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

WHEREAS, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners support the increasing demand for mental health and substance abuse services by diagnosing and educating patients, prescribing medications and managing treatment plans; and,

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

WHEREAS, there are more than 355,000 licensed nurse practitioners in the United States, and more than 14,000 licensed nurse practitioners in Virginia; and,

WHEREAS, more than 2,600 nurse practitioners in Virginia are practicing with autonomous licenses, thereby increasing access to patient care in the Commonwealth; and,

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

WHEREAS, more than five decades of research demonstrates the high quality of care provided by nurse practitioners; and,

WHEREAS, better utilization of nurse practitioners 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 13-19, 2022 as NURSE PRACTITIONER WEEK in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of our citizens.

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations