I fully endorse the effort of the Virginia Board of Nursing to revise the regulatory language regarding Clinical Nurse Specialist practice, recognizing Clinical Nurse Specialists as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. This move is consistent with current national initiatives, specifically the APRN Consensus Model and the most recent Institute of Medicine Report. Clinical Nurse Specialists are prepared as advanced practitioners as substantiated by the APRN Consenus Model. The Commonwealth will promote competent, quality care (and access to such care) through ensuring consistency in the licensure, accreditation, certification, and education of advanced practice nurses by supporting this regulatory effort.