Nursing Activities and Role Variation in Veterans Health Administration Primary Care - Takeaways - MDSpire
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Variability in Nursing Roles and Responsibilities within Veterans Health Administration Primary Care Settings

  • By

  • Chelsea McConnell

  • Elvira E. Jimenez

  • Charlene Pope

  • Rong Guo

  • Traci Solt

  • Laura Coyle

  • Jami Falk

  • Evelyn T. Chang

  • August 28, 2026

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  • 1

    VHA primary care operates through Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACTs), with nurses expected to practice at the highest level of their training.

  • 2

    A nationwide survey of VHA nurses revealed that RNs and LPN/LVNs have distinct responsibilities, with RNs engaging more in care coordination and administrative tasks.

  • 3

    LPN/LVNs reported higher involvement in immunizations and health care screenings, while RNs focused on patient assessment and care coordination.

  • 4

    Both RN and LPN/LVN roles showed considerable overlap, but staffing constraints may lead to cross-coverage and underutilization of skills.

  • 5

    The study highlighted the need for better measurement of nursing work to optimize primary care team composition and function.

Original Source(s)

Nursing Activities and Role Variation in Veterans Health Administration Primary Care

  • by Chelsea McConnell, Elvira E. Jimenez, Charlene Pope, Rong Guo, Traci Solt, Laura Coyle, Jami Falk, Evelyn T. Chang

  • August 28, 2026

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