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.
As the new school year starts, parents of school-age children are facing increasing uncertainty when it comes to their children’s education. Some states allow all-virtual learning, some have opted for in-person education, and still others are implementing hybrid solutions that combine virtual and reduced-capacity in-school learning. At the same time, parents whose children are too young for school but require child care are navigating limited options while trying to make the best choices for their families. The gravity of these situations is particularly taxing on healthcare workers.
The following are options that NOVA nurses may explore as you explore your family’s education and child care needs.
See What the VA Can Do For You
As a member of the VA, some NOVA nurses have access to the Office of Human Resources Management’s VA Child Care Subsidy Program Service. The service assists families in paying child care costs for children under age 13 who can not attend public school during the part of the day when public education is available, or
for children with special needs under age 18.
Visit va.gov to find VA-sponsored child care centers in your area and complete the necessary paperwork for the program. If there aren’t any sponsored child care centers in your area, a link is provided to the U.S. General Service Administration, with additional federal centers across the nation.
Our NOVA president noted that sharing your situation with colleagues and supervisors may help uncover additional resources that could be available to you. “I suggest being honest and upfront with your supervisors, colleagues, family, and friends,” KellyD. Skinner, DNP, APRN, NP-C, GNP-BC, CRRN, WCC, CFCN said. “Share with them what your current challenges are but be flexible in return. Keep the lines of communication open and take advantage of the available resources to minimize your stress and anxiety amid these times of uncertainty.”
Alternatives
If there are no VA-sponsored child care centers in your state, there are some alternatives to help you balance your work life and the educational needs for you children.
YMCA
The YMCA of the USA is offering child care due to COVID-19-related school closures and to help the needs of essential workers.
According to the YMCA’s website: “In response, the Y – one of the nation’s largest and most trusted providers of child care services – is offering emergency child care at more than 940 locations for families of medical personnel, essential employees, and first responders.”
All YMCAs have different fees and work with parents if they need financial assistance. Visit ymca.net to find a child care site near you. Note that this information is always changing, so contact your local Y for the most up-to-date information.
Tutors and Child Care Providers
Virtual tutoring is on the rise, helping keep kids engaged in the learning process while parents manage working from home or, if for healthcare workers working outside the home, partnering with childcare providers to ensure children’s learning stays on track outside the classroom. An online search for “virtual tutor” yields a variety of online tutoring services.
Pair Up with Neighbors
Some parents are teaming up with other families to create “pods.” These pods can come in different forms, some families will rent out space to make DIY schools, while others hire virtual tutors as a companion to online teaching.
Call on Family
Finally, it’s also possible to ask a family member to watch your children while you’re at work. Now during the COVID-19 pandemic, this may be a difficult thing to ask a family member, especially if they are more susceptible to the virus, like older parents or grandparents. If they are willing to help, they could help get them ready to go to school or get them ready for virtual classes.
When it comes to childcare and schooling you do have options. Explore benefits available to you through the VA and talk to your supervisors and tell them what is happening. If needed, consider what child care and education alternatives might work for you and your family in your area.
Connect with your NOVA Community for More Resources
Now more than ever, communities are rallying to support each other. Join the NOVA community at the Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs 40th Annual Meeting, being held virtually from October 29-30, 2020.
Posted By Administration,
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Summer 2020: Resources for Balancing Mental Health & COVID-19
Summertime is here and, after so many stressful months in America, summer getaways are sorely needed. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic persisting in the United States, those getaways, or even just a break from the stress, are in jeopardy of being canceled or rescheduled for a later date.
NOVA members aren’t the only ones feeling pressure from incredibly demanding and at times difficult jobs. A 2018 survey by the American Psychological Association found that about one-third of U.S. workers state their workload makes it difficult for them to take time off and about a quarter worry they’ll miss important information or opportunities when they take vacation time.
When the stress reaches the heights seen in recent months, it’s important that NOVA members take time to de-stress. The following may help NOVA members improve their time off during the summer months.
Getting Physically and Mentally Recharged
The first thing we must realize is that taking some time off, like an extended weekend or a vacation, can significantly improve our physical and mental health.
