Spotlight on NPs highlights exciting achievements and activities of American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) members.

We are sad to share that former American Academy of Nurse Practitioners President and AANP Fellow Dr. Mona Counts has passed away. Learn more about her amazing life and legacy.

AANP Treasurer Dr. Kathy Wheeler is a Shot@Life Champion. Read more about her work increasing awareness of the importance of vaccines. Wheeler said, “I would love everyone to become a Shot@Life Champion. The process can be done from home through a simple online training session, and from there you can continue to communicate with members of Congress and educate the community.”

Congratulations to AANP President Dr. Joyce M. Knestrick, who received the 2019 National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) Policy Leader Award. Knestrick was nominated by AANP Fellows Dr. Melody Wilkinson and Dr. Lenore Resick.

Knestrick was quoted in a Gastroenterology and Endoscopy News article about relationships between nurses and companies in the health care industry.  “AANP is committed to a transparent health care system,” Knestrick said. “We stand ready to work with our members to comply with the Open Payments provisions.”

Knestrick also wrote the following blogs for 30 Seconds:

• How to Dispose of Medications: Four Steps to Safely Clear Out Your Medicine Cabinet
• Diagnosing Autism: Six Questions I Ask Parents to Help Make an Early Autism Diagnosis
• Spring Break Health Smarts: Six Reasons Your Teen Should Seek Medical Care in Paradise
• Nutrition Notes: Five Shortcuts to Better Family Nutrition (You Are What You Eat!)

Congratulations to AANP member Dr. John R. Lunde, who was among 14 nurses who will receive the Circle of Excellence Award from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses in May. According to a press release, “Criteria used to evaluate Circle of Excellence award candidates include relentless promotion of patient-driven excellence; communication skills; true collaboration; effective decision making; meaningful recognition of others; ability to transform thinking, structures and processes; and ability to address challenges and remove barriers to excellent patient care and achieve visible results through leadership.”

“My love of teaching came from mentoring the nursing students who came to my unit when I was a staff nurse,” AANP member Elizabeth Farbotnik told reporters in an article about nurses who combine active service with educational outreach. When Farbotnik was in middle school, she had the opportunity to shadow nurses, and that helped her solidify her decision to become a nurse. Farbotnik said, “I was also inspired by my own nursing educators, whom I have the privilege of working with now.”

Congratulations to several AANP members who were recently elected to serve on the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) Board of Directors. AANP Texas South State Rep Dr. Jessica Peck was selected to serve as NAPNAP President-elect, AANP member Dr. Jennifer Sonney will serve as NAPNAP Secretary, AANP Fellow Dr. Teri Woo will be a Member-at-Large and AANP member Dr. Daniel Crawford will serve on the NAPNAP Nominations Committee. Learn more.

AANP member Stephanie Byrer joined a local news show to help viewers combat spring allergies and to offer “some helpful advice on how to tell if you are suffering from allergies or a cold or flu.” Learn more.

An article that touts nurse practitioners (NPs) as the solution to California’s health care provider shortage pictured AANP member Ricky Norwood. The importance of diversity was also discussed in the article, and the authors stressed the need to hire health care providers who reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.

A professional profile of AANP member Sarah Rogers was published by Florida Today. Rogers told reporters, “When I made the decision to advance my career from being a Registered Nurse to a nurse practitioner, I knew that I wanted to work in primary care, specifically in family medicine. The idea of working with patients of all ages really excited me. As a former pediatric nurse, I have seen firsthand how well primary care can help mold a patient’s health and set them on a path toward overall wellness. I love that I have the ability to form relationships with my patients, which can potentially last for the rest of their lives.”

A local news article about palliative care quoted AANP member Liane Chlus, who helps patients “manage the symptoms and stress of a serious illness to avoid hospitalization.” Chlus said, “We are here to provide you with support for advanced illness management to help you live a better quality of life when you have a chronic or serious illness. That support could mean helping you manage symptoms (nausea, sleep problems, depression/anxiety, pain, loss of appetite, shortness of breath) related to chronic illness and treatments, maintain the most comfortable, independent and active life possible, or coordinate care …”

AANP member La Wanda Pulley established an nonprofit in 2014 to help improve the economic status, health and lifestyles of people in underserved communities. Now she and her nonprofit have opened a new clinic to care for patients in an underserved area. “And this is just where I find home, this population,” Pulley said in an article about the clinic’s opening.

Many NPs are becoming involved in radiation oncology, and some are working as coinvestigators on quality-of-life studies with radiation oncologists,” AANP member Dr. Dorothy Pierce told Oncology Nursing News in an article about the work that nurses are doing related to radiation therapy research. “Because nurses are at the forefront of patient care, they can help improve practice guidelines.”

Minnesota Attorney General Kieth Ellison recently announced a 15-member task force that will work to lower pharmaceutical drug prices in the state. AANP member Jessica Braun is among the task force members. Read the press release.

Campaign for Action highlighted AANP member Laura Reichhardt in a Nursing Journeys profile. Learn more about Reichhardt’s career path and the lessons she has learned along the way.

AANP CEO David Hebert was recently interviewed by DailyNurse about nurse practitioners and primary care services. “It’s important to remember that primary care can prevent additional health complications for patients, making NPs a vital resource for rural communities. People living in states with laws that reduce or restrict NPs’ scope-of-practice have significantly less access to PCNPs. This finding indicates that such state regulations have played a role in impeding access to primary care. This alone should be cause for concern among policymakers seeking to improve public health.”

According to an article in Dermatology Times, a billing algorithm created and tested by AANP member Dr. Paula Brooks and her physician assistant colleague “improved advanced practice provider (APP)/physician teams’ utilization and efficiency; reduced compliance errors; and increased all providers’ relative value units (RVUs) and collections.” Brooks said, “There were 13 different ways that one could close an encounter in … our electronic medical record (EMR). So, we really wanted to standardize the process for the APPs because they needed to be recognized for the work that they were providing. Many were billing ‘incident to,’ in which they were billing under the physician, which would make the advanced practice provider invisible and the physician would be recognized as the one billing and obtaining the RVUs for the visit.”

AANP member and veteran Navy pilot Jen Kiggans is running for Senate in Virginia. Learn more.

A local news report about the rising costs of insulin quoted AANP member Mary Steward, who said advances made in insulin products are at least partially to blame for cost increases. According to Steward, “We’ve been fortunate in that newer variations and quicker onset formulations have become available, which means it has become easier for the patient to inject and eat immediately and not have to wait, but that’s come with a change in price and a change in cost.”

AANP member Cherrie Cowan was quoted in an article about a community Dash for Diabetes. Cowan said, “Exercise is important for everyone to be healthy, but it’s especially important for people with diabetes to help them control their blood sugar. I’ve been doing diabetic care for 32 years, and this is my event of the year. I love doing this. I love taking care of people with diabetes; it’s very significant to me.”

Spotlight on NPs highlights exciting achievements and activities of American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) members.

AANP President Dr. Joyce Knestrick wrote several blogs recently for 30 Seconds.

• Lack of Sleep: Six Surprising Things That Happen When You Don’t Get Enough Sleep (No. 3 Is Scary!)
• Sleep Deprivation: Your Lack of Sleep May Be Causing These Eight Things
• Kidney Awareness Month: Five Easily Overlooked Signs That Your Kidneys May Be in Trouble
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioners: Three Ways Nurse Practitioners Help Kids Live Healthier
• Healthy Moms: Six Steps to Spring Clean Your Health and Life!
• National Nutrition Month: Five Shortcuts to Better Family Nutrition (You Are What You Eat!)

AANP Fellow Dr. Cindy Cooke also wrote a blog for 30 Seconds. Read Sleep Strategies: Six Daytime Habits to Help You Sleep Better at Night.

In a segment about nursing and the law, Johnson & Johnson Nursing Notes Live featured AANP member Joe Flores, who is also an attorney. Learn more about what led Flores to become a lawyer and hear his unique perspective on health care and the law.

The Lancet recently published a study by AANP member Dr. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos on youth at risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). According to the study, “… disparities in HIV prevention and treatment outcomes remain a concern, pointing to inadequate progress in curtailing the epidemic among key populations, such as adolescents and young adults aged 13–29 years.”

AANP member Laurel Short was interviewed by a local news station, and she discussed ways that nurse practitioners (NPs) increase access to health care for patients. Listen to her interview in Segment Two, which begins at the 26:07 mark.

Nurse practitioners hold master’s or doctoral degrees, and have advanced training on patient conditions.  They can perform many of the same functions as medical doctors, but individual states can restrict these health care professionals from exercising a full scope of practice. Today, we learned about the impact that has in certain geographical areas and medical specialties.

Congratulations to AANP Michigan State Representative Dr. Ericka Brunson-Gillespie, who recently received the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners New NP of the Year Award. See more.

