1970
1970 Virginia Has a New Nurse Practice Act
At last Virginia joined the other states having mandatory nursing laws. The new nurse practice act specified that all who nurse for compensation must have a current license. The position of Executive Secretary, an employee of the Board of Nursing was created eliminating the need of having a board member serve as paid secretary-treasurer. Mabel Montgomery resigned her membership on the board to become the first Executive Secretary of the Virginia State Board of Nursing.
1970 First African-American Member of the Board of Nursing
Lois B. Sellers, faculty member at Hampton Institute, was the first African-American member appointed to the State Board of Nursing when she filled the unexpired term of Mabel Montgomery.
1970 Continuing Education for Nurses
The Virginia Regional Medical Program (VRMP) received a federal grant in the amount of $88, 296 to fund a statewide program of continued education for nursing personnel from June 10, 1970, through December 30, 1970. The Virginia Nurses' Association (VNA) administered the project, and nurse coordinators were responsible for the local programs on heart disease, cancer, stroke, and related diseases.
1970 VNA Initiates Establishment of Interdisciplinary Practice Council
The Board of Virginia Nurses' Association (VNA) approved the recommendation of the Nursing Practice Committee that the Association initiate the establishment of an Interdisciplinary Practice Council comprised of representatives from the VNA, the Virginia Hospital Association, Virginia Pharmaceutical Association and the Medical Society of Virginia and that the Council make recommendations concerning the congruent roles of physicians and nurses in providing quality health care. The group first met at VNA Headquarters on March 15, 1971.
1970 Virginia Section of the Nurses' Association of ACOG Formed
The Virginia Section of the Nurses' Association of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (NAACOG) was established in Virginia.
1971 Practical Nurse Organizations Merge
The Licensed Practical Nurses Association of Virginia and the Virginia Colored Practical Nurses Association merged following a joint session at the Hotel Roanoke to form the Virginia Licensed Practical Nurse Association (VLPNA).
1972 Effort to Secure Nursing's Representation on Commissions and Boards
At the 1972 Virginia Nurses' Association (VNA) convention, the membership adopted a resolution calling for nurses to be appointed to various commissions and boards of state government involved in the delivery of health care.
1972 First Virginia Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau Chartered
The Beta Kappa Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing, was chartered at the School of Nursing at the University of Virginia in 1972.
1973 First Nurse Practitioner Program
The University of Virginia received funding from the Virginia Regional Medical Program (VRMP) to support the establishment of a Family Nurse Practitioner Program within the School of Medicine, later expanded to the School of Nursing.
1973 American Academy of Nursing Organized
The American Academy of Nursing was established in 1973 under the aegis of the American Nurses Association. Thirty-six Fellows were inducted in 1973 including four with connections to Virginia. They were Faye G. Abdellah, Rose M. Chioni, Jean Hayter and Phyllis J. Verhonick.
1973 First Nurse Appointed to Serve on Virginia State Board of Health
Fostine G. Riddick, Director, Division of Nursing, Hampton Institute became the first nurse to serve on the State Board of Health.
1973 First Nurse Practitioners Authorized
At the direction of the General Assembly, the Health Department conducted a Study of Assistants to Physicians and Dentists. The Virginia Nurses' Association (VNA) and the Virginia State Board of Nursing were represented on the study group. A major recommendation resulted in an amendment to the Medical Practice Act in 1973, which authorized a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse to render medical or health services "under the supervision of a duly licensed physician" when the services were authorized by regulations jointly promulgated and implemented by the Virginia State Board of Medicine and Virginia State Board of Nursing.
1974 First Joint Practice Committee Formed
Virginia Nurses' Association (VNA) and the Medical Society of Virginia agreed to form a joint practice committee comprised of eight members of each for the discussion of issues related to overlapping practice.
1974 Virginia Organization of Nurse Executives Established
The Virginia Organization of Nurse Executives was established to give nursing administrators an opportunity for closer interaction with their peers.
1975 Certification of Nurse Practitioners
The Virginia State Boards of Nursing and Medicine adopted regulations governing the certification of nurse practitioners. The initial regulations included certification for nurse practitioners in several categories and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. Certified Nurse-Midwives were added in 1976.
1975 Collective Bargaining
Virginia nurses looking for assistance from Virginia Nurses' Association (VNA) in collective bargaining sponsored a resolution to explore the organization of the Virginia Nurses Economic Security Council (VNESCO). VNA also revised its bylaws to separate the collective bargaining process from the overall program of VNA. This separation occurred because of changes in the National Labor Relations Act eliminated the exemption of non-profit hospitals.
1975 Last Virginia Nurse Quarterly
The last issue of the official Virginia Nurses' Association (VNA) publication under the name Virginia Nurse Quarterly was published in the winter of 1975.
1976 Virginia Nurses Economic Security Council
VNA established VNESCO as a structural unit within the organization with an elected representative from each district. Local units would assist with the development and administration of the collective bargaining process.
1976 New Name for VNA Publication
The spring issue of the official publication of the VNA was issued with the new name Virginia Nurse. A newsletter, VNA News, was published between issues of the journal.
1976 Richmond Consortium on Patient Education Organized
The Richmond Consortium on Patient Education (RCOPE) was organized in 1976. This was the first consortium for patient education in the United States.
1977 Department of Health Regulatory Boards Created
The Department of Health Regulatory Boards was created by the General Assembly in 1977. This action was sought by six independent boards: Dentistry; Funeral Directors and Embalmers; Medicine; Nursing; Optometry; and Pharmacy; and by the Board of Veterinary Medicine which previously was located within the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Licensure.
1977 First Salute to Nursing Week
Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr. declared the first Salute to Nursing Week for May 1-7 beginning the annual practice of recognition of nursing in the Commonwealth in the spring.
1978 Hospital Schools of Nursing Organize
The Assembly of Hospital Schools of Nursing organized under the sponsorship of the Virginia Hospital Association.
1978 Sale of VNA Property
VNA sold its headquarters building in 1978 and moved to rented quarters in a building owned by the Virginia Pharmaceutical Association.
1978 VNA opposes Chelsea
VNA adopted a resolution in opposition to the marketing of Chelsea, a soft drink that resembled beer bottled by Anheuser Busch. VNA and its Districts issued news releases for the media showing their concern for advertising directed at children and teenagers. In response to a letter to the President of Anheuser Busch, the company suspended its promotional campaign and indicated it would take steps to alter the product so that it would not resemble an alcoholic beverage.
1979 Clarification in the Role of VNA in Collective Bargaining
Through bylaw changes VNA eliminated the Economic and General Welfare Committee in an effort to clarify their role in collective bargaining.
1979 VNA Files with Department of Labor Under Protest
The VNA was on the inactive list of labor organizations with the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Labor but not with the United States Department of Labor. C. Hobson Goddin, counsel for the VNA was notified that the VNA must file with the U.S. Department of Labor. Under the threat of possible criminal and civil action, VNA filed under “dire protest” because it was not involved in collective bargaining.