According to the American Institute of Stress, 40% of workers feel their job is very or extremely stressful. The stress can cause a person to become more irritable, depressed, and anxious. It can also affect your memory and result in making poorer decisions.
Taking time off helps to reduce stress by taking you out of environments and activities that produce your stress and anxiety. Another benefit is improved productivity. (Yes, really!) Workers required to take time off report being more productive than workers who spent more time working. People who take time off are less likely to experience burnout and be more creative and productive.
Research has also shown that vacations can improve sleep. Restless nights and disruptions in sleep are often attributed to stress. A vacation or taking some time off can interrupt bad sleeping habits and get you back on track to more restful sleep.
Vacation Canceled? Try Some Alternatives
Many people have had to cancel their summer vacation due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but don’t cancel your time away from work just yet. While you may not be able (or comfortable enough) to go on that vacation, there are ways to still have a relaxing time.
Consider a staycation, which is a vacation that you take at home. Your hometown or local area can have a wide range of interesting and fun experiences (just remember to be safe, wear a mask and continue to socially distance). Write down a list of places you’ve always wanted to visit or revisit in the area and see how many of them that you can cross off the list during your staycation. If areas are still closed due to COVID-19, make a plan to virtually visit them during your time off.
Some museums like the Louvre, Smithsonian, and National Gallery of Art are offering virtual tours that allow you to explore online exhibits without ever leaving your couch. If you had planned on going to see the Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa at the Louvre, this is a great way to do that without the lines of people. Plus, it’s also a great way to have the kids learn more about the world around them in the safety of your home.
Summer Camp Alternatives
While some camps are opening, others are only open for part of the summer season, or may not open at all. If you’re left trying to entertain little ones during your time off, the following are some fun substitutions, family style!
Make time to get active: Set a time each day to for bike riding or going for a walk or hike.
Start cooking: Have the kids step into the kitchen and teach them some of the basics with some age-appropriate roles. You can even take it one step further and try one new recipe each week from cuisines across the world, bringing your canceled vacation back to you.
Tap into creativity: Explore YouTube or Pinterest to search for some kid-friendly projects. Or try a science experiment with them using household items like baking soda, food coloring, and vinegar. You can even set up a virtual show-and-tell with their friends to show them what they did during the day.
While canceling a vacation due to the COVID-19 pandemic is a downer, don’t cancel your time off! You can still benefit from that time away from the stress of work by exploring places near and far, or getting some quality family time in for you and the kids. You’ve been on the frontlines working through a pandemic—you deserve to make some time for yourself.
In response to member requests for information about how NOVA is helping to advocate for nurses and to assist with keeping up with ever-evolving changes to policies and information during the COVID-19 crisis, NOVA has created a new resource page for members only.
These are unprecedented times that have touched us all, personally and professionally. This page is meant to provide NOVA members access to reliable and accurate references and has links to up-to-date information shared by VA, as well as other respected governing and accreditation bodies.
NOVA is here to support all nurses and our healthcare partners as we venture through these unchartered waters. With the stress and all of the unknowns, NOVA has included Whole Health resources on the page as well to help staff and their families.
To access, please log into the Members Only section of the NOVA website.
Please keep in mind that NOVA is a nationwide, nonprofit professional organization whose members are nurses working for the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and Clinics. NOVA is not part of the VA, nor is NOVA sanctioned or endorsed by the VA. The articles and links shared do not repudiate any facility policy or procedure and are meant to be informative.
Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Marriott International Offers Community Caregivers Special Rate!
Marriott International invites first responders and support staff providing medical, relief, and support services to book designated hotels nationwide as a part of a community caregivers program. This will provide health care and relief professionals, and those supporting them, a place to stay in close proximity to hospitals and government buildings as they aid in COVID-19 response efforts.
A “Community Caregivers Rate” has been established to expedite the booking process for healthcare and relief professionals and support staff. This rate will be available from March 26, 2020 through June 30, 2020 at participating hotels.
Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Dear NOVA Members,
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to each and every one of you for your bravery, compassion and resilience that you continue to demonstrate during the coronavirus global pandemic. Even though the presumptive and confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 keep climbing, the death toll is increasing, additional surges are expected, and there isn’t an effective antiviral therapy or safe vaccine at this point, your commitment to care for our Veterans is the priority. Therefore, your dedication, professionalism, and sacrifices deserve special recognition. To date, theDepartment of Veterans Affairs COVID-19 National Summaryreports that nationally there have been 6,943 Veterans with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis and435 COVID-19 Veteran inpatient deaths.
All of us have been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak on a personal and a professional level. Hopefully, we are heeding the current recommendations to prevent spreading the coronavirus by employing proper hand hygiene, social distancing, and wearing face masks or cloth face covers in public to flatten the curve. Travel restrictions, closures of schools and nonessential businesses, and stay at home advisories are still in in effect. Many of us are also experiencing first-hand the concerns related to fear of exposure and transmission, lack of proper protective equipment (PPE), screening and testing, staffing shortages, and rapidly changing guidelines and policies. Life as we know it has changed. The uncertainties, loss of control, feelings of vulnerability, inability to be with loved ones during hospitalization due to visitor policy restrictions, delaying non-emergent medical appointments or surgeries, worries of becoming infected and transmitting the coronavirus to our family members and significant others, waiting for COVID test results, quarantine precautions and social isolation have become the new reality.
Many thanks to the NOVA members who completed the COVID-19 Survey and responded to the emails about COVID-19. The COVID-19 Survey results are linked below this article.I appreciate you taking the time to share your issues of concern and making your voices heard. Your feedback with your personal experiences is critical. As the COVID situation swiftly evolves, NOVA is tracking your responses and messages to the COVID-19 survey and emails to better understand the effects of the novel coronavirus. The national NOVA Board, Legislative Committee Chairpersons, Michelle Salazar and Cecilia McVey, with the Legislative Committee Members, and Teresa Morris, Director of Advocacy and Government Relations are diligently advocating for you; making sure that the House and Senate VA Committee staff and leaders of Veterans Service Organizations including the DAV, IAVA, PVA, VFW, and the Wounded Warrior Project know what is happening at VA facilities. Another COVID-19 survey will be coming out soon. Please know that NOVA remains vigilant in ensuring that the necessary proper protective equipment, screening tests, and other essential resources are available to protect you and the Veterans during the COVID-19 era. There is a COVID-19 Resourcespagewith reliable references available on the NOVA website for you to utilize. It is important to have up-to-date resources with trusted, evidence-based information.
In closing, I truly value the exceptional care you provide to America’s heroes across this great nation. Your passion is always commendable, but your conviction and teamwork during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis is truly exemplary. This is a challengingtime but we will get through it together. In the meantime, implement strategies to sustain your health and mental well-being, as well as boost your immunity. Utilize COVID-19 prevention measures, be informed, maintain a balanced diet, exercise, sleep well, deep breathe, practice relaxation techniques and mindfulness activities, focus on the good and provide acts of kindness, keep socially connected and engaged virtually, and have a positive attitude. Stay healthy and safe!
With appreciation,
Kelly D. Skinner, DNP, APRN, NP-C, GNP-BC, CRRN, WCC, CFCN
The practice of mentoring in nursing began with the development of the nursing profession. Florence Nightingale was often referred to as the mentor of matrons, which is what nurses were called. Since that time, mentoring has been a key element in the development of nurses and the nursing profession. Nursing mentors assist less experienced nurses to understand their profession and advance their careers. Mentors provide a supportive relationship to encourage mentees’ growth and development. Mentoring programs have demonstrated significant benefits for both mentors and mentees. Specific benefits of mentoring that have been identified include the development of interactive listening skills by mentors, and the development of analytic problem-solving skills by mentees after participating in a mentoring relationship.
