GREAT NEWS!! VA Moves Forward with Full Practice Authority for APRNs

This has been a great year for Advance Practice Nurses. Progress is being made on every front. The VA will move forward with full practice authority for NPs, CNSs, CNM. Unfortunately, this did not apply to CRNAs. Again, a lot of progress is being made but there is still a lot more to be done. Let's not lose our momentum. This is a major step.  When this rule is implemented and outcomes continue to be great on the federal level,  it will make it harder for the AMA (the biggest opponent) to make the argument against full practice authority at the state level.  So let'st stay active and engaged. Congratulations to the CFANPC election winners, they will be leading us to the next level.

Lotricia Guerrier

President

"WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced that it is amending provider regulations to permit full practice authority to three roles of VA advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and certification, regardless of State restrictions that limit such full practice authority, except for applicable State restrictions on the authority to prescribe and administer controlled substances, when such APRNs are acting within the scope of their VA employment. “Advanced practice registered nurses are valuable members of VA’s health care system,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. David J. Shulkin. “Amending this regulation increases our capacity to provide timely, efficient, effective and safe primary care, aids VA in making the most efficient use of APRN staff capabilities, and provides a degree of much needed experience to alleviate the current access challenges that are affecting VA.”