A recent study ranked St. Johns County, Florida the healthiest county, and a local news article about those findings quoted AANP member Marla Capes. “A lot of patients eat healthily, there are excellent restaurants with healthy choices and they get exercise and they know what a healthy diet looks like,” said Capes. Frequent exercise by the county’s residents was also cited as a reason for their health.

Veteran and AANP member Shetila Burrell was motivated by the death of her brother to increase access to health care for patients. Burrell has opened a new, NP-led clinic in what was once a busy mall. Burrell told reporters, “I was looking around trying to figure out how can I help this community because when they come to other places that I worked in Baton Rouge or they missed their appointments, they were like, ‘I don’t have a ride, I don’t have this, I don’t have that,’ so me being conveniently here at Cortana Mall makes it very easy for a lot of people not to miss their appointments.”

An article about healthy choices for people with diabetes quoted AANP member Celia Levesque, who discussed kidney damage. Levesque said, “Micro albumin levels above 30 suggest kidney damage. It’s treatable if caught early, but if you wait until these numbers are above 300, the damage has a tendency to be permanent.”

Spotlight on NPs highlights exciting achievements and activities of American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) members.

Congratulations to AANP member Dr. Paul Coyne, who co-founded Inspiren, a nurse practitioner-led company that won the SXSW 2019 Interactive Innovation Award for AI & Machine Learning in recognition of the iN: Cognitive Patient Care Assistant. Learn more.

Sharing with the larger group for two reasons. First, we would normally share a link to the award only and mention the company, product and Coyne’s role. This helps us report rather than advertise or promote. Second, I didn’t know if we might have any interest in learning more about Coyne and his career path as we continue to explore the many varied roles that NPs play.

A Daily Nurse article about helping patients navigate the hidden symptoms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) was written by AANP member Dr. Melissa Rubio and based on findings from a study she authored that was published by The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. Rubio outlined steps that nurses can take to ensure all COPD symptoms are addressed, including helping patients understand their diagnosis, taking time to ask thoughtful question and connecting patients to a support system.

The role of advanced practice providers in pain management was discussed by AANP member Theresa Mallick-Searle in an article for Practical Pain Management. “The growing regulations and patient complexities in today’s acute care settings have gone beyond what the bedside nurse, pain resource nurse, or medical intern can handle alone. Every healthcare organization should have a dedicated pain management team—and yes, Advanced Practice Providers, or APPs, can take the lead.”

AANP President Dr. Joyce Knestrick recently wrote the following blogs for 30 Seconds:

• Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer: 10 Subtle Signs You May Be Battling Cancer of the Pancreas
• Tired of Being Tired? Here Are Six Fixes for Bad Sleep Habits

North Carolina State Representative Gale Adcock, who is an AANP Fellow, and AANP Fellow Debbie Varnam were quoted in an article about legislation sponsored by Adcock that aimed to modernize practice for NPs and expand access for patients in that state. Varnam explained what collaborative agreements are and offered examples of ways they create barriers to health care access for patients. Varnam said, “…people are hesitant to talk about how much we have to pay [to collaborating physicians] because they’re afraid that whoever their supervisor is is going to back out on them.” Adcock said the battle over supervision is “… about the income losses that physicians will face when they are no longer able to charge nurse practitioners and midwives large sums for the physician supervision that current law requires although the supervision exists in name only.”

It’s time to expand choice and access to health care, according to AANP Fellow Dr. Kathleen Perrott Wilson wrote an Op-Ed that said, “… some 6.1 million Floridians lack adequate access to primary care. Solving Florida’s access woes will take political will, but the good news is, much can be accomplished to expand access without adding a single dollar to the state’s health care budget.” Perrott Wilson quoted testimony given to a Florida House subcommittee by AANP VP of State Government Affairs Dr. Taynin Kopanos, who said “… giving patients a choice of health care provider and NPs full practice authority ‘is the only solution that is at no added cost to the state, no delay in benefit to the consumer, and it is the only solution that has a track record of 40 years of success in other states around the country.'”

Dr. Courtney Pladsen, an AANP member and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leader was featured in a Campaign for Action article about her extraordinary effort to help care for a woman who was experiencing homelessness.  “Housing saved Becky’s life,” Pladsen said. “As a nurse practitioner, my job description does not include housing placement, but when you treat the whole person, it becomes easier to identify and address the social and environmental factors that affect health.”