NOVA has developed the Empower Mentoring Program to help you meet your professional goals. NOVA members can take advantage of this program to pursue their dreams related to professional advancement within the Department of Veterans Affairs. NOVA’s Empower Mentoring Program was launched in 2016 by the NOVA Education Committee working with two Jonas Scholars, and has been revised every year since that time. The NOVA Empower Mentoring Program is designed to guide a mutual relationship between an experienced VA nurse who is the mentor and the mentee. The objectives of NOVA’s Mentoring Program are to:
· Develop supportive and encouraging relationships in the Department of Veterans
Affairs
· Guide NOVA nurses in their professional, personal, and interpersonal growth within
the Department of Veterans Affairs
· Provide and promote mutual support, collaboration, and sharing based on needs of
NOVA nurses
· Communicate information concerning expectations, learning opportunities, and
stressors in VA nursing
A mentoring program can help VA nurses to develop supportive and encouraging relationships; guide VA nurses in their professional, personal, and interpersonal growth; promote mutuality and sharing based on the needs of the mentor and mentee; and communicate information concerning expectations, learning opportunities, and stressors. The NOVA Mentoring Program helps new NOVA members connect with seasoned NOVA members to benefit from their expertise and experience. It provides mentees with specific assistance related to current needs, and helps seasoned NOVA members not only serve as mentors, but also as resources who can help mentees to meet requirements for advancement related to proficiency, education, evidence based practice, and research, as well as professional development. NOVA Chapters can also benefit from mentoring to enhance chapter development.
A good fit between a mentor and a mentee occurs when mentors are caring, compassionate, genuine, and willing to disclose information about themselves and about what they know. Mentees need to be open to accept feedback and be willing to learn more about themselves and their expected role. A successful mentoring relationship requires willingness and skill in giving and receiving feedback. This is important for both the mentor and the mentee since one of the greatest learning opportunities occurs through the feedback that is given to and received from others. Both individuals must offer constructive feedback, positive and negative, to ensure that common needs and goals are being met. They need to know how the other is doing in the relationship to determine their future direction. It’s most helpful if the mentor and mentee agree early in the relationship on how to give each other feedback.
To access NOVA’s Empower Mentoring Program, go to NOVA website, www.vanurse.org and sign in. If you don’t have an account, as a member of NOVA, you may register for one. Once you access the Members Only section of the website, click on Education, then on Mentorship Program.
You have the opportunity to become a mentor, request a mentor, request proficiency help, or request a resource by clicking on the following prompts.
The mentoring process begins as the mentee is assigned to an expert nurse mentor. The NOVA Education Committee Chair is responsible for assigning mentor/mentee pairs and notifying the mentor and mentee. The following are the steps for initiating the mentoring relationship:
Step 1. Mentee receives name and email address of Mentor.
Step 2. Mentee contacts Mentor by email within 30 days of receiving
Mentor’s email address to set up initial communication.
Step 3. Mentee and Mentor exchange contact information.
Step 4. Mentee and Mentor agree on method of communication (email, phone,
meeting) and agree to communicate (by email, phone, or meeting)
every month.
Step 5. Mentee identifies at least one goal and action item for the Mentoring
experience.
What do you want to do or achieve? If you have multiple goals, which one do you want to start working on first? How much time do you think it will take to achieve this goal? How will you know when you achieve the goal? How will you measure achievement of the goal?Goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound. Mentee should evaluate the goal with the Mentor’s help. Is it specific? Is it measurable? Is it achievable? Is it realistic? Is the time frame to achieve the goal realistic? Mentee and Mentor together should review the following questions related to the goal. What information do you need to achieve your goal? What individual strengths and weaknesses can you identify related to this goal? Do you need to develop any skills to achieve this goal? What resources do you need to achieve your goal? Mentee should develop an Action Plan including action items to meet the goal with assistance from the Mentor. What will you do first? What additional steps need to be taken?
Step 6. Mentee and Mentor review progress, future direction, and establish date
and time for next contact in the next 30 days.
Step 7. Mentee completes quarterly update and sends to the Chair, Education
Committee quarterly (January, April, July, October).
Mentee Quarterly Update (Sample)
Name of Mentee: _________________ Name of Mentor: _____________________________
Date Mentee and Mentor Began Mentoring Program: _______________________________
At least one goal and action item have been established ____Yes ____No
Mentee and Mentor have communicated every month ____Yes ____No
Mentee and Mentor are going to continue Mentoring Program ____Yes ____No
Comments:
Should you ask for a mentor to begin NOVA’s formal Mentoring Program? 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? Please consider requesting a mentor.
Would you like help in preparing your input for your proficiency? Please request proficiency help.
