PROPOSED

2026 Health Policy and Legislation (HP&L) Position Statement

The goal of West Virginia Nurses Association (WVNA) is to support enactment and implementation of policy that will benefit the health and welfare of all citizens. The WVNA strives to provide information, advocacy, representation and protection for the state's professional nurses. As part of the American Nurses Association (ANA), the organization establishes policies and goals for the profession that form the basis for nursing's contribution to the advancement of health care policy.

I. PROFESSIONAL ISSUES

WVNA supports regulatory legislation that:

• Assures the West Virginia RN Board (WVRNB) retains authority and autonomy to regulate the nursing profession with a culture that is fair, just, collaborative and adherent to fiduciary responsibilities (W. Va. Code §30-7-3, §30-7-4);

• Supports the implementation of the *National Academy of Medicine's* report *The Future of Nursing 2020--2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity* (National Academy of Medicine, 2021);

• Recognizes the full scope of practice and autonomy of nurses as established by professional licensure and delineated by professional organizations (ANA Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 4th ed., 2021; NCSBN model act/rules);

• Promotes APRNs (certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified nurse anesthetists, certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists) as licensed independent practitioners, promotes full compensation for APRNs, prevents professional liability carriers from limiting coverage or restricting the full APRN scope of practice, prevents restraint of trade through collaborative requirements, and does not endorse the current version of the APRN Compact (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2020, AANP Position Opposing the Revised APRN Compact (rev. 2023);

• Supports APRNs in the autonomous management of opioid use disorder, including medically assisted treatments and therapies (SAMHSA: Removal of X-Waiver (2023); DEA/MATE Act training notice (2023);

• Improves health care access through modernizing statutory language, eliminating restrictions in nursing practice and prescriptive authority (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2020, See AANP state practice environment resources and policy brief. AANP State Practice Environment map (2025 PDF); AANP Issues at a Glance: Full Practice Authority (rev. Aug 2024);

• Promotes the use of appropriate, scientifically correct, and inclusive terminology in proposed legislation and health policy (CDC Health Equity Guiding Principles for Inclusive Communication (2021 PDF); CDC Preventing Chronic Disease article describing the principles (2023); AMA--AAMC Advancing Health Equity Language Guide (2021 PDF); and

• Promotes full practice authority for APRNs within their educational standards of practice (NAM Future of Nursing 2020--2030; AANP State Practice Environment (2025 PDF).

WVNA supports workplace initiatives that:

• Uphold individual nurses' right to make moral-ethical decisions (American Nurses Association, Code of Ethics for Nurses-Provision 6, 2025);

• Support safe staffing initiatives, acknowledge patient acuity, and maximize standard quality outcomes determined by nurses;

• Recognize the RN as a coordinator for patient care;

• Provide flexible work schedules that lessen the risk of fatigue-related errors;

• Prohibit mandatory overtime;

• Compensate nurses using market benchmarking;

• Improves patient and nurse safety with education, supplied devices, and personal equipment to protect the patient and nurse from adverse events;

• Standardize policies and procedures, equipment and medication delivery systems, including but not limited to information technology, to provide seamless care across the health care landscape;

• Support unrestricted use of titles appropriate to educational degrees and credentials; and

• Disseminate education to each nurse regarding prevention, treatment, and recovery for nurses with substance use or mental health disorders.

II. HEALTH CARE DELIVERY

WVNA supports a health care delivery system that:

• Encourages a culture of health through education and public awareness;

• Supports Healthy People 2030 objectives that include: health conditions, health behaviors, populations, settings and systems, social determinants of health (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2020; Healthy People 2030);

• Supports patient safety though adequate staffing patterns with RN supervision and appropriate delegation of licensed and unlicensed assistive nursing personnel;

• Assures compliance with WV Code: "The legislature finds that regulation should be imposed on an occupation or profession only when necessary for the protection of public health and safety" (WV Code, Chapter 30-1A-1);

• Promotes nursing practice to the full extent of education and competency;

• Modernizes state regulations to eliminate barriers to health care and those that have anticompetitive effects with no contribution to the health and safety of the public (National Academy of Medicine, 2021; Federal Trade Commission, 2012);

• Provides interprofessional person-centered care, employs evidence-based practice, applies quality improvement, and utilizes informatics (National Academy of Medicine, 2021);

• Facilitates antibiotic stewardship by all who administer, receive, or prescribe antibiotics. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021);

• Encourages the expansion of nurse-led models of care;

• Improves timely access to care for patients in all settings; and

• Adheres to the Artificial Intelligence Code of Conduct for Health and Medicine to ensure the following: advancing humanity, ensuring equity, engaging impacted individuals, improving workforce well-being, monitoring performance, and innovating and learning (National Academy of Medicine, 2025).

WVNA supports public policies that:

• Promote a commitment to the principle that all persons are entitled to affordable, readily accessible, high-quality health services (AHRQ, 2008; ACA, 2010);

• Promote access to equitable and comprehensive health care for all West Virginians;

• Promote reimbursement parity for all health services, including but not limited to medications, holistic care, reproductive services, and behavioral health services (ACA, 2010);

• Assure quality supportive and palliative end-of-life care is accessible to all people, including effective symptom management and psychosocial and spiritual support;

• Maintain West Virginia immunization standards as outlined by WV16-3-4;

• Recommend ongoing immunization guideline modifications for individuals across the lifespan as outlined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2025);

• Encourage West Virginians to maintain active, healthy, and independent lifestyles;

• Promote access to quality in-home long term or intermediate care when desired and needed;

• Identify, report, and prevent abuse and neglect of vulnerable populations, including physical, mental, and financial abuse, and provide victim support (WV State Auditor's Office, 2012, WHO 2025);

• Eradicate prescription drug abuse and eliminate inappropriate prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances in West Virginia (WV Opiate Reduction Act 2018, WV Office of the Attorney General, 2021);

• Eliminate the import, manufacturing, and distribution of illegal drugs in West Virginia (DEA, 2018);

• Support the safe, regulated, and legal prescribing of therapeutic marijuana and complementary therapies by APRNs and other licensed medical providers (ANA, 2016);

• Recognize the importance of patient confidentiality, given the impact of media and technology on professional practice (WVNA, ANA, 2012);

• Eradicate HIV/AIDS through harm reduction strategies, increased screening, and expanded treatment and prevention including the use of PrEP and PEP in primary care settings for persons at high risk (HIV.gov, 2019);

• Protect consumers from surprise billing for healthcare services and provide transparency for cost of care and prescription drug pricing;

• Include best practices in harm reduction and rehabilitation services for persons living with substance use disorder; and

• Achieve statewide broadband coverage for improved access to healthcare.

WVNA supports school health initiatives that:

• Support a minimum of one certified school nurse in every WV public school building to promote health and wellness; manage students with acute and chronic diseases; provide drug prevention education and referrals; administer stock naloxone and epinephrine; and provide mental health services, support, and referrals to ensure an educated and healthy workforce for economic growth and development in WV (American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement, 2016);

• Support the need for safe administration of insulin at school for students with diabetes -- only a certified school nurse, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, parent/guardian, trained parent designee (not employed by the board of education), and/or student may legally administer insulin in the school setting (WVASN and WVCOSN Position Papers, 2014);

• Promote the coordination and linkage of students to a health home, including oral health, through the certified school nurse;

• Promote the role of the certified school nurse in the enrollment of children and families in comprehensive insurance programs which include oral health;

• Recognize the certified school nurse as the coordinator of health care intervention with the authority to make appropriate health care task delegations and assignments within the educational setting and the nurse's scope and ability;

• Promote collaboration between the certified school nurse and school-based clinics for health promotion and disease management. (A certified school nurse covers all children enrolled in public school; the school-based clinic provides care only to established patients);

• Recognize the certified school nurse as the professional who ensures quality health care instruction for pre-K through 12th grade students, including comprehensive, age-appropriate human sexuality education (WVDE School Nurse Needs Assessment, 2010);

• Support certified school nurses' pay parity within educational funding formula for teachers;

• Promote the community school concept, which coordinates programs and services to support healthy lifestyles for students, staff, parents, and the community which each school serves (Communities in Schools; Coalition for Community Schools; CDC Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child, 2024); and

• Recognize the long-term health impacts of childhood trauma and link students to trauma- informed care and programs to build and support resilience.

III. PATIENT RIGHTS

WVNA supports patients' rights to:

• Health care as a basic human right;

• Safe, error-free health care environments;

• Transparent information about nurse staffing patterns and quality outcome benchmarks at health facilities (CMS Rules, 2014);

• Receive health care provided by nursing personnel consistent with their level of acuity (add AI reference);

• Privacy and confidentiality;

• Shared decision making about personal health, without coercion;

• Patient education delivered to meet individual literacy and learning needs; and

• Designate APRNs as their preferred provider for all healthcare services in all settings across the lifespan.

IV. NURSING RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT

WVNA supports strategies for retention and recruitment, including:

• Promoting a safe and professional work environment with shared nurse governance;

• Funding for undergraduate and graduate education for nurses, educational opportunities for faculty, and nursing workforce redevelopment programs (ANA, 2023);

• Improving incentives and pay parity for nurse educators and preceptors who provide clinical supervision to the next generation of clinicians (RWJF, 2017);

• Leveraging policy to ensure all nurses may practice to the full extent of their education, training, and certification (namely, to remove collaborative requirements, restrictive prescribing formularies, and restrictive signatory authority);

• Reimbursement parity for APRN services;

• Programs for nurses in recovery from substance use disorder, including confidential and compassionate peer monitoring and counseling services; and

• Elevating the role of the nurse related to quality of care, patient outcomes, and organizational and financial stability.

V. SOCIAL ISSUES

WVNA supports the following:

• Education focusing on social justice issues;

• Legislation focused on prevention of violence and bullying, particularly the protection of vulnerable populations in all venues;

• Initiatives to eradicate human trafficking;

• Initiatives to screen for, educate about, and reduce public health risks, including but not limited to unclean air and water, harmful additives and toxins, drug and alcohol impairment, distracted driving, sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDs, sports injuries, gun violence, and ATV/motorcycle helmet use;

• Access to programs that identify risks for and treat post-concussive head injuries from sports and other causes (CDC, 2015);

• Access to trauma-informed care, behavioral health services, and programs addressing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD);

• Public disclosure of and education about environmental health risks in homes, work, school, and other public settings (ANA, 2010);

• Adequate funding and public policy to provide smoking and vaping prevention, cessation, and educational programs to eliminate tobacco use and environmental exposure;

• Education regarding the health benefits of breastfeeding and chest feeding (ABM, 2024; ACNM, 2022);

• Ongoing recognition and support of all veterans;

• Programs developed to identify and treat the high incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-concussive head injuries in the veteran population (e.g., traumatic brain injury) (AANP, 2012);

• Programs developed to identify and treat the high incidents of military sexual trauma (MST) and suicide in the military population;

• Access to behavioral health services for all veterans and families with supportive opportunities for the highest quality of independent living (AANP, 2012);

• Addressing the high incidence of suicide and substance use disorder, and limited availability and accessibility of quality behavioral health services;

• Engaging community members and health professionals in disaster preparedness efforts (WVREDI, 2015);

• Programs that address social determinants of health and enhance health equity; including economic stability, health care access and quality, social and community context, education access and quality, and neighborhood and built environment (HP 2030);

• The fundamental principle of respect for the inherent dignity, worth, unique attributes, and human rights of all individuals (ANA, 2015);

• Increase visibility and contribution of nurses in local, state, national, and international leadership roles; and

• Full staffing of sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) at hospitals and/or community agencies across the state (U.S. Dept. of Justice, 2024).

She now serves as Senior Director of Nursing Strategy and Professional Development at Vandalia Health.  “I am humbled to receive such a prestigious award and join other esteemed colleagues across the world. I am honored to be recognized as a nurse leader and look forward to continuing to advocate for the Academy’s vision of healthy lives for all people,” Stroupe said.

The newest Fellows, selected from a sizeable and competitive pool of applicants, represent 42 states, the District of Columbia, and 12 countries. Stroupe is the only nurse from West Virginia this year. The unique expertise of the newest Fellows will soon bolster the collective impact of over 3,200 Academy Fellows. 

Dr. Stroupe and the other 2025 inductees will be recognized for their substantial, sustained, and significant contributions to health and health care at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference, taking place on October 16–18, 2025, in Washington, DC, with the Induction Ceremony occurring on the evening of October 18. After the ceremony, the new inductees can use their FAAN (Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing) credential.

Learn more about the Academy and visit the policy conference website for more details. For those interested in attending the induction ceremony, tickets can be purchased online.

About the American Academy of Nursing

The American Academy of Nursing serves the public by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination of nursing knowledge. Academy Fellows are inducted into the organization for their extraordinary contributions to improve health locally and globally. With more than 3,200 Fellows, the Academy represents nursing’s most accomplished leaders

Building competence and confidence in your specialty

Whether you're already a certified nurse or exploring this possibility, it's helpful to understand the value of certification and how it can position you for success throughout your nursing career.

Certified individuals report feeling a sense of pride and achievement, feeling more professionally competent, having improved employability and advancement, and being positioned for better compensation and career longevity, according to a 2019 Institute for Credentialing Excellence Value of Certification study. But certification is more than a feeling. Beyond intrinsic values, there are some studies that demonstrate that having more certified nurses on the team can lead to better patient outcomes. Certification proves highly beneficial for patients, too.

Competence fuels confidence

Everyone's certification journey is personal. For me, the value of nursing certification became apparent as I witnessed my mother's commitment to professional growth. One day, while I was still in high school, I saw her reading a nursing journal and asked, "Why are you reading about nursing on your day off?" She replied, "Remember when I took a test and earned those credentials after my name? I need to keep learning to maintain those credentials. Plus, learning not only makes me a better nurse, but I take back what I learn to the unit to teach others."

Enhancing evidence-based practice skills in nurses and NPs is central to Simi Jesto Joseph's purpose and growth as a leader.

My mother's story is not unique. I've heard similar stories over my 20-plus years of working in nursing certification. Simi Jesto Joseph, PhD, DNP, APRN, ANP-C, NEA-BC, FNAP, an ANA-Illinois member, is one example. Taking the Nurse Executive, Advanced (NEA-BC) exam marked a pivotal step in Joseph's commitment to executive leadership in nursing and healthcare administration. The rigorous preparation to obtain this credential sharpened her strategic thinking and deepened her leadership knowledge. Earning the certification boosted her confidence and credibility, opening doors to executive roles in academic settings. It also equipped her with the tools to drive meaningful change, which advanced both her career and the quality of patient care she's passionate about, providing her with the foundation to excel in her specialty.

History of ANCC certification

Specialty nursing certification began as a means of validating an individual nurse's competence in a specialized or advanced area of practice. Initially, specialty nursing associations developed and offered these certifications. More than 50 years ago, ANA offered only a handful of certifications. Margretta Madden Styles, EdD, RN, FAAN, a true pioneer in the advancement of specialty nursing certification, played an instrumental role in a 1979 study that led to the formation of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in 1991. Today, ANCC offers new certifications for 17 specialties and renewals for more than 30 others. Every year, we commemorate Styles' legacy by celebrating Certified Nurses Day on her birthday, March 19 (nursingworld.org/certified-nurses-day). ANCC programs and the American Nurses Foundation support Styles' vision by offering a credentialing research grant through the Margretta Styles Fund for Nursing Research.

Bonnie Sandahl Todd

Recently, I interviewed Bonnie Sandahl Todd, who in 1974 became one of the first certified pediatric nurse practitioners and one of Washington State's first five nurse practitioners to earn certification. She shared with me that, at that time, certified nurses were considered trailblazers; they filled an immense need for skilled practitioners in underserved areas. Her dedication to excellence in pediatric care helped define and elevate the nurse practitioner role in healthcare. She overcame adversity in her pursuit of advanced practice, challenging norms and advocating for nurse practitioner recognition and the highest continuing education standards. She was indeed a trailblazer.

"In those early days, people assumed this role had always existed, but it hadn't," Todd recalled. "I lived through the 'cowboy era'---it was our job to sway public opinion; to prove this was not only a necessary role but one that elevated patient care standards."

As a mentor, Todd, a Washington State Nurses Association member, nurtured the generations of nurse practitioners who followed, guiding them along the path she helped to forge. Her story is a tribute to all nurse practitioners, inspiring a legacy of resilience, advocacy, and patient-
centered care.

Ongoing growth and renewal

You may already know that nursing certifications require a combination of experience in the specialty and continuing professional development to become eligible for the exam, underscoring the necessity to explore and plan to meet the eligibility criteria before applying. What you might not know is that if you've been working in a specific area of nursing for at least 2 years you may already have met most of the eligibility criteria for certification.

I've found that studying for the exam is a valuable exercise because it presents the opportunity to fill in any knowledge gaps and potentially connect with peers if you study as part of a group. Study time generally takes 3 to 6 months and might involve study groups, individual study-guide review, and practice tests.