Congratulations to AANP members Anthony Msowoya and Amy Msowoya, who are opening a family practice owned by a husband and wife team of nurse practitioners. According to a press release about the grand opening, Amy Msowoya said, “Everybody should come here feeling welcome, and welcome to come back as much as they need to, or as little as they need to, but also that they were heard.” AANP Fellow Dr. Denise Link was also quoted in the article, and she said, “It is important for everyone to be able to choose who they want for a healthcare provider. There is more than 40 years of research on NP practice in all types of settings with all types of people with all types of health care needs. NPs receive excellent evaluations in studies of patient satisfaction.”

A new NP-owned clinic in Florida was recently opened by AANP member Ronsha Brown. “I wanted to make a bigger impact in our community as well as a fresh view on health care,” Brown said. AANP member Marilyn Bellamy was also mentioned in the article.

Modern Medicine published an article on hematuria evaluation that was written by AANP member Dr. Adele Caruso. “Hematuria is a major reason for a clinic encounter, and the most efficient way to evaluate the condition is not always straightforward,” according to Caruso. The post summarized current evidence and guidance related to hematuria evaluation.

AANP member Karisssa LaClair is the manager of the stroke program at Cone Health, and she recently spoke with a local news network to raise awareness of strokes, including their causes and symptoms. Learn more.

“A passion of mine is community programming that could improve behavioral health care across the continuum of care,” AANP member Anne Thatcher told reporters in an article about her career as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. “I have a lot of ideas in my head about research, and I would love to be able to make a large-scale impact on the status of mental health care in the United States.”

An increase in flu cases was reported by AANP member Cynthia Pippins in a local news update. Pippins said, “I kind of felt like it was a late presentation of the flu this year, and being that we’re still seeing the numbers that we’re seeing at this time when we’re usually going down, I expect it to extend a little longer.”

Spotlight on NPs highlights exciting achievements and activities of American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) members.

In a Diverse Education article about AANP Fellow Dr. Cindy Munro, readers learn of Munro’s remarkable achievements, which include more than 150 publications and several prestigious awards. Munro was inducted as a Fellow in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, The American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Academy of Nursing. Munro said, “To the extent that I have been able to support and encourage their creativity, the success of my students and my colleagues is the best legacy I can have.”

Congratulations to AANP Fellow Dr. Carol Thompson, who was recently designated a Master of Critical Care Medicine (MCCM) by the Council of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM). According to a press release about the honor, “As the first acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP) and the second nurse to be president of SCCM, Thompson has made extraordinary contributes to advance acute care nurse practitioner education, clinical practice and scholarship. Now, Thompson is setting history again as the second nurse with the MCCM designation.”

“A hospice patient shouldn’t have to come out of their home to have a provider actually come and look at them, nor should an elder person, or someone that’s truly, really sick,” AANP member Beverly Carbery told reporters in an article about the opening of her new, rural, NP-led clinic. A nurse for more than a quarter of a century, Carbery became an NP four years ago. Of her approach to health care, Carbery said, “My philosophy is, the patient is the conductor; I’m merely the engineer.”

The desire to increase access to health care inspired AANP member Brad Bigford to start his own house call business, even though he has a current full-time position as a nurse practitioner (NP) at a county jail. Of his mobile health service, Bigford told reporters, “I get to sit down and talk with people and get to know them. People love it. They feel like they actually get heard.”

AANP President Dr. Joyce Knestrick wrote a couple of timely blogs for 30 Seconds and We Choose NPs, which is a public awareness campaign developed by AANP.

• Eating Disorder Awareness: 5 Signs Your Teen May Be Struggling With an Eating Disorder Like Anorexia or Bulimia
• You’re Feeling Lousy: How to Tell if It’s the Flu?

Congratulations to AANP member Marika Haranis, who was recently appointed the new Chief Clinical Officer for the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association. According to a press release about the development, “In this role, Ms. Haranis will lead education and research programs and represent HPNA in advocacy efforts.“

AANP member Theresa Simmons was quoted in an article about an NP being added to an ambulance unit in California. Paramedics will evaluate patients on the scene and call the NP if those patients need treatment but do not need to go to the emergency room.

Spotlight on NPs highlights exciting achievements and activities of American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) members.

Last week, a Florida House subcommittee heard a debate on modernizing NP practice laws. During her testimony, AANP Vice President of State Government Affairs Dr. Taynin Kopanos said, “As states are moving forward, they are realizing it’s not going to be one single silver bullet that solves this [access to health care shortage] but it’s really going to be all-of-the-above solutions that are needed. Out of all the solutions that are on the table, rightsizing licensure laws is the only solution that is at no added cost to the state, no delay in the benefit to the consumer and the state, and it is the only solution that has a track record of 40 years of success in other states around the country.” Read more. A video report is available, as is a video of the hearing, with Kopanos’s testimony beginning near the 54 minute mark and running for approximately 45 minutes.

