Montana VA To Honor Nurses During National Nurses Month

The theme for this year’s Nurses Month is Advancing Nursing and Transforming Healthcare. 

“When most people think of the medical profession, they think of a nurse,” said Duane Gill, Montana VA’s Interim Executive Director and Navy Veteran. “Despite the many challenges in their work, the nurses at the Montana VA serve selflessly and with joy. These incredible men and women provide care and comfort to those in need, often at some of the worst times of their lives. I am proud of all 549 Montana VA nurses, and I encourage everyone to show their appreciation for these incredible people throughout the month. As the son of a 48-year RN, nurses have always held a special place in my heart. I want to thank every nurse who works for the Montana VA Health Care System for their continued dedication in caring for our nations’ heroes.” 

As part of its efforts to recognize nurses, the Montana VA will host a series of themes each week to celebrate our nurses. The first week of the month will be “Optimizing and Informing the Nursing Practice,” followed by “Strengthening the Nursing Workforce,” “Lifelong Learning and Career Development,” and finally, “Inspire an Industry Leading Culture.” 

The Montana VA’s recognition will include an awards and recognition ceremony on May 6. The guest speaker for this event will be Dr. M. Christopher Saslo, the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer for the Veterans Health Administration. 

In this role, he serves as the principal executive for oversight of Nursing, Social Work, Caregiver Support, Connected Care, Pharmacy, Sterile Processing, Geriatrics and Extended Care, Population Health, Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation, Physician Assistants, and Rehabilitation, and Prosthetics. Dr. M. Christopher Saslo assumed the role of the AUHS-PCS/CNO on October 9, 2022. He has been a nurse for more than 37 years and has been in the VA serving Veterans for more than 27 years. 

The MTVAHCS serves over 49,000 enrolled Veterans across Montana—an area roughly 147,000 square miles in size. Veterans are cared for by a staff of 1,400 at 18 sites of care across the state.  One third of Montana VA employees are Veterans.  

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