The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) Responds to VA Rulemaking on APRN Practice

CHICAGO, Dec. 13, 2016 -- Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued a statement on its ruling on advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) practicing in VA facilities. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is pleased that nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse midwives will now have full practice authority when they are acting within the scope of their VA employment, but disappointed that certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are not included in this ruling.

Commenting on the ruling NCSBN CEO David C. Benton, RGN, PhD, FFNF, FRCN, FAAN, said, “While we are heartened by the inclusion of these three vital APRN roles, we are concerned that the omission of CRNAs will impede veterans’ access to critical services in medically underserved areas and feel that it is shortsighted in addressing gaps in access.”

Benton continued, “The decision seems to forgo the stated advantages in quality, efficiency, effectiveness and standardization that are well referenced and cited in the VA’s final rule.”

NCSBN feels that including only three of the four APRN roles puts this ruling at variance with the coherent national standard of the APRN Consensus Model.

About NCSBN
Founded March 15, 1978, as an independent not-for-profit organization, NCSBN was created to lessen the burdens of state governments and bring together boards of nursing (BONs) to act and counsel together on matters of common interest. NCSBN’s membership is comprised of the BONs in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories — American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands. There are also 27 associate members that are either nursing regulatory bodies or empowered regulatory authorities from other countries or territories.

NCSBN Member Boards protect the public by ensuring that safe and competent nursing care is provided by licensed nurses. These BONs regulate more than 4.5 million licensed nurses.
Mission: NCSBN provides education, service and research through collaborative leadership to promote evidence-based regulatory excellence for patient safety and public protection.
The statements and opinions expressed are those of NCSBN and not the individual member state or territorial boards of nursing.

Contact: Dawn M. Kappel
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312.525.3667 direct
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