The Veterans Administration (VA) www.va.gov proposes to amend their medical regulations to permit full practice authority for all VA Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) when they are acting within the scope of their VA employment.
APRNs are clinicians with advanced degrees and training who provide primary, acute, and specialty healthcare services. The ASPNs can offer the services to the full extent of their education, training, and certification without the clinical supervision of physicians.
The proposed rule would establish additional professional qualifications needed to be appointed as an APRN within the VA. The proposed rule would subdivide APRNs into four categories to include certified nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist, and certified nurse-midwife.
This proposed rulemaking would help the Veterans Health Administration www.va.gov/health APRN staff maximize their capabilities. This would also help increase veteran access to needed healthcare particularly in medically-underserved areas, as well as decrease the amount of time veterans spend waiting for an appointment.
Comments on this proposed rulemaking must be received by the VA on or before July 25, 2016. The comments may be submitted through www.Regulations.gov and must indicate that the comments are submitted in response to “RIN 2900-AP-44-Advanced Practice Registered Nurses”.
Go to the May 25, 2016 Federal Register, www.federalregister.gov/articles/2016/05/25 for more information or contact Dr. Penny Kaye Jensen, Liaison for National APRN Practice at 202-461-6700.