VA Proposes APRN Full Practice

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs issued a proposed rule to permit full practice authority of all advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) within the VA system. The Texas Nurses Association applauds the VA for implementing a common-sense solution that places a priority on the health care needs of our country’s military veterans.

On Veterans Day last year, Texas Governor Greg Abbott expressed great concern for our military veterans and their diminishing access to adequate health care. In response, the Texas Nurses Association, Texas Nurses Practitioners, and Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists sent a letter to Governor Abbott offering a solution:

“Allowing APRNs—nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists—to fully practice would substantially reduce the waiting lists for veterans in Texas. It would also improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. As 50 years of peer-reviewed research has demonstrated, APRNs provide safe, cost-effective, and quality health care equal to the level of physician care.”

As TNA and other APRN organizations work together on this issue, we urge the governor and the legislature to follow in the VA’s footsteps to provide equal access to veterans outside the VA and to all other Texans by passing legislation granting full practice authority to all APRNs in Texas.