A note from your VCNP President
Top Story
VCNP plans to introduce legislation during the 2022 General Assembly that seeks to make permanent the two-year requirement for autonomous practice. (Last year’s bill was passed with the stipulation that it would be reviewed in 2022.) We are looking for NPs who have been able to practice autonomously under the two-year regulation.
Virginia NP Practice
Apply for Nursing Preceptor Incentive Program
The General Assembly established the Nursing Preceptor Incentive Program to provide financial incentives for practitioners who serve as otherwise uncompensated preceptors for APRN students. By participating in this program, preceptors will help solidify future funding for preceptors of NPs in both primary and specialty areas. Registration is open now, and only one registration is needed per school year.
Respond to telehealth usage survey by Nov. 19
VCNP has partnered with the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Telehealth Network to understand the impact of telehealth on patients and providers and to better understand Virginia’s current and future needs with virtual care. Your insights will be used to inform policymaking both locally and statewide. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey by Nov. 19.
VDH updates
The Virginia Department of Health recently shared updates and information about the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine authorization and recommendations for 5–11-year-olds.
National Rural Health Day
November 18 is National Rural Health Day as designated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH). People who live in America’s rural areas face unique barriers to health care including longer travel distances to receive care, a shortage of health care providers and lack of broadband internet access. They also are at a greater risk of death from heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease and stroke. Contact RuralHealth@cms.hhs.gov for questions or resources related to rural health policies and programs.
VCNP News
NP Week wrap up
Last week was a great celebration of NPs in Virginia! VCNP’s president-elect Olivia Newby, DNP, FNP-BC, CDCES, FAANP, wrote an opinion piece that was published in the Nov. 7 editions of the Virginian-Pilot and Daily press newspapers.
Lynchburg Region members got a standing ovation at the Nov. 9 Lynchburg City Council meeting after Mayor Dolan shared the NP Week proclamation. Members also volunteered at the Daily Bread and showed their NP pride with special VCNP insulated tumblers.
 
Piedmont member Darla Topley accepted an NP Week proclamation from Staunton Mayor Andrea Oakes. She also received a proclamation during a virtual Charlottesville City Council meeting and recorded a public service announcement that aired on WNRN.
 
This year’s theme was “NPs: Going the Extra Mile.” Be sure to check out our social media posts all month for photos of some of our members at work.
Above: VCNP Lynchburg displays a NP Week Proclamation from the City of Lynchburg.
Right Top: VCNP Lynchburg poses during NP Week volunteer opportunity at Our Daily Bread.
Right Bottom: VCNP Lynchburg tumbler gifts for NP Week.
Below: VCNP receives a NP Week proclamation from the City of Staunton.
How did you celebrate NP Week? Share your activities and photos below.
Submit conference poster presentations by Dec. 10
The call for poster presentations is now open for the 2022 VCNP conference, scheduled for March 2-5 at The Omni Homestead Resort. Submit your poster presentations by Dec. 10.
VCNP PAC
VCNP continues to actively work to improve health care for all Virginians and to move NP practice forward in the Commonwealth. The PAC Challenge starts each July 1 and runs through June 30. Once again, we are aiming for $20,000, as our goal is to continuously move toward full practice authority (FPA) for practicing NPs in Virginia.
 
To ensure that our PAC remains healthy, we need your support. Your donations support legislators who champion NP practice and help advance the NP profession in Virginia.
 
Sign up for monthly donations, which can start at $5/month and be automatically deducted from your account. One-time donations are welcome too!
 Thanks to these members for their recent donations – Joseph Briglia (NOVA), Justine Milby (Richmond), Sonya Woronowicz (Tidewater), Val Wrobel (NOVA) and Marjorie Young (Blue Ridge).
Important Reminders - NP Practice
Share your stories
As of Nov. 1, there were 1,750 NPs with autonomous licenses in Virginia! If you’re one of them, let us know why you applied and why you think it’s important for other NPs to do so. Send your stories – and a photo - for use in future VCNP communications.
Invest in NPs - Apply for autonomous practice
Even if autonomous practice won’t benefit you in your current job, applying is an investment in you and the NP profession. You’re eligible to apply if you have at least two years of clinical experience (equivalent to 3,600 hours).
You will not receive an email when your license is approved. To check the status of your application, log in to your online account about 4-6 weeks after submission. You will not receive a new printed license until your next license renewal.
During this month of gratitude, I’m so thankful for you, my NP colleagues. Thank you for your commitment to your patients and our profession. I hope you’ll be able to take some time to recharge during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Becky Compton, DNP, RN, FNP-BC
President, VCNP Board of Directors
vcnppresident@gmail.com