VA Professional Nursing Regulation and Practice

Just as boards of nursing (BONs) operationalize statutes specific to states' rules and regulations within their nurse practice act, Congress provides the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with the power and authority to regulate the professional activities of its health care practitioners under Title 38 of United States Code. Under this authority, the VA establishes qualifications for nurses and regulates their professional conduct. This article presents a demographic overview of VA registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists; nursing practice standards and elements; the appointment, credentialing, and peer review of VA professional nurses; advanced practice registered nurse privileging; reporting and responding to BONs; and the related processes that ensure public safety.