The VA is vying for more authority for nurses working in veterans facilities. | Courtesy of Shutterstock
+ Regulatory
Amanda Rupp | Jul 27, 2016

VA seeks more authority for registered nurses

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recently wrote a letter against a proposal from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that could give certain nurses more authority to independently practice within U.S. VA facilities.

There are several medical organizations that also dislike the new proposal; they argue that the VA’s proposal would undermine the team-based, physician-led health care that VA facilities should provide for patients.

"Our nation's veterans deserve high-quality health care that is overseen by physicians," the AAFP said in the letter. "The undersigned organizations strongly oppose the proposed rule and urge the VHA (Veterans Health Administration) to consider policy alternatives that prioritize team-based care rather than independent nursing practice.”

The VA originally proposed the new solution to resolve a shortage of physicians within VA facilities. This would help veterans who typically have to wait for long periods of time when they want an appointment; some veterans stated that they have waited for months or longer to get an appointment.

After receiving these complaints, regulators have tried to improve veterans’ access to appropriate, timely, quality care. Unfortunately, problems continue to arise.

Despite these efforts, many health care experts believe that the new proposal would only cause additional problems for patient safety, education for nurses, standards for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and more.

The AAFP and others have urged the VA department to find a different solution:

"Patients deserve to have a physician on their team, whether that is for the treatment and management of chronic conditions or for surgery,” the AAFP said. “Nowhere is this more important than in the VHA, which delivers highly complex medical care to our nation's veterans.”

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