Virginia Department of Health distributed the letter below sharing an update on COVID-19 vaccine updates.

This information is also available on the VDH Resources for Health Care Professionals web page.

Virginia Department of Health distributed the letter below sharing an update on a statewide outbreak of Meningococcal Disease in Virginia.

This information is also available on the VDH Resources for Health Care Professionals web page.

Virginia Department of Health distributed the letter below regarding a shortage of penicillin G Benzathine (Bicillin L-A).

This information is also available on the VDH Resources for Health Care Professionals web page.

Earlier this week, the Board of Nursing sent communication about SB 975. We want to clarify what the APRN designation means to you as a nurse practitioner. Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is not a new name but rather a term that aligns Virginia’s code with the APRN Consensus Model. This change does not negate, demote or remove the individual’s national licensure, credentials or designation as an NP.

SB 975’s summary states, “Certified nurse midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse practitioners; designation as advanced practice registered nurses. Changes references to certain practitioners in the Code to advanced practice registered nurse in order to align the Code with the professional designations established by the Consensus Model for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Regulation established by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.”

In addition to aligning with the APRN Consensus Model & National Council of State Boards of Nursing, this change also helps decrease confusion in Virginia’s regulatory code language that previously designated other advanced practice registered nurses (including CNS, CNM & CRNA) as “nurse practitioners.” 

Per Virginia Code – “Licensed nurse practitioner” means an advanced practice registered nurse who has met the requirements for licensure as stated in Part II (18VAC90-30-60 et seq.) of this chapter. Under the code, one of these requirements is that the nurse practitioner hold a national certification in the category/specialty of their practice and/or meet the requirements of their national certifying body.

“The boards shall license nurse practitioners consistent with their specialty education and certification in the following categories (a two-digit suffix appears on licenses to designate category).” – See 18VAC90-30-70. Categories of licensed nurse practitioners.

VDH has requested a volunteer primary care NP to participate in a Tick Borne Disease Work Group. 

• There will be approximately five meetings through the Summer.
• The first meeting will be held on Monday, May 8 from 1 to 3 p.m. at a location in Richmond. 
• Future meeting dates will be scheduled with input from the work group members and will include virtual options. 
• Click here for information from the 2023 Session regarding the development of the work group, timeline, and purpose. 

If you have questions or are interested in participating, please reply to this email or contact VCNP staff at vcnp@vcnp.net.

Virginia Department of Health distributed the letter below sharing an update on COVID-19 in Virginia.

This information is also available on the VDH Resources for Health Care Professionals web page.

To better fit the scope of clinically focused roles available to NPs today, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) updated its requirements for recertification by practice and CE, effective April 1. To qualify for recertification by practice and CE, a certificant must complete a minimum of 1,000 practice hours as an NP in the population-focus of their certification, within their five-year certification period. In addition to a direct patient care role, eligible practice hours can now include administrative, educational and research roles. Additional information can be found on the AANPCB website.

Virginia Department of Health distributed the letter below sharing an update on COVID-19 in Virginia.

This information is also available on the VDH Resources for Health Care Professionals web page.

Virginia Department of Health distributed the letter below regarding an increase in Candida auris and Carbapenemase-producing Organisms

This information is also available on the VDH Resources for Health Care Professionals web page.

The Virginia Department of Health distributed the letter below regarding an increase in cases of Congenital Syphilis in 2022.

This information is also available on the VDH Resources for Health Care Professionals web page.