---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 7324"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "7324"
heading: "Annual report on use of authorities to enhance retention of experienced nurses"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/7324"
units:
  - "Part V — Boards, Administrations, and Services"
  - "Chapter 73 — Veterans Health Administration—organization and Functions"
  - "Subchapter II — General Authority and Administration"
---

# §7324. Annual report on use of authorities to enhance retention of experienced nurses

- (a) **Annual Report.—** Not later than January 31 each year, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), acting through the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) for Health, shall submit to Congress a report on the use during the preceding year of authorities for purposes of retaining experienced nurses in the [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) Health Administration, as follows:
  - (1) The authorities under [chapter 76](/usc/38/chptV/ch76.md) of this title.
  - (2) The authority under VA Directive 5102.1, relating to the Department of Veterans Affairs nurse qualification standard, dated November 10, 1999, or any successor directive.
  - (3) Any other authorities available to the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) for those purposes.
- (b) **Report Elements.—** Each report under [subsection (a)](#a) shall specify for the period covered by such report, for each [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) medical facility and for each geographic service area of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), the following:
  - (1) The number of waivers requested under the authority referred to in [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2), and the number of waivers granted under that authority, to promote to the Nurse II grade or Nurse III grade under the Nurse Schedule under [section 7404(b)(1)](/usc/38/7404.md)[^1] of this title any nurse who has not completed a baccalaureate degree in nursing in a recognized school of nursing, set forth by age, race, and years of experience of the individuals subject to such waiver requests and waivers, as the case may be.
  - (2) The programs carried out to facilitate the use of nursing education programs by experienced nurses, including programs for flexible scheduling, scholarships, salary replacement pay, and on-site classes.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 107–135, title I, § 125(a)(1), Jan. 23, 2002, 115 Stat. 2452.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 7404(b) of this title, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), was amended by Pub. L. 108–445, § 3(a), Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2636. As so amended, section 7404(b) no longer includes paragraphs. The Nurse Schedule appears under section 7404(b).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Initial Report

Pub. L. 107–135, title I, § 125(b), Jan. 23, 2002, 115 Stat. 2453, required that the initial report under this section be submitted to the National Commission on VA Nursing as well as to Congress.