Editor's Note: This news column will offer guest writers a forum to discuss issues that impact registered nurses. In this issue, we've invited Susan Motley, CEO of the Virginia Nurses Association, as the columnist.

Each year as the General Assembly begins, the Virginia Nurses Association’s leadership and legislative team prioritize and track legislation that impacts registered nurses in Virginia. The Virginia Nurses Association is the largest professional association for RN’s in Virginia. Primarily, the organization’s legislative priorities fall in these areas:

• Ensure an adequate nursing work force to meet the public’s health-care needs
• Quality and safety of health care
• Access to care
• Promotion of the public’s health and safety

One of the bigger issues for nursing this session focused on Senate Bill 263, the Nurse Practitioner bill. This bill would have updated the Code of Virginia to reflect contemporary practice patterns, provide for revision of regulations and permit nurse practitioners to practice within their full scope of practice according to their education and certification. Research supports findings that nurse practitioners provide safe, high-quality care with excellent outcomes and patient satisfaction. VNA strongly supported SB 263 because it addressed challenges that limit access to care and create unnecessary regulatory burdens.

As you read this column, Senate Bill 263 – the Nurse Practitioner bill – failed to report from subcommittee. It was heard in full committee with a similar result. However, there were bills which the VNA opposed and was successful in getting amended or stricken. All in all, VNA has had a successful session, with the budget the last remaining concern.

The House of Delegates and the Senate have released their amendments to the introduced budget. Both contain deep cuts but differ greatly in where those cuts take place. Also differing greatly is the level of information provided regarding those cuts. To date, the House of Delegates has released a very thorough document while the Senate subcommittee reports are more “bare bones.” Reportedly, the Senate will release additional language in the coming days to flesh out their version of the budget.
It is important to note that some of the Senate’s cuts are contingent on whether Virginia receives a six-month extension of enhanced Medicaid funding from the federal government. These cuts will have an impact on nursing in terms of jobs and are of primary concern to the Virginia Nurses Association.

2010 marks the 25th anniversary of Nurses Day at the General Assembly. More than 800 nurses attended to learn about public policy issues impacting their practice in Virginia. To see speaker presentations from the event or to monitor VNA’s legislative efforts in more detail, please visit the Virginia Nurses Association Web site at www.virginianurses.com.