In 2010, on the quiet streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, two determined professionals ignited a movement that would forever alter the landscape of vascular access credentialing in the United States. William J. Hart, a Registered Nurse and 9-year U.S. Navy Veteran, and Josephine Brandon, a seasoned business executive and Neuro-Linguistic Programming Counselor (NLPC), recognized a dangerous gap in clinical oversight and truth-telling when it came to patient safety, nurse training, and the void in vascular access training and certification.

What began as a grassroots mission quickly evolved into a national initiative—one rooted not in politics or profit, but in purpose. That mission was clear: protect nurses, protect patients, and create a board certification system in vascular access that reflects the true rigor and accountability the field demands.

The First of Its Kind: VA-BC Certification

Long before credentialing in vascular access became a widely discussed topic, Hart and Brandon rolled up their sleeves and began laying the groundwork for the first VA-BC (Vascular Access – Board Certified) certification. They chose not to conform, but create a quality benchmark for the field. With real-world training, practical exam formats, and integrity at the forefront, they introduced a system that stood apart from politically entangled organizations and questionable partnerships.

Brandon and Hart developed seven proprietary exam types under their VA-BC umbrella, designed to reflect the full spectrum of vascular access knowledge—from PICC line placement to midline management, from infection prevention to advanced line selection protocols. These exams were created to uphold the highest standards of care, protect professional licenses, and most importantly—ensure the safety of patients across the United States.

From Milwaukee Roots to Arizona Leadership

What began in Milwaukee blossomed into the development and planned creation of the VA-BC Training Center to be headquartered in Fountain Hills, Arizona. The center will stand as a testament to over a decade of unshakable commitment to nurse-led education, clinical accuracy, and ethical credentialing practices.

More than just a testing center, the VA-BC Training Center will protect healthcare whistleblowers and be a place for nurses who want a voice in their profession—free from the politics that often skewed statistics, concealed CLABSI (Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection) data, or burdened frontline nurses with agendas that had nothing to do with patient care.

A Movement Rooted in Truth and Advocacy

Hart and Brandon knew early on that the integrity of the data matters especially when that data determines clinical protocols, reimbursement rates, or licensing decisions. That’s why the VA-BC Association was born in 2010: to serve as a guardian of nurses’ rights, a shield against misinformation, and a watchdog against administrative interference that placed political goals ahead of patient safety.

Unlike others, they refused to align themselves with systems that whitewashed infection rates or minimized the growing risks associated with poor line placement and improper credentialing. They pushed back—loudly and persistently—for the sake of nurses and patients alike.

Their stance wasn’t always popular, but it was always principled. And today, almost a decade later, their unwavering advocacy continues to shape policy, inform hospital training, and restore clarity to a field once clouded by compromise.

A Legacy That Continues

Through it all, the mission has remained the same: to elevate vascular access as a clinical specialty through honest exams, transparent data, and unwavering support for nurses and their patients. Their VA-BC designation is now recognized as a legacy standard—one born not in corporate boardrooms but at kitchen tables and late-night strategy sessions, fueled by a vision of something better.

Today, the work of William J. Hart and Josephine Brandon continues to inspire a new generation of clinicians and leaders. Their grassroots efforts built not just a certification program—but a movement. A movement that stands for truth, safety, and integrity in vascular access.