Patients in eastern Kentucky now have a new option for health care, thanks to Morehead State’s Small Business Development Center and AANP member Sara Brown, who owns and operates the new Rural Medical Group clinic. According to an article about the partnership, “Brown had a desire to open a clinic in Eastern Kentucky that would provide quality health care in a friendly, nurturing environment, without significant wait times. She was unsure how to open her own clinic and sought the services of the Morehead State University Small Business Development Center in August 2017.”

Nurse practitioners are the answer to primary care needs, according to an Op-Ed written by AANP Fellow Dr. Joy Elwell. “… what health care provider can lead health care teams to provide high quality cost-effective primary care to all populations across the lifespan,” Elwell asked. “The answer is, the nurse practitioner.”

Congratulations to AANP member Dr. Janice Beitz, who was recently named a fellow of the National Academies of Practice. In a press release about the honor, Beitz said, “The fellowship in the National Academies of Practice will provide an opportunity for me to influence quality patient care for the future. I am honored to be able to influence decisions based on my clinical expertise and scholarship regarding safe, effective patient care.”

By day, he’s an NP; by night, he’s the Bearded Baker. Read an article about AANP member Jason Patterson, and learn how social media inspired him to start a side hustle baking and selling a variety of cinnamon rolls.

Remember the importance of sleep—especially during stressful times, like midterm exams—a local news article advised. The article mentioned AANP member Janice Biddle, who warned readers not to try to catch up on sleep during the weekend, since that can alter a person’s biological clock and make it difficult for them to readjust to their normal sleep schedule.

AANP member Debbie Griffin was featured in a local news article about her status as a certified diabetes educator. According to the article, “Certified diabetes educators possess comprehensive knowledge of, and experience in, diabetes management, prediabetes, and diabetes prevention. They address the stages of diabetes throughout a person’s lifespan and understand all aspects related to managing the disease.”

Congratulations to AANP member Phyllis Polk Johnson, executive director of the Mississippi Board of Nursing, who the Mississippi Business Journal recently named Mississippi’s Business Woman of the Year. Read more.

A new clinic to help people with heart failure transition from the hospital to their homes is receiving positive feedback from its patients, according to an article that quoted AANP member Jennifer Day. “Our role is to help the patient transition home and we provide everything they need from nutrition, exercise, medication, social work and more,” Day said. “Whatever help they need we’re here to provide it.”  A second article about patients served by the clinic also quoted Day. Read their story.

Spotlight on NPs highlights exciting achievements and activities of American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) members.

A patient thought she was having a panic attack, but it was actually a heart attack. AANP member Lori Turner helped her get the testing and treatment she needed. Turner told reporters, “Even though men are at higher risk of a heart attack than women, it’s important that everyone knows the risk factors and signs of a heart attack. It is more likely for women to present without chest pain and have other symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, sweating, nausea and shortness of breath.”

“I think that clarifying our role, competencies and scope of practice is one of the challenges that both dermatology nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) face,” AANP member and co-chair of AANP’s Dermatology Specialty Practice Group (SPG) Lakshi Aldredge told Dermatology Times in an article about new solutions to challenges faced by dermatology NPs. Aldredge also discussed work that is currently being done by the Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Coalition to publish competencies and standards of practice for dermatology NPs. The coalition includes members of AANP’s Dermatology SPG, among others.

A local news article about ways that modernized practice laws have helped increase access to care for patients in Virginia quoted AANP member Dr. Carole Everhart, who is one of only two health care providers in the rural area where she and her mother opened a clinic in 2012. Everhart’s clinic now serves more than 4,000 patients, who might have lost access to care when Everhart’s collaborating physician retired. Everhart indicated that she was unable to find a new physician who was both affordable and willing to serve in that capacity. Recent changes to the practice environment in Virginia made it possible for Everhart to run the clinic without a collaborating physician.

The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration awarded a $1.5 million grant to AANP Fellow Dr. Tami Thomas of Florida International University (FIU) to launch the Advanced Nursing Education-Regionally Underserved Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (RUSANE) program. The program aims to nearly double Florida’s number of SANE-certified nurses to aid sexual assault survivors in rural and underserved communities. Florida currently has only 44 SANE-certified nurses in a state where more than a quarter of its 20 million population have experienced rape or sexual assault, proving a large unmet need throughout the state of Florida which this program aims to fill. Read FIU’s press release and a Daily Nurse article about the new program.

