Welcome From the President

Dear Nurse Practitioner Colleagues,

The Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners is a dynamic and evolving professional organization with over 1500 members. Our mission is to promote the advancement and professional development of nurse practitioners in order to improve the health care of citizens of the Commonwealth. Our board of directors and standing committees are engaged in ongoing efforts supporting this mission. We invite you to join our professional organization if you are not already a member or continue your membership to support this important work.

Membership is a proactive way to stay involved in activities and initiatives promoting recognition and advancement of the role of nurse practitioners. Applications are available either online or by printed copy. Students and retired nurse practitioners are offered membership at a reduced rate of half off.

Benefits of membership include:

Opportunity to propose and influence state and national health policy through legislative action and monitoring of governmental programs and regulations
Continuing professional development of nurse practitioners through local chapter meetings and our annual statewide conference
Representation of nurse practitioners with professional, community and governmental groups
Job opportunity announcements in the Members Only section of website
Electronic newsletter
Website business listing in Find an NP
Discounted legal review of Employment Contract
New Professional Liability Insurance at 2M/6M aggregate offered by Marsh
New Eligibility for VCNP Nurse Practitioner Educational Scholarship Award

Mark your calendars now for our 2011 Conference at the Hotel Roanoke. Our meeting starts on Wednesday, March 30 and runs through Saturday, April 2, 2011. We had a very successful 2010 Conference in Reston with 449 attendees offering 26 contact hours of continuing education.

Our Government Relations Committee is actively working to modernize statues to enable nurse practitioners to practice to their full scope. Although our 2010 legislation to remove barriers to practice and increase access to care was defeated in subcommittee, the Government Relations committee persists in development of a collaborative strategy with our lobbyist and stakeholders for next year's effort. We need the support of every nurse practitioner to be successful with passage of this important legislative initiative. You can stay informed by reviewing the Legislative Updates link on the website.

The organization will strengthen its public relations efforts in the upcoming year to advance the role and visibility of nurse practitioners in the delivery of quality health care in the state by employing diverse media approaches. Public relations efforts are essential in promoting the important work of nurse practitioners and the organization.

The VCNP is a volunteer organization and we are seeking volunteers interested in influencing and advancing the organization. Volunteers are vital and I urge each of you to consider sharing your talents and service with active involvement either at the regional or state level.

Sincerely,
Cynthia Fagan, RN, MSN, FNP-BC
President

Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners
600 Peter Jefferson Pkwy, Suite 300
Charlottesville, VA 22911
(434) 977-3716
(434) 979-2439 fax

General VCNP Information: vcnp@vcnp.net