VA Proposed Federal Rule Change

On Wednesday, May 25, VA proposed a federal rule change to grant full practice authority to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) when acting within the scope of their VA duties. Full practice authority will help optimize access to VA health care by permitting APRNs to assess, diagnose, prescribe medications and interpret diagnostic tests. This change would increase Veterans’ access to VA health care by allowing APRNs to practice to the fullest extent of their training and license, thereby by increasing the number of fully qualified health care professionals who provide primary care and other services to Veterans.

On Wednesday, June 1, Dr. Shulkin sat down with Lisa Rein of the Washington Post to talk more about the proposed rule and what it means for Veterans, doctors, nurses and VHA as a whole.

Read the full Washington Post article: Top VA doc: If there aren’t enough doctors, have nurses treat our vets