nursing’s future – where are we going? donna gage, phd rn ne-bc chief nursing officer nurses...

Nursing’s Future – Where Are We Going?

Donna Gage, PhD RN NE-BC Chief Nursing Officer

Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs 35th Annual Meeting

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

The VA is established. Fresh out of the starting gate, it’s the largest employer of nurses in the US!

1921

1930

2

VA NursingThrough the Years

The Public Health Service transfers 1,400 hospital nurses to the new “Veterans Bureau” (forerunner of the VA)


Shrinking Hours

3

VA Nursing in the 1930’s

“Follow-up Nurses”

and


• VA Nurses serve in WWII

• Clinical training programs launched

• Nurses become professionals

• Public Law 293 (Title 38 U.S.C.)

4




5

• Another nursing shortage because VA Nurses off to war, again, this time in Korea

• NAs and LPNs fill the gap

• Continuing Education comes of age


• New medical technologies stimulate specialization

• VA Patient Classification System

• Doctorally-prepared nurseresearchers

• Hospital-based home-care

6



• Numbers of Clinical Nurse Specialists & NPs grow

• NP positions are added to improve patient care

• Director of Nursing Service position upgraded

• The “Primary Nurse” concept is introduced 7



• “Recruitment & Retention”

• VA Health Professional Scholarship established

• Nursing Administration Practicum Program is launched

• Pre-Doctoral Fellowship Program gets going

8



• Nurse Pay Comparability Act

• 1st national nursing ad campaign is rolled out

• VALOR Program created

• 1 of every 4 nurses in the US is getting clinical training in the VA

9



• The position of Chief of Nursing Services at VA Medical Centers restructured

10


• The VA health care system is transformed

• New Nurse Qualification Standards are developed


• PL 107-135—Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2002

• 1st VAMC receives Magnet Recognition™ for Excellence in Nursing Services – Tampa VAMC

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VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 12

What Lies Ahead?

VA NursingIn the Coming Years


3 Fundamental Priorities• Rebuild Trust • Improve Service• Focus on Veterans

1 “Blueprint for Excellence”• 4 Themes • 10 Strategies

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The Future of VHA


VHA’s Four Themes

1. Improve Performance

2. Promote a Culture of Service

3. Advance Healthcare Innovation for Veterans & the Nation

4. Increase Operational Awareness


1. Anticipate the Unique Needs of Veterans

2. Measure Outcomes

3. Leverage IT

4. Grow the Organizational Culture

5. Foster Environment of Continuous Learning

VHA’s 10 Essential Strategies


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6. Advance Health Care

7. Lead the Nation in Research

8. Model an Integrated Health Services Network

VHA’s 10 Essential Strategies

9. Operate & Communicate with Transparency & Accountability

10. Modernize Management Processes


• It aligns with VHA’s “Blueprint for Excellence”

• It has 26 nursing-specific objectives, and

• Contains more than 80 milestones!

17

National Nursing Strategic Plan




• Contains more than 80 milestones?

18





• Contains more than 80 milestones!

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Obviously, this is not a short journey!


VA Nursing Strategic Priorities

Strategy 5b: Professional, highly trained workforce

Strategy 6c: Develop a patient-care framework

Strategy 10a: Right-size resources to achieve full value

Strategy 10c: Optimize education and training


VA Nursing in 2035 and Beyond

What does your Crystal Ball tell you?


• Inpatient Discharges Controlled by Nursing

• Nursing-led Team Care Is Provided in all Settings

• Majority of Nurses Have Faculty/Preceptor Responsibilities

• Nursing-led Research Drives Practice

22

VA Nursing in 2035 and Beyond

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From a Support Role

(The 1st professionally trained nurses

in VA history)…

…to Clinical Leadership

and You!

nursing’s future – where are we going? donna gage, phd rn ne-bc chief nursing officer nurses...

Documents

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going8 va nursing

advance health care

va nursingthrough

va nursingin

va medical centers

1950s5another nursing

new veterans bureau