continue improving healthcare for patients, families and your communities.
It was a terrific way to get everyone motivated and prepared to talk with their congressional members and staff about how nurses contribute to healthcare priorities.
Over 50 NOVA members scheduled meetings on the Hill – many of them coming to DC for the first time to take part in Democracy. It was a wonderful day of advocating for VA healthcare providers – particularly nurses.
Posted By San Diego NOVA Chapter 138,
Friday, February 24, 2023
Updated: Monday, February 27, 2023
On January 27, 2023, San Diego NOVA Chapter 138 gathered for an educational dinner event at Olive & Basil in beautiful La Jolla, California. Nearly 30 nurses from 10 different specialties were in attendance to hear Dr. Claire Brines, DNP, present Understanding the Chronic Wound Continuum: The Nurses Role in Real World Wound Healing, Biofilm Based Wound Management, and the Organogenesis Portfolio. Dr. Brines is a nurse practitioner with over 10 years of medical, surgical, and trauma critical care experience. She most recently worked in the surgical trauma intensive care unit at the University of Chicago Medical Center and started the Advanced Practice Provider service line there.
The dinner was also an opportunity for attendees to learn more about NOVA and the importance of nurses coming together to advocate for nursing and Veteran care. NOVA President, TJ Wilcox-Olson, was on hand to share information and answer questions. It was a very successful recruitment event with several new members submitting their applications before leaving the restaurant and more applying online after. This was one of the first events held by Chapter 138 and everyone enjoyed being able to network outside of work. Chapter members hope to host more events in the near future and continue growing in numbers to lend more voices to issues that impact the care VA nurses provide every day.
Carolyn Latta (lovingly known as Latta) President of Hampton VA NOVA Local Chapter 418 died unexpectantly on January 14, 2023.
Admirably starting her career as a Student Nurse Technician at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, Latta had over 30 years of combined VA work experience at the Hampton VA Medical Center and Hunter Holmes McGuire VAMC in Virginia in various roles such Staff Nurse Subacute Care, Staff Nurse Long Term Care, ER Float Staff Nurse/ Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Nurse Case Manager, Interim Nurse Manager, GREC and more recently Restorative Nurse Specialist. Latta had just started a new position working remotely with VA Central Office as a Concert Nurse, Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care. She also worked as Adjunct Faculty at the Hampton University School of Nursing.
She was a loyal and dedicated NOVA Local Chapter President for over 15 years, working diligently within the past 10 years, with a few other dedicated nurses, to reactivate and revitalize the inactive Chapter 418 to a now thriving and productive Chapter. Under her leadership, her chapter participated in Wreaths for America, Nursing Hero Virtual 5K race and other national NOVA activities. Latta and her chapter hosted the Opening Ceremony for the Hampton VAMC Nurses Week activities in 2018 and 2022. Last year she hosted two NOVA sponsored education dinners in April and November which were well attended, resulting in four new NOVA members. She rewrote the updated the chapter policies and recently created the Chapter 418 Nurse Board Orientation packet and a 2022 Strategic plan to ensure continued future growth. Also, under her leadership several NOVA members have received the NOVA RN Excellence Awards; more recently the 2022 Nurse Excellence and 2021 Distinguished Chapter Awards.
Latta has been an active member of the National NOVA Membership Committee for several years, volunteering to assist whenever and wherever needed. This is a huge loss for NOVA, and she will be definitely missed! NOVA expresses our sincere condolences to her family, loved ones and friends.
Posted By Administration,
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
On November 29, 2022, the White River Junction nurses gathered for an educational offering hosted by Organogenesis. We had an overwhelming positive response to the invitation. Nurses were excited to be among their colleagues in a learning environment. The past several years have challenged our abilities to do exactly this. Leveraging technologies, we have been able to continue such activity through virtual platforms. This was one of the first face-to-face engagements for nursing professionals since the pandemic and it was refreshing. Many nurses who attended had yet to meet new colleagues from the hospital. Hospital leadership attendance was most appreciated and felt our profession was valued. With approximately 20 nurses in attendance, we were able to share ideas, learn of new wound care products, and brainstorm solutions. The future is bright for the WRJ NOVA chapter.
