Nurse Practitioner Week

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

WHEREAS, nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice registered nurses who have master’s and often doctorate degrees, as well as extensive clinical training in the diagnosis and management of common and complex medical conditions; and

WHEREAS, NPs provide high-quality primary, acute and specialty care services while focusing on health promotion, disease prevention, health education and counseling, as well as guiding patients to make smarter health and lifestyle choices every day; and

WHEREAS, psychiatric mental health NPs who support the increasing demand for mental health and substance abuse services by diagnosing and educating patients, prescribing medications, and managing treatment plans have doubled in number since 2022; and

WHEREAS, NPs work to expand access to care in underserved communities and reduce health care disparities; and

WHEREAS, there are more than 385,000 licensed nurse practitioners in the United States and more than 17,500 licensed NPs in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, more than 3,500 NPs in Virginia are practicing with autonomous licenses, thereby increasing access to patient care in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the confidence that patients have in NP-delivered health care is evidenced by the more than one billion visits made annually to nurse practitioners across the country; and

WHEREAS, nearly six decades of research demonstrates the high quality of care provided by NPs; and

WHEREAS, better utilization of NPs through modernized state laws and improved system policies creates better health through a more accessible, efficient, cost-effective, and higher quality health care system;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize November 10-16, 2024, as NURSE PRACTITIONER WEEK in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations