HB 1737 UPDATE

HB 1737 will be heard in full committee on Tuesday, January 26.

Today the Health Professions Subcommittee of the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee heard Delegate Dawn Adams’ legislation, which would permanently reduce the clinical experience needed for autonomous practice from five years to two years. Speaking in favor of the legislation included VCNP president Becky Compton as well as Clareen Wiencek, advanced practice program director at the University of Virginia School of Nursing, who presented solid testimony emphasizing the considerable education and training NPs receive in school. Also speaking in favor were Mary Kay Goldschmidt for the Virginia Nurses Association and Elizabeth Cushing of AARP. We are pleased to report that our bill received unanimous support in subcommittee and both Delegate Adams and Delegate Robinson spoke in favor of the legislation during debate.

Speaking against the bill included MSV and its specialty societies for medical students, emergency room physicians and family doctors. Some of these concerns were later raised again by Delegate Karrie K. Delaney, who we knew was on the fence about how she was going to vote on this bill. She said through the testimony given, she was more comfortable that NP education and training was sufficient for autonomous practice but that she would be considering additional information before committing her final vote in full committee. The full committee will next meet at 9 am on Tuesday, January 26. Typically bills that are heard in subcommittee are not reheard in full committee, unless a member on the full committee wants to re-open the debate. It is important that the full committee continue to hear from VCNP members over the weekend and throughout Monday in order to keep this bill moving forward.

How can you help? Here’s how!

Use the Muster advocacy system to contact your legislators. VCNP Members received an email this afternoon with information on how to connect, or they can log in to their member profile and look for the latest Muster campaign under the “Advocacy” tab.

Not a VCNP member? Join us!

Join us! VCNP offers NP resources, educational programs, professional discounts, and more. Contact VCNP staff for more information.

Delegate Dawn Adams provided an Op Ed piece in the Richmond Times Dispatch titled, “Dawn M. Adams column: It’s time for Virginia to enter the current century: Modernize nursing” published January 17, 2021.

VNA will host their 2021 Lobby Days next week!

What’s a Lobby Day?
It’s a day to advocate for nurses and the nursing profession! We will meet with legislators to talk about 2021 legislation and issues including full practice authority for APRNs and much more.

What if I’ve never met with a legislator before?
Don’t worry! We will have staff and experienced nurses to help lead the way, as well as prepared talking points and leave-behind sheets. Additionally, we will  have a pre-session training webinar available, which will optionally be available online. 

Do I have to be a VNA member? 
No! We encourage ALL nurses to join us. Please share this information with anyone who might be interested!

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our events this year will be held virtually with a number of changes to the format. This year’s legislative session is potentially going to be shortened to 30 days, and legislators can only carry 8 bills forward during session, so we are anticipating that much of the action will occur in the beginning of the legislative session this year.

All nurses are welcome to join us – you do not have to be a VNA member to attend. 

Our sessions will last approximately one hour and will include an overview of our policy platform, our bill progress, tools for reaching legislators, and talking points to share with them about our current legislation.

Before the meeting, we will encourage all attendees to contact one or both of their legislators to set up an individual virtual meeting. Many legislators are scheduling these via Zoom during session as they would regular meetings, and we will provide the materials about our policy platform to leave behind and tips for having successful meetings.

2021 Lobby Days dates:

• Monday, January 18, 2021 @ 9am
• Tuesday, January 19, 2021 @ 9am
• Thursday, January 21, 2021 @ 9am
• Thursday, January 21, 2021 @ 12pm
• Friday, January 22, 2021 @ 9am

VCNP President, Becky Compton, provided an Op Ed piece in the The Roanoke Times titled, “Compton: Make nurse practitioners permanent solution to health care access in Virginia” published January 14, 2021.

The events that took place last week in our Nation’s Capital bring to mind the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” VCNP condemns the violence that took place in Washington, D.C. and reaffirms our commitment to civil discourse, diversity of backgrounds and respect for one another. As a nation and as health care professionals, we must take care of ourselves so we can take care of our community.

12:30 p.m. | 8 p.m.

Learn about HB 1737 and how you can advance NP practice in Virginia!

VCNP will host two virtual town hall meetings on January 6 to review HB 1737 and share resources to help members connect with their legislators and garner support from colleagues for our bill.

We will host these meetings at 12:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. in order to reach the most registrants. Please join us during lunch or evening hours to learn how you can affect change! Each event will last thirty minutes.

Learn about HB 1737 and how you can help advance NP practice in Virginia!

VCNP will host two, half-hour, virtual town hall meetings on January 6 to review HB 1737 and share resources to help members connect with legislators to request their support of our bill.

• VCNP will host two events on January 6 in order reach the most people.

• Please register to join us at 12:30 p.m. or. 8 p.m. to participate. Each meeting will last 30 minutes.

• Register by selecting one of the buttons below. Please choose your desired time.

• Free registration is open to members and non-members.

• No CE will be offered for this program.

• Registrants will receive the connect link in their registration confirmation email.

Registration is limited, so register now!

Please reach out to members of the Senate Education and Health committee and the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee to ask for their support of HB 1737. The 2021 General Assembly session begins January 13 and may last only 30 days, which means we need to contact legislators NOW. 

VCNP Members can find the link in their member email accounts, or by logging in to their member profile and selecting “Advocacy” under the “Advocacy” tab, then selecting the campaign dated 12/28/20.