Posted By Regina R. Bragiel, MSN-Ed, RN,
Friday, January 13, 2023
The nursing shortage has become a crisis of epidemic proportion now more than ever due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Nurses have become overworked, under paid, and less appreciated. Nurses are leaving the profession due to burnout and harsh working conditions. If these circumstances are not addressed, unfortunately, the nursing shortage will worsen and have a major impact on patient health outcomes.
Evidence has shown that by offering compressed schedules, that this can lead to increased morale in the work environment and positive patient outcomes. Employers who offer nurses the ability to set their own schedule should eventually see improvement in job satisfaction and retention rates.
Nurses are continuously on the go and rarely sit down due to the ever-changing demands that are placed on them. Nurses can maintain and sustain, but sometimes need a break before burnout ensues. Research show that offering employees the choice of alternative work schedules that this led to higher levels of work-family balance. Compressed and alternativeschedules have resulted in improved productivity and job satisfaction.In turn, this has decreased turnover rates, less call outs, decreased commuting expenses, and work-related stress. Compressed schedules have proven beneficial to employers by saving money, increasing efficiency, and overall improvement in work-life balance of their employees.
To improve nursing retention rates, employers should analyze the reasons that nurses leave their jobs. Nurses are expected to provide patient care in an environment that often lacks supervisor and peer support. There is an increasing demand for longer work hours that result in an increase in physical and psychological stress. Giving employees control over their schedule, can lead to improved sleep, less turnover, and improved work outcomes notably within the first year of employment.
In conclusion, the nursing profession has been heralded one of the most trusted of all professions. Compressed schedules can lead to job satisfaction and decrease burnout in nurses. There are less call outs when nurses are given the opportunity to work alternative schedules. These schedules are effective for nurses who have other competing priorities such as trying to maintain a work-life balance. Offering alternative work schedules can have a significant impact on the nursing shortage by improving retention rates and decreasing burnout in the nursing profession.
Posted By Teresa Morris ,
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Updated: Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Greetings NOVA Members –
The 118th Congress has begun, but before we start the new Congress and new year, I am happy to report that a FY 2023 budget in the form of an omnibus funding package passed. VA will receive its largest budget ever with $303.8 billion in FY 2023. That is up about 10% from FY 2022 levels. VA Medical Care will receive a 22% increase from FY 2022 totaling $118.7 billion, which includes:
$13.9 billion for mental healthcare to provide treatment and support for veterans receiving mental health services
$840.5 million for women’s health, to help VA deliver gender-specific healthcare services, as well as retrofit its facilities
$498 million for suicide prevention outreach
$183.3 million for substance use disorder programs
$663 million for opioid abuse prevention
$2.7 billion for Homeless Assistance Programs
The bill also includes $5 billion for implementation of the PACT Act and a NOVA supported research bill – H.R. 5721, VA Infrastructure Powers Exceptional Research Act (VIPER Act) which ensures VA researchers can continue to be on the forefront of health research and novel discoveries by allowing them to be compensated for research affiliated with other entities.
The 117th second session was busy, and I want to thank all of you who helped us in our advocacy efforts – we had many successes, but as always, more work needs to be done. I invite anyone who wants to help us advocate for VA nurses and healthcare to join us on the Legislative Committee. Information on how to add your voice to our efforts can be found on the NOVA website. We are looking for representation from all 50 States as there is strength in numbers, and we need LPN/LVN/RNs and APRNs to help us advocate for all VA healthcare professionals.
We will be hosting a Member on the Hill Day on March 9, 2023. Discussing VA issues with your legislators (House & Senate) has never been more critical. An email was sent with more information on how you can register and attend. We will also be holding a webinar on Congress and how to schedule those meetings and what to expect while you are in DC. Be assured that we will be here to help every step of the way by providing mentorship, tools of the trade, and a chance for you to partner with those from your respective states when visiting your members of congress and staff.
Stay tuned to NOVA’s website and social media for updates on the 118th Congress, leadership, legislation introduced and other items of interest which affects how you provide healthcare to our Veterans.
Posted By Carolyn Latta, MS, RN, CRRN,
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Updated: Monday, November 21, 2022
A lot of fun and laughter illustrates Hampton Chapter 418’s Meet & Greet at Top Golf. The chapter held a casual meet and greet with the purpose of networking to build connections and cultivate relationships among the members. Our goal is to continue these events quarterly so that as we continue to grow our membership as we become more connected and recognizable within the facility.
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