Would you like to have someone you can contact with questions? If you don’t want to begin NOVA’s formal mentoring program but just want a resource you can contact with questions, please request a resource.
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 had told you when you first started working 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, please consider signing up to be a mentor.
Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Teresa Morris, Director, Advocacy & Government Relations
Greetings NOVA Members –
I write this from my home in Maryland as we are now on a continued stay at home order due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. I want to commend all of you – VA nurses and healthcare professionals – for what you do and are doing every day to take care of those in your care. It cannot be understated that you are all the Heroes and Warriors of this crisis.
I want to assure you that I am in constant contact with Hill staff (primarily VA Committee) and Veterans Service Organization representatives during this time so that NOVA is represented and provided important information. Congress and staff are working from home but remain busy working on legislative priorities and of course making sure VA has guidance and what it needs to continue its mission. VA is part of the country’s emergency preparedness team and must be ready should their 4th mission be activated. The 4th mission is described as ensuring continued service to Veterans, while supporting national, state, and local emergency management, public health, safety and homeland security efforts.
NOVA posted its own statement on the virus as well, providing our views on the importance of ensuring VA nurses across the country have the resources needed to protect themselves and the Veterans they serve. We also included some of the priorities we share with the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) and the need for all of us to remain vigilant in ensuring VA can continue to carry out its most sacred mission.
I urge you to watch the NOVA website as we will continue to provide important information/ links to valuable resources that are reliable and accurate.
As we go through the next weeks and months, I encourage all of you to keep a close eye on our advocacy efforts by visiting the NOVA’s website and watching our Social Media accounts – information and updates on the pandemic and nationwide efforts are critical to all of us. If you have something that you want to relay to your Member of Congress or staff, please do – they need to hear from you.
I believe that we will get through this and be able to look at data and lessons learned which in the turn will make us all stronger and more prepared as a nation. I am hopeful that VA will remain the model for all healthcare delivery. It is because of all of you, and what you provide every day for Veterans, and the communities in which you serve that VA remains at the center of healthcare in this nation.
Posted By Ashley Lovelace,
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
NOVA Chapter 226: VA Boston Healthcare System
Kelly D. Skinner, DNP, APRN, NP-C, GNP-BC, CRRN, WCC, CFCN
Healthy Leg Day
NOVA Chapter 226 hosted Healthy Leg Day on February 25th at the West Roxbury Campus and February 26th at the Jamaica Plain Campus. It was an opportunity to educate staff about prevention of varicose veins and venous disorders. The majority of staff were eligible for compression products due to it being a benefit of their health insurance. Their measurements were obtained right there onsite. What a great turnout!
NOVA Trip to D.C.
Several of our NOVA Chapter 226 Members: Ceci McVey, Grace Conley, Theresa Presley, Vanessa Coronel, Carol McTavish, Sherry Clement, and Kelly Skinner attended NOVA on the Hill Day on March 5th and NOVA’s Annual Legislative Roundtable on March 6th in Washington, D.C. NOVA is the voice of VA Nurses on Capitol Hill, and meeting face-to-face with our representatives in Congress and representatives from professional nursing organizations as well as Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) is always such a rewarding experience. Coincidentally, we saw Michael Negrete, President of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, on Capitol Hill as we were leaving the Dirksen Senate Building. That means the representatives were hearing legislative priority goals from not only the NOVA nurses, but also the Veterans receiving VA care. We believe we made our voices heard and appreciate the opportunity to share concerns and provide updates to our elected officials and their staff.
National Certified Nurses Day
March 19th is National Certified Nurses Day! Our chapter would like to recognize the nurses at the VA Boston Healthcare System who have obtained a VA-approved certification within the past year. National Certified Nurses Day is the perfect time to honor certified nurses for their significant professional accomplishment, but also an opportunity to extend an invitation to all nurses to advance their practice by becoming certified in their specialty area.
Did you know all NOVA nurses can save $$$ on certifications?
NOVA has established a number of partnerships with various nursing organizations to provide NOVA members with discounts on certifications and recertifications. These certification discounts include substantial cash or percentage discounts off the application cost. This benefit is available to all NOVA member including LPNs, RNs, and APRNs who are interested in pursuing certifications in a wide variety of specialty areas.
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