Spotlight on NPs highlights exciting achievements and activities of American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) members.
AANP Fellows Dr. Loretta Ford and Dr. Doreen Cassarino were quoted in a local news article about National Nurses Week and the role that advanced practice registered nurses play in our health care system. Regarding the creation of the nurse practitioner (NP) role, Ford said, “It was an opportunity to demonstrate what nurses could do. I certainly didn’t expect to have 270,000 nurse practitioners.” Cassarino added, “Nurse practitioners can help provide safe and effective care to people who need it the most where they need it the most. A lot of people don’t have access to quality health care that they need because of lack of providers.”
Congratulations to AANP Wisconsin State Representative Dr. Tina Bettin, who was named the 2019 Alumnus Honoris by the Clintonville Public School District. According to a press release, “Last October, Bettin was recognized as one of seven Wisconsin Nurses Association Advanced Practice Nurses of the Year. Bettin is also one of four NPs from Wisconsin who are AANP Fellows.
An Oprah Magazine article about five nurses who might save the world featured AANP member Sharon T. Smith. According to the article, “As a hospice and palliative care nurse practitioner, Smith tends to the sickest of the sick. She covers four North Carolina counties in her Honda Fit, visiting people where they live.”
Congratulations to AANP Florida North State Representative Dr. Stacia Hays, who was awarded the 2019 Transplant Nurses Day Award from the International Transplant Nurses Society (ITNS). Recognition during Transplant Nurses Day and the award are for “contributions to patient care, patient and public education, nursing research, and the profession of nursing.” Learn more.
AANP President Dr. Joyce Knestrick wrote several timely blogs for 30 Seconds:
- The ABCDEs of Melanoma: How to Know When to Worry About Skin Cancer
- National Women’s Health Week Is Coming: Seven Ways for Females to Prioritize Their Health
- Osteoporosis: Four Signs That the Disease Is Silently Putting Your Health at Risk
- Early Warning Signs of a Stroke: Know the Symptoms & Seek Medical Treatment ASAP
An Aldia News article featured AANP member Valerie Caraballo, who said that there are several inaccuracies associated with nursing, including gender- and role-related misconceptions. Caraballo said that nurses think critically, and “We are trained to be able to assess a situation and offer a resolution to it working with the doctor, alongside them, not beneath them.”
AANP VP of State Government Affairs Dr. Taynin Kopanos was quoted in the following articles about state health policy:
- More States Pushing for Autonomy in Scope-of-Practice Battle — Kopanos said, “AANP believes that these requirements are unnecessary for safe practice by nurse practitioners and can impede direct access to patient care. We understand that some state legislators find that this is a political compromise option that they are willing to move forward from. So, the evidence on patient outcomes do not support that there is a difference in quality of care between the two providers.”
- Nurse Practitioners Seen as Option to Meet Growing Primary Care Demand — Kopanos told reporters, “Nurse practitioners are licensed to provide a higher level of care than what half of the states are willing to allow. What they can provide and what they are able to do legally is what’s driving disparity and inefficiencies in the health care system and putting states in a poor position to address the rising elderly population, the rise in chronic disease, and growing health care costs.”
It’s National Nurses Week, and an awareness video published by the University of Arizona College of Nursing featured AANP member Rudy Valenzuela and the transformative work he is doing at the border between the United States and Mexico.
A local news piece about dangers associated with sunscreen chemicals quoted AANP member Lisa Ball, who owns an NP-led dermatology practice. Ball encouraged readers to used physical, rather than chemical, sunscreens, and she said, “We do know that a lot of those chemicals could contribute to cancer or maybe reproductive or developmental concerns.”
In rural Missouri, interpreters are key to health care for Congolese refugees, according to an article that quoted AANP member Amanda Wilford. Automated translation services were not as helpful as a human translator, according to Wilford, who said the refugees spoke a different dialect of French than the automated translation service.
AANP members Kellie Creaser, Stephanie Ferris, Taylor Lenz, Crysta Sullivan and Jeff Shideman were among the University of Wyoming doctor of nursing practice (DNP) students who participated in a National Outdoor Leadership School Wilderness Medicine for the Professional Practitioner program. According to an article about the program, “In all, 24 students, including nine UW nursing students and two instructors, took part in the two-day training that included patient assessment; treating head, spine and chest injuries; as well as responding to weather-related injuries from cold, heat and lightning. Students also received instructions on group leadership skills.”
An article about male nurses quoted AANP member Daniel Arellano, who mentioned the important role that NPs play in rural communities by increasing access to care for patients. Arellano said, “Nursing offers endless growth potential that may be attractive to men seeking a stable career track.” Learn more.
Many nursing professors, like AANP member Beth Farbotnik, also work in the field as practicing nurse practitioners. Farbotnik told reporters, “My love of teaching came from mentoring the nursing students who came to my unit when I was a staff. I was also inspired by my own nursing educators, whom I have the privilege of working with now.”
Congratulations to AANP member Dr. Diane Daddario, who was recently appointed co-chair of the sub-group on Communications of the International Council of Nurses, Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse Network (ICN NP/APN) along with Sini Hamalainen of Finland. Daddario said, “This is a great honor serving with other advanced practice nurses from around the world, including several from the United States who serve on other committees.” Kudos also to the other AANP members who are currently serving on ICN committees, including Li Gao, Deborah Gray, Elissa Ladd and Andrea Renwanz-Boyle. Learn more in the About NP/APNN —Network Steering Groups section of ICN’s website.
