Department of Veterans Affairs Issues Final Rule on Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
The rule grants three of the four APRN roles the ability to practice to the full extent of their education and training
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affiars (VA) has issued a final rule regarding Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) working in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). According to a news release, the rule will grant nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists the ability to practice to the full extent of their education and training.
The VA hopes this will help increase access to care, but the AACN voiced its concern over the fact that CRNAs are excluded from this rule. In a statement the organization said, “We stand firm in our view that CRNAs would increase access, and will submit additional comments to the VA in collaboration with our colleagues in the community.
"Currently, AACN's member institutions are educating nearly 90,000 APRN students, who will be vital to creating optimal healthcare delivery in our country. Whether in deployment abroad or in clinics at home, APRNs are critical to ensuring the health of our nation's service members and Veterans. AACN will impress upon the VA the impact that CRNAs have on Veterans' care and the need to ensure consistency with practice standards of the profession,” said AACN Board Chair Juliann Sebastian, PhD, RN, FAAN.