Delegate Sickles Receives Legislative Hero Award
VANA was proud to present Delegate Mark Sickles of the Virginia House of Delegates with their inaugural Legislative Hero Award at their Annual Fall Conference on October 12.
The Legislative Hero Award is VANA’s formal recognition of legislative partners who understand and prioritize the value that Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists bring to the health care needs of surgical patients across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
“We are proud to honor a true champion who has been a steadfast advocate for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists in Virginia,” said Meredith Joyner, MBA, MSNA, CRNA, FAANA, past president of VANA and current VANA Government Relations Director. “This award is VANA’s highest honor for those serving in our legislative community who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and a steadfast commitment to the safety and well-being of our surgical patients.”
Joyner said Del. Sickles has exemplified unwavering support in an exceptional way and that his leadership on key health care legislation will advance the practice of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists while improving access to patient care in Virginia.
VANA members have been working diligently through numerous legislative cycles to remove the word supervision from their scope of practice language within state law. Del. Sickles has been a champion of this effort in the House of Delegates and has led the charge to align the scope of practice for Virginia’s CRNAs with the vast majority of the nation.
“It is an honor to be recognized by Virginia’s Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, who make a significant difference in our health care system delivering safe, high-quality anesthesia care,” said Del. Mark Sickles, Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee. “I want to do my part to ensure we have a health care system in Virginia that improves patient access to care while ensuring CRNAs can practice to the full extent of their education and training. CRNAs are a critical part of our health care system and deserve to be treated like the anesthesia experts they are.”
Del. Sickles’ efforts to educate his legislative colleagues about the contributions of CRNAs and his advocacy for policies that support their practice have been significant in fostering a legislative environment that recognizes and supports the CRNA profession.
