Below is a letter ASG received from the Director of the DNP Program at Robert Morris University, Dr. Susan Van Cleve.
This letter is addressing the fact that a bill has been introduced to Congress to allow APNs to practice independently as Full Practice Providers within the Veterans Hospital Administration (VHA). There are two Congressmen opposing the bill. ASG urges you to write (email) your Congress Representative to get them to support this bill because it could change the entire dynamics of ALL APNs within healthcare. Kim Riviello has already emailed Rep. Richard Adams in the district where she lives to support this bill. She has also asked him to consider supporting a bill to allow this same legislation to occur within the state of Ohio. Prior to the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) the VHA was suffering from a shortage of healthcare providers to support the veterans. If the enactment of Obamacare the VHA as well as the state of Ohio are taking on more individuals in need of care. Ohio has increased the number of individuals in need of care by 30,000+. In order for these patients to receive QUALITY care the number of care givers must increase. There care givers are out there….they are us. So write your Congress Representative to support this legislation and encourage them to consider the same for our state.
"Dear Students and Faculty,
Please take a few minutes to write a letter or email to your senators and representatives to ask that they not support aDear Colleague letter being circulated by Reps. Michael Grimm (R-NY) and Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ) regarding the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) guidelines to modernize its Nursing Handbook. The VHA has proposed to allow advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to be recognized as Full Practice Providers within the VHA system. Reps. Grimm’s and Kirkpatrick’s letter opposes this proposal supporting APRNs to practice to the full extent of their education and training.
If APRNs could become recognized by the Veteran’s Administration, this would be huge step forward for removing scope of practice barriers.
Please see the information attached to this email on how to contact your elected officials. Remember, it takes a village…
Susan N. Van Cleve DNP, CPNP-PC, PMHS
Associate Professor, Interim Director of the DNP Program
Robert Morris University
School of Nursing and Health Sciences
224 John Jay
6001 University Blvd.
Moon Township, PA 15108"
CLICK HERE to get more information and contact your representative.