CNSs are advanced practice registered nurses, a vital part of the health care team and recognized as APRNS in the new LACE model and the Model Nurse Practice Act and Regulations of the National Council of the Boards of Nursing. CNSs must be officially recognized as APRNs in each state, and allowed, indeed, protected, to practice their profession to the fullest extent as called for in the Institute of Medicine's Report on the Future of Nursing. I fully support regulatory action in Virginia and all states to recognize CNSs as APRNs.  

Many states, including Ohio, already recognize CNS as an APRN.  I am a CNS and APRN with prescriptive authority practicing child-adolescent psychiatric mental health in the state of Ohio. In the Ohio Revised Code 4723.01, advanced practice nurses are defined as "certified registered nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse-midwife and certified nurse practitioner".  I feel that it is vital that all states, including Virginia, recognize CNS as an APRN for the access to medicine, safety and welfare of all patients.

Respectfully submitted,

Sally Hough, MS, APRN, PMHCNS-BC