Washington D.C., January 5, 2026 — The Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA) continued to strongly advocate for nurses during a challenging year for VA employees. Even as policies changed due to DOGE, union statuses shifted, and many facilities dealt with layoffs or early retirements, healthcare providers at the VA maintained high standards in delivering quality care and services to Veterans. NOVA actively opposed legislation that could negatively impact VA policies and veteran care. We consistently stressed the need for sufficient staffing and raised concerns about ongoing layoffs and mass firings, warning these actions could threaten the continuity and accessibility of care. In collaboration with the Nursing Community Coalition, NOVA responded to a U.S. Department of Education proposal that would remove nursing from the list of “professional degrees.” NOVA highlighted nurses' vital role in caring for Veterans and the broader community, and supported legislation and calls for regulatory change that would officially recognize all nursing programs, especially given the critical work done by master's and doctoral nursing students. Nurses make up the largest and most trusted group within the healthcare profession, and the VA employs more than 100,000 nurses in the VHA. As the only professional nursing organization dedicated to advocating and supporting the VA nurse, we will continue to engage with Congress and the Administration on behalf of all nurses in 2026.
For more about NOVA - Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs To join us - Opt-In To Automatic Payment - Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs
Print Page
Email to a Friend