AANP President Dr. Joyce Knestrick wrote several timely blogs for 30 Seconds.

• Head Injuries in Children: How to Tell if it’s a Concussion
• Kids and Heart Health: Here Are 4 Ways to Instill Heart-Healthy Habits in Your Children
• Is Your Heart Older Than You? Here Are 5 Things That Prematurely Age Your Heart
• Trying to Live Healthier This Year? 5 Reasons Why Seeing a Nurse Practitioner Should Be Part of Your Health Plan

Congratulations to AANP member Onissa Mitchell, who was recently recognized by Black Nurses Rock as the 2018 Advanced Practice Registered Nurse of the Year. Of her work at Bethesda Health Clinic in Tyler, Texas, Mitchell said, “What we do is serve hardworking people who have either no insurance or are underinsured. I’m allowed to pray with my patients and take care of not only their physical needs, but also their emotional needs. So I look at the whole person, not just their physical illness.” Read the press release.

AANP member Sylvia Estrada was quoted in a Cedars Sinai blog about the commonalities and differences between NPs and physicians. Estrada said, “We [NPs] have a focus on disease prevention and health education and counseling. These are unique assets ingrained in our education that enhance our clinical interaction with patients.”

Congratulations to AANP member Dr. Kristen Ostrem-Niemcewicz, who was named a fellow of the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM). According to a press release about the honor, “Fellowship in the ACNM recognizes midwives who demonstrate leadership, clinical excellence and outstanding scholarship, and whose achievements have merited special recognition both within and outside of the midwifery profession.”

“It’s February, and the American Heart Association wants you to make sure you’re keeping tabs on your cardiovascular health,” a local Fox station reported. The station interviewed AANP member Katherine Davis, who discussed the importance of people getting their blood pressure and cholesterol checked. Learn more.

At a potluck event to help educate people about the connections between health and nutrition, AANP member Mishell Ellis told attendees, “It’s very important that people understand medication only works as well as your diet does.” According to an article about the event, Ellis has “… seen in her own life the way chronic conditions can be reversed by eating fruits and vegetables, whole grains and nuts instead of burgers and chicken nuggets. Her father died at age 48 of renal failure and diabetes, and when she saw those same conditions manifest in her body, she made a change.”

In a piece about American Heart Month, AANP member Shendry Thom told local news reporters, “We can actually just poke your finger, run your blood sugar and your cholesterol, take your blood pressure and then do height and weight and figure out your BMI. With those numbers, you have a really good idea of what your risk factors are [for cardiovascular disease].” Thom offered suggestions to help people mitigate risk factors. Learn more.

A local news article about influenza quoted AANP member Candyace Dunn, who discussed flu symptoms and stressed the importance of hand hygiene.

In a local news interview, AANP member Sara Dodson discussed the importance of taking safety precautions in icy conditions. “It’s very common to have wrist fractures, arm fractures, hip fractures, concussions, back injuries, strains and sprains …” during icy weather, Dodson said. She encouraged people to wear “boots or shoes that have a slip resistant surface or some ice cleats” to help secure footing and shuffle their feet rather than moving quickly across icy surfaces.

Congratulations to AANP member Dr. Heidi Fantasia, who is a new member of the board of directors for Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health. Read the press release.

A Daily Nurse article about critical care nursing certifications quoted AANP member Denise Buonocore.

Spotlight on NPs highlights exciting achievements and activities of American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) members.

A Minority Nurse article about the importance of friendships with nursing colleagues and ways that these friendships reduce stress quoted AANP Region 6 Director Capt. James LaVelle Dickens, who said, “Having strong friendships at work is known to reduce stress. I can think of many times when friendships with other nurse practitioners (NPs) have made a difference in my life. Sometimes, it’s having someone lift our own spirits after we’ve delivered a difficult diagnosis to a patient. Sometimes, it’s offering a younger colleague with coaching to help them be the best professional they can be.” AANP member Benjamin Evans was also quoted in the article and said, “Nobody really understands what a nurse does like a nurse, so those relationships provide support, and that support helps bring stress down.” The article was republished by MedPage Today.

“The American Association of Nurse Practitioners would like to commend Congressmen Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Tom Reed (R-NY) for introducing the Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act,” AANP President Dr. Joyce Knestrick said in a press release issued by Blumenauer about the introduction of bipartisan legislation that