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Posted about 10 years ago by Margaret Catchpole

"Clash on VHA Nurse Oversight"

Did you see? On January 26, 2014 the Wall Street Journal published an article that is making headlines. The article opened by saying "The Veterans Health Administration is taking heavy fire from doctor groups over a proposal to let nurses with advanced training practice medicine without physician supervision throughout the VHA system—even in states where laws require more oversight." Along with 40 other nursing organizations, ANA stands behind this change. Nurses are rising up across the country to let their Member of Congress know this is important to us. Please urge your Representative to support VHA's recent change in their Nursing Handbook. We need your voice! Unfortunately, more than 60 physicians groups and a handful of Members of Congress have signed letters to the Department of Veterans Affairs expressing "strong concerns" that the proposed new nursing handbook would "effectively eliminate physician-led team-based care within the VHA system."
We don't think so.

Even the Secretary of the Veterans Administration, Secretary Eric Shinseki, who credits a nurse with saving his foot when physicians wanted to amputate it in Vietnam, says the change "will increase access to care and ensure continuation of the highest quality care for our nation's veterans." Let's educate Congress and stand together, Your ANA Government Affairs Team

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