The Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners (VCNP), the statewide professional organization for all nurse practitioners (NPs) licensed in Virginia.

The Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners (VCNP) is a statewide professional organization for nurse practitioners (NPs) licensed in Virginia, NP students, and retired NPs. Our main event is the annual conference held each March, providing over 20 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits to nearly 400 attendees and dozens of exhibitors.

We work with the Virginia General Assembly to pass bills that improve healthcare access and expand the profession. Our over 1,500 members stay informed about practice, association activities, and member achievements through bi-weekly presidential emails and state and regional social media. Member achievements are recognized and supported through awards and scholarships throughout the year.

The organization of NPs in Virginia began in the regional or local areas of the state. With the growth in the number of NPs throughout the state, Virginia NPs initially organized to become a Professional Practice Group of the VNA. In 1984, the VCNP became a council of the VNA, and as such continued to grow in membership. In 2012 the VCNP separated from the VNA to become an independent organization. 

Although there are other specialty NP groups, the VCNP offers an advantage for all NPs in Virginia because of its association with the VNA and the American Nurses Association (ANA) with their broad based membership and the resources available through these relationships.

The goals and purpose of the VCNP include:

• To increase the awareness of and the impact of the role of nurse practitioners on health care and on the professional, educational, and political systems
• To facilitate the advancement of the nurse practitioner role as an integral component of quality health care delivery through public relations, political activism and consultation
• To foster professional and collegial growth through continuing education
• To provide for a communication system for nurse practitioners throughout the state of Virginia

VCNP Regions

There are 12 regional councils located in the Southside, Lynchburg, Fredericksburg, Northern Virginia, Peninsula, Piedmont, Tidewater, Southwest, Blue Ridge, Shenandoah, Northern Shenandoah Valley and Richmond areas of the state. The original VCNP consisted of 6 regions, but the growth of NPs into new geographical areas of the state necessitated the formation of 3 new regions during 1998. A 10th region (Fredericksburg) was added in 2000, Peninsula in 2002, and Central split into Southside and Lynchburg in 2014.

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The Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners is pleased to provide many benefits to its members including but not limited to:

• Proposing and influencing state and national health policy through legislative action and monitoring of governmental programs and regulations
• Providing for the continuing professional development of nurse practitioners through local meetings and our national conference
• Reduced registration fees at our national conference
• Representing nurse practitioners with professional, community, and governmental groups
• Information on current job opportunities and FREE job posting
• Members only section of the VCNP website, including job postings and other NP issues as well as an up-to-date member directory

Professional Organization Affiliations

The VCNP maintains contact with other professional organizations that support and represent NPs, including the VNA, the State Board of Nursing, the ANA Council of Advanced Practice, the Committee of the Joint Boards of Nursing and Medicine, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the American College of Nurse Practitioners and other organizations as indicated. The VCNP maintains communication with its Regional Councils through quarterly meetings, conference calls, on-line communication and other contacts as necessary. The Executive Board of the VCNP consists of the elected State Officers and the Presidents of each Regional Council.

VCNP Continuing Education

The VCNP and its Regional Councils actively promote the professional education of its members.  The annual VCNP conference is planned by a committee which includes a representative from each Regional Council. The VCNP conference is highly successful with attendance of over 450 participants who meet for three days to learn about professional and clinical topics. CEs are awarded which are applicable to national re-certification as an NP.

VCNP and NP Practice in Virginia

Nurse practitioner practice has continued to evolve in Virginia through the efforts of NPs working as individuals or through their affiliated organizations to promote changes in NP and healthcare legislation in Virginia. The VCNP and its Regional Councils make significant contributions in support of state and federal legislation that affects the health care of all Virginians, and works to ensure that NPs are an integral member of the health care team. The VCNP and the Regional Councils have become aware, active and assertive participants in local, state and federal legislative activities. Efforts are made to include NPs throughout the state by educating and communicating about legislative issues related to the promotion of health care for all Virginians.