WHAT IS VPN?
The Virginia Partnership for Nursing, established in 1998, is a part of the Colleagues in Caring initiative through the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation. It is a statewide nursing workforce initiative. The VPN consists currently of a Steering Committee composed of representatives from nursing education and practice.

MISSION
"To build commitment and capacity to transform health care by creating a nursing workforce responsive to consumer health care needs."

GOALS

• Establish a permanent organization for analyzing health workforce issues and propose solutions to need, supply and demand issues.
• Develop a nursing workforce recruitment model for Virginia.
• Implement educational mobility models among the various levels of educational programs.
• Reduce barriers to educational mobility.
• Develop practice models that meet the nursing needs of Virginians.
• Coordinate information and data within the state to assure public policy that fosters the health of Virginia's citizens.

PURPOSE
The purposes for which this Corporation is formed and incorporated are to:

1. work with a broad group of health care entities to promote the highest quality of nursing care.
2. provide a forum for evidence-based decision related to nursing education and practice.
3. foster education and practice partnerships designed to enhance the delivery of nursing care and to promote the retention of nurses.
4. serve in an advisory capacity to appropriate Virginia boards.
5. provide accurate information related to nursing education and practice.
6. increase the awareness of children and young adults through partnerships with local school systems regarding the role of nurses in community development and service.
7. procure, accept and administer grants, donations or loans from any public or private source for the above purposes.

The Members of VPN are organizational entities. VPN Members from 4 KEY INTEREST AREAS:

1. Educational Institutions: Organizations chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia whose primary mandate is to deliver nursing education;
2. Governmental Agencies: Organizations whose Leadership are either elected by the public in the Commonwealth or are appointed under the authority of those who are elected by the public in the Commonwealth, and whose primary mandate is to assure the establishment, maintenance, and adequacy of laws, regulations and public services intended to foster and monitor the healthiness of the public;
3. Health Care Service Providers: Private or public, profit or non-profit, organizations chartered by the Commonwealth whose primary mandate is to provide care across a continuum of methods, venues and processes;
4. Professional Interest Groups: Organizations chartered by the Commonwealth or granted a 501c3 status by the federal government to represent the interests of defined groups with nursing interests.

Member-Representatives conduct the business of VPN and each member representative is appointed by a Member Organization. The Member Representatives will be designated, in writing, by the Member Entity that they represent in advance of all functions for which they are responsible.