A recent regulatory proposal put forth by the VA to ensure that veterans have direct access to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), including nurse practitioners (NPs), has caused a lot of controversy. If authorized, the proposal will allow NPs to practice to the top of their education scope, improving veterans’ access to high-quality care and a streamlined delivery of their much-needed health services.

After a lot of backlash from several physician’s groups and an attack on nurses from Fox News which failed to mention that that NPs are graduate-educated health professionals, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) started a grassroots campaign called Veterans Deserve Care to support the VA’s proposed rule with backing from veterans, caregivers, and nurse practitioners.

As part of the Veterans Deserve Care campaign, the AANP released a national survey that found 88 percent of Americans are in support of the US Department of Veterans Affairs proposed rule to give veterans direct access to nurse practitioners in VA facilities. The survey received results from 1,006 adults. Among the survey results it was found that 91 percent of Republicans and 90 percent of Democrats support the proposed rule. Further results show that 75 percent of Americans and 80 percent of Americans who have seen a nurse practitioner strongly support the VA proposal.

According to the VA, their proposal is an effort to modernize the VA system, adopting a 21st century approach to health care delivery and access for veterans. VA statistics have recorded that 505,000 veterans are wait-listed 30 days and almost 300,000 veterans wait between 31 and 60 days to receive health services. NPs are the primary care providers of choice for millions of Americans and with these new survey results it is clear that Americans are in agreement for allowing nurse practitioners to be an essential component in answering veterans’ health care needs.

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There are currently over 4,800 nurse practitioners working across VA facilities, providing clinical assessments, ordering and interpreting diagnostic test results, making diagnoses, and initiating treatment plans that include prescribing medications. 21 states and the District of Columbia already offer direct access to NP care, with proven outcomes equivalent to or better than those of physicians.

NPs hold a 50-year track record providing care to patients, including veterans, at zero risk, zero cost, and zero delay for high-quality care. With graduate degrees, national certification, and years of academic and clinical education, nurse practitioners are qualified to be an immediate benefit to hundreds of thousands of veterans waiting for necessary care.

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