As the nation’s largest employer of nurses, VA faced growing staffing gaps due to workforce attrition, private sector competition and lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. With nearly 1,300 facilities serving over 9 million Veterans annually, VHA needed a comprehensive workforce solution to ensure operational continuity. The strategic plan addressed both immediate staffing demands and long-term workforce development needs to maintain care excellence across all clinical settings.
Artemis developed an enterprise-level framework aligning VHA’s nursing goals with concrete, data-informed actions. This framework clarified the relationship between strategic goals and implementation tactics, mapped internal process needs and defined desired outcomes to inform performance-based decision-making across the organization.
To activate the plan, Artemis established a centralized coordination model, introduced project workflows and implemented internal systems that enabled streamlined execution. This included designing a unified management plan, organizing SharePoint content libraries and producing briefing tools for agency executives such as the Acting Under Secretary of Health. The team used Jira and Microsoft Teams to maintain transparency, track progress and manage task accountability across stakeholders.
Artemis led efforts to operationalize 12 workstreams, each focused on a distinct set of priorities aligned to the strategic plan. The team helped define ownership, establish timelines and identify measurable milestones. Environmental scans, literature reviews and operational research informed each initiative. Pilot programs were launched to test innovations in areas such as:
These initiatives aimed to reduce inefficiencies, increase care access and enhance the overall experience of nursing personnel across VHA facilities.
To ensure clarity and adoption of strategic outputs, Artemis created field-ready resources for internal distribution, including toolkits, training materials, data reports and workforce planning guides. Leadership briefing materials, talking points and data visualizations enhanced understanding of project progress, helping senior leaders align around goals and communicate consistent expectations across teams.
Artemis’s efforts translated the Office of Nursing Services’ vision into tangible operational outcomes. A comprehensive project management system was established, including a primary workbook and tailored tracking tools for each of the 12 workstreams. These resources provided clear timelines, ownership structures and risk assessments, ensuring accountability across the initiative.
The team produced a suite of research-driven materials — white papers, current state analyses and environmental scans — to guide evidence-based decision-making and support long-term workforce planning. New performance metrics were introduced to track progress and assess the impact of strategic actions over time.
For VA nurses in the field, the implementation of the strategic plan resulted in more standardized leadership roles, streamlined staffing models and reduced time-to-hire. Career development pathways were clarified, mentorship opportunities expanded and onboarding processes improved. Nurses gained increased flexibility to move across specialties, more time dedicated to learning and stronger participation in shared decision-making — leading to a more resilient and mission-ready workforce.