Once becoming certified, it's crucial to review the renewal criteria for your certification organization. You'll need to know how long the certification is valid, when you can renew, and any specific requirements related to your certification, such as practice requirements or continuing education on a particular topic.

Most nurses are continuous learners and innovators by nature. The certification renewal process provides structured opportunities to engage in continuing professional development activities that you might not otherwise have considered, such as presenting to audiences or serving on boards. In fact, once ANCC-certified, you might even consider sharing your experience and knowledge by volunteering to support certification program maintenance as a subject matter expert (bit.ly/3UfW9jP).

You also may wish to volunteer and contribute to the profession through professional development. Examples include academic credits for advancement in education, research, and evidence-based practice projects. As an ANA member, you can use the free ANA CE tracker available in the "my account" section of ana.org. The tracker offers an easy way to preserve your continuing professional development activities and check totals to see if you're on track for certification exam eligibility, renewal, or even your RN license. The tracker is portable and downloadable. Additionally, ANA members receive extra support for ANCC certification through discounts on both the initial exam fee and then renewal fees every 5 years.

If you haven't already, I encourage you to explore the certification journey for yourself. Certification can empower you as a nurse, wherever you are in your career, by giving you an opportunity to validate your knowledge and experience while providing you with a professional framework for lifelong learning.

You have so many options to leverage your certifications, and I hope that you consider volunteering and sharing your experience, knowledge, and The Power of Nurses with us.

--- Marianne Horahan is the director of certification services and American Nurses Enterprise customer service at ANCC.

Learn more by visiting nursingworld.org/our-certifications

Kaphne Harris, MSN, APRN, ACNP-BC

Harris's 30-year nursing journey has been marked by dedication and perseverance. She began her career as a certified nursing assistant, progressed to a licensed vocational nurse, then earned her associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees in nursing.

Advancing to become an acute care nurse practitioner was a natural progression in Harris's professional journey. With years of experience in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, trauma, and intensive care, this Texas Nurses Association member sought to enhance her ability to deliver high-level, direct care to critically ill patients.

Harris is now pursuing a DNP degree to further enhance her leadership capabilities and enable her to drive evidence-based practice, influence healthcare policy, and implement solutions to the challenges facing the nursing profession.

Michael Szeliga, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, CMSRN, CPHQ

Szeliga became a nurse out of a deep desire to help others. The act of helping takes many forms, each unique to the individual. In Szeliga's practice this means forming meaningful connections with recipients of care during some of their most challenging moments and guiding them toward health and wellness. He takes great pride in his ability to connect with both patients and colleagues in a genuine and compassionate manner.

Becoming an ANCC-certified adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist has opened doors to opportunities beyond what Szeliga, a Delaware Nurses Association member, ever imagined. His training and experience as a CNS have become deeply integrated into all aspects of his work, providing him with the ability to develop, implement, and evaluate change across the three spheres of impact: patient care, nursing practice, and healthcare systems.

His expertise has also enabled him to serve the nursing profession as a clinical faculty member and as a board of directors' member for a nursing specialty.

Juliana Rendon Lopez, RN, GERO-BC, CCRN

Rendon Lopez's journey through nursing rests on deep familial and cultural foundations. She completed her LPN and BSN studies in Colombia, then ran into a series of roadblocks when she relocated to Wisconsin.

Navigating an unfamiliar language and culture, she struggled to figure out how to continue her nursing career. The process of credential verification proved confusing and overwhelming, but after 2 years of persistence, Rendon Lopez succeeded in getting her education approved and took the NCLEX-RN exam. Along the way, she met other internationally educated nurses who, like her, had been told their education wasn't valid in the United States and had abandoned their dreams, turning instead to other fields. Once she proved it was possible, she began guiding others through the process.

Rendon Lopez pursued an ANCC certification in gerontological nursing primarily because she wanted to be well-informed and equipped to support her mother and help her siblings navigate and cope in the wake of their mother's diagnosis with vascular dementia.

She also recognized through her work as an RN that many older Hispanic patients face language barriers. She saw how much they value having someone who not only speaks their language but also understands and respects their cultural values and beliefs. Rendon Lopez is a Wisconsin Nurses Association member.

Rendon Lopez volunteers to care for uninsured individuals across southwest Wisconsin.

Adapted from Monthly Stories of Inspiration from ANCC Certified Nurses at bit.ly/4nScLMh under the Resources for You tab.