ONS Annual Report 2010 - US Department of Veterans Affairs

Defining Excellence in the 21st Century for the
Veterans Health Administration (VHA):
Utilizing the VA Nursing Network
The Honorable Dr. Robert A. Petzel, Under Secretary for Health, describes the core principles for
providing exceptional health care that enhances Veteran’s lives and well‑being as:
� Patient‑Centered
� Data Driven/Evidence‑Based
� Continuous Improvement
� Team Care
These core principles will drive efforts on the transformational journey to “Honor America’s
Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well‑being” (VHA
Mission Statement 2010). VA Nursing is a vital network of professionals contributing to VHA’s
vision for being a benchmark of excellence in patient‑centered care. This stellar nursing network
maintains strong collegial connections across local, regional and national levels to effectively
perform highly recognized work.
The theme for this year’s annual report ‑ The VA Nursing Network ‑ symbolizes the
interconnectedness of the talented individuals who help achieve transformational efforts. The
format for the report is influenced by the current generation of social media approaches in an
effort to recognize the value‑added impact of the social network that VA nurses embrace, as this
network works through team collaboration toward a patient‑centered care delivery model. Using
Dr. Petzel’s core principles as a framework, this report will highlight nursing accomplishments in
2010 and describe plans for what is to come in 2011.
Cathy Rick, RN NEA‑BC FACHE FAAN
Chief Nursing Officer