Virginia Department of Health distributed the letter below sharing an update on Avian Influenza.

This information is also available on the VDH Resources for Health Care Professionals web page.

Dr Ashte Collins, nephrologist and Associate Professor of GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences presented a comprehensive talk on CKD and it’s link with CAD, CHF, and early mortality. Farxiga and Lokelma from Astra Zeneca were presented with time for discussion and questions.

There was a state board meeting. The focus this year is on increasing membership, becoming more financially stable as an organization and NP student engagement. Our local NP student Sophia was selected as our Student Ambassador to the VCNP.

7/18/24 is our next meeting- location TBD

Our next philanthropy suggestion was to support the Night of 1,000 pies again which benefits Empowerhouse, a local shelter and advocacy center for women and children who are domestic violence victims. This year it will be at the Silkmill downtown! Volunteer pie makers are needed. tiffany suggested a $600.00 donation- Flower Power level which also gives us 4 tickets. It is $125.00 for a single ticket. Timmye approved the motion and Kelly seconded.

On 5/9/24 at Six Bears and a Goat, Michele Trampe, founder and executive director of the Central Virginia Justice Initiative gave a talk on the Signs of Human Trafficking. She also encouraged us to get more involved in political leadership through the website: Healing Politics.org. A $150.00 honorarium for the speaker towards her organization was suggested, Tiffany seconded.

PR- Nicole stated this is the 50th anniversary of the VCNP. We should have a celebration of sorts to gather and celebrate all of the accomplishments of our members over the years and the VCNP in Virginia!

Legislative conference in September was suggested. Local legislators will need to be contacted. Rachel will reach out to Ashley to see if she can organize this and to discuss what aspects of the planning and implementing of the event that other people can help her handle.

Submitted 6/14/24 JPSF

Our next Business meeting for the SW Region will be on Wednesday, OCTOBER 25, 2023 at 7 pm. Call in number 888-297-9852 Code 2797691.

We are in our election cycle now. We will be discussing nominations for our region’s President Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer. Voting will be held November 1-15.

We need to discuss a Legislative reception to let our state legislators know more about APRNs and the role we play in keeping their constituents healthy.

NP week is in November and we need to discuss ideas for this special week to celebrate!

2024 is VCNP’s 50th Anniversary! We need to update our region’s timeline for the state conference in Williamsburg in March as well as discuss plans for our region’s raffle basket and door prize.

We have a full slate for this meeting and need as many of our members to attend as possible!

Below are the date and call in information:

Wednesday, OCTOBER 25, 2023 at 7 pm. Call in number 888-297-9852 Code 2797691.

Come join us for an afternoon of polo, food and wine.

Local legislative candidates have been invited.
This fall all 40 seats in the Senate and 100 seats in the House of Delegates will be up for election in Virginia. VCNP’s Government Relations committee is continuing to promote NP practice by reaching out to legislators and candidates. We have invited candidates from our local districts to this event. Please take this opportunity to discuss the importance of NP practice. Talking points will be sent out below.

The following candidates have RSVP’d yes to attending the event.

Steve Harvey (R)- Candidate for 55th district
Amy Laufer (D) – Candidate for 55th district

Katrina Callsen (D) – Candidate for 54th district (her campaign manager Pally Haling is a retired NP!)

Senator Creigh Deeds (D) – 11th District
Phillip Hamiliton (R) – Candidate for 11th District

Bring your family.
Invite your colleagues/NP friends (members/non-members)

Sunday, September 24, 2023
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
King Family Vineyards
6550 Roseland Farm, Crozet, VA

Talking Points

Current landscape and challenges

• NPs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who have master of science and often doctoral degrees as well as extensive clinical training in the diagnosis, treatment and management of common and complex medical conditions.
• NP-provided care has been shown to have outcomes equal to care provided by physician colleagues.
• There are 15,000+ NPs currently providing care in Virginia. NPs practice in many settings including hospitals, primary care and specialty offices, health departments, extended care facilities, urgent care and free mobile health clinics.
• Virginia’s NPs are governed by the Joint Boards of Nursing and Medicine. Virginia is one of only three states with Joint Boards. NPs in other states are governed solely by the Board of Nursing.
• Unique to Virginia, NPs are restricted by a mandated practice agreement with a physician for 5 years before they are eligible to apply for autonomous practice licensure and practice without a practice agreement.
• Mandated practice agreements with physicians do not involve training from physicians, are not residencies or fellowships, and do not require the physician to practice in the same location as the NP.
  Why these issues need to be addressed now
• Virginia’s transition to practice requirement is the most restrictive in the nation. Twenty-seven states, the District of Columbia and two U.S. territories do not require any transition to practice or practice agreement. Of the states with such requirements, the requirement is 2 or 3 years, or 2,000-3,000 clinical hours.
• Virginia’s mandated practice agreement requirement ties NP practice to a specific physician and healthcare setting. This impedes an NP’s ability to provide care where it is most needed, especially in rural and underserved areas where physician shortages are even greater than in urban areas.
• Changing Virginia’s transition to practice requirement aligns the Commonwealth with the majority of states, the Virginia Board of Nursing’s recommendation and the National Consensus Model for Advanced Practice Nursing Licensure, which recommends that all APRNs are granted full practice authority upon graduation of an accredited program. The national model also recommends regulating APRNs solely under the Board of Nursing.
• Virginia’s 5-year transition to practice requirement was passed in 2018. There have been significant changes in health care since that time including increasing provider shortages, a growing aging population and a greater number of patients with chronic diseases.
• Nearly 100 million Americans currently lack adequate access to primary care. By 2030, it is estimated the U.S. will face shortages of more than 120,000 providers needed to address patient demand. NPs can help fill the gap to provide this care.