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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 1, 2002

# VA Announces Membership of Nursing Commission

> WASHINGTON -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi has
> announced the membership of a 12-person commission to advise him on
> issues affecting nurses who work for the Department of Veterans
> Affairs (VA).
>
> \"Nurses provide most of the direct patient care in VA\'s health care
> system and in most medical settings,\" Principi said. \"We owe it to
> our patients to ensure that our nurses have the tools, training and
> other resources to provide the best medical care in the world to
> America\'s veterans.\"
>
> VA has one of the largest nursing staffs within any health care
> system. About 55,000 men and women -- registered nurses, licensed
> practical nurses, vocational nurses and nursing assistants -- provide
> compassionate care in a variety of clinical settings, from outpatient
> clinics and hospitals to nursing homes.
>
> According to the federal law (PL 107-135) establishing the National
> Commission on VA Nursing, the panel can consider \"legislative and
> organizational changes to enhance the recruitment and retention of
> nurses\" and assess the future of the nursing profession within VA.
> With many VA nurses approaching retirement age, Congress created the
> commission, in part, to ensure VA had the financial and professional
> incentives to attract and retain a skilled workforce.
>
> A report on the commission\'s findings and recommendations is due in
> May 2004. Dr. Marilyn M. Pattillo of Austin, Texas, will chair the
> commission.
>
> **- More --**
>
> **Membership**
>
> **National Commission on VA Nursing**

-   Marilyn M. Pattillo, Austin, Texas, Commission Chair. Assistant
    professor in clinical nursing at the University of Texas at Austin.
    A registered nurse with a doctorate in nursing and a retired colonel
    in the Air Force Reserves.

-   Ann Collins Adair, Laurel, Md. Associate director of medical
    services with the Paralyzed Veterans of America, an Army veteran and
    a former VA nurse.

-   Linda Burnes Bolton. Vice president and chief nursing officer of
    Cedars-Sinai Health System and Research Institute in Los Angeles. A
    registered nurse and holder of a doctorate in public health.

-   Ann L. Converso, Lawtons, N.Y. A registered professional nurse with
    VA\'s Western New York Health Care System.

-   J. David Cox. A registered nurse at the VA medical center in
    Salisbury, N.C., and executive vice president of the National VA
    Council for the American Federation of Government Employees.

-   John Dandridge. Director of VA\'s Mid-South Healthcare Network in
    Nashville.

-   David W. Gorman, Gaithersburg, Md. Executive director of the
    Washington headquarters of the Disabled American Veterans. A combat
    veteran of the Vietnam War.

-   Phyllis Shanley Hansell. Dean and professor, Seton Hall
    University\'s College of Nursing in South Orange, N.J.

-   Eileen M. Kingston, Omaha, Neb. Nurse executive with VA\'s
    Nebraska-Western Iowa Healthcare System.

-   Mary Raymer. Associate chief of staff for patient care services at
    the Salem (Virginia) VA Medical Center. She is certified in nursing
    administration by the American Nurses Association.

-   Joanne Spetz. Associate director of the Center for California Health
    Workforce Studies at the University of California at San Francisco.
    Holder of a doctorate in economics.

> **- More -**
>
> **Nursing Commission 2/2/2/2**

-   Mary K. Wakefield. A registered nurse, holder of a Ph.D., and
    director of the Center for Rural Health at the University of North
    Dakota at Grand Forks, N.D.

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