COMMISSION ON CARE Nursing and the Future of the VA

Established in 1980 NOVA is the Professional Organization and voice for VA Nurses Celebrating its 36 th Year! About NOVA

To educate, communicate, and advocate for the Veterans Administration nurse professionally, personally, and legislatively. Mission

NOVA's Vision VA Nurses will provide high quality nursing care. VA Nurses will have an optimal work environment. VA Nurses will be informed on relevant issues that impact VA health care and nursing practice. VA Nurses will have a strong voice in the legislative arena. VA Nurses will have a strong presence at the VHA corporate leadership level. VA Nurses will be NOVA members.

The Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs was formed by nurses at Hines, Illinois VA in response to PL giving VA doctors a large pay increase without any change in nurses’ salaries or any nursing input NOVA spoke at an oversight hearing - the first time a VA Registered Nurse gave testimony to Congress. NOVA also testified before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. Highlights

NOVA refocused on healthcare programs for women veterans, wellness and disease prevention. NOVA established Legislative Roundtable meetings with representatives from Congress, Veteran Service Organizations, and others NOVA gave written testimony opposing additional decreases in staff levels, lack of nursing leadership in roles in the current VHA organization and inadequate VA budget

PL Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Enhancement Act of 2004 – established pilot programs to study innovative recruitment programs and strategies. NOVA provided key insight into changes needed in the bill NOVA celebrated 25 years of service. Established Legislative Briefings, a communications document to educate Congress on VA Issues. Meetings are conducted with House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee staff.

NOVA joins the “Joining Forces Initiative” sponsored by Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Biden and participates in its launch at the University of Pennsylvania. NOVA leaders attended the Nurse in Washington Internship in March and brought the Nursing Community agenda to various state members of the House and Senate, along with other nurses attending NIWI. NOVA leaders met with Cathy Wiblemo, and Dolores Dunn, Staff Directors’, Subcommittee on Health, House Committee on Veterans Affairs, regarding VA nursing issues.

NOVA established a new membership category for LPNs/LVNs. NOVA testified before the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, U.S. House of Representatives, on Overcoming Barriers to More Efficient and Effective VA Staffing – NOVA Celebrated Its 35th Anniversary

Since it's inception, NOVA has become a strong voice for VA Nurses in Congress with an emphasis on legislative issues that speaks for our Veterans and the Nurses employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Patient Safety Staffing Levels CHOICE Care Coordination /Medical Records Recruitment/Retention NOVA Priorities

PATIENT SAFETY Ensure Veterans Receive Safest, Most Reliable Care Culture of Safety Quality Coordinated by VA

STAFFING Expert Panel for Staffing Methodology Consistently Applied at Each Facility How is it Being Implemented

CHOICE Challenges Facing VA with CHOICE Cumbersome Process Difficult to Navigate Coordinated Care Quality of Care

CARE COORDINATION/MEDICAL RECORDS Flow of Patient Information Access Timeliness of Results Reporting and Follow Up Medical Records/Accountability

RECRUITMENT/RETENTION Knowledge Gaps in Application of Locality Pay System Effective Use of Authorities HR Support Hiring Delays/Complicated Application System

NOVA is a proud member of the following nursing groups: American Nurses Association The Nursing Organizations Alliance The Nursing Community Americans for Nursing Shortage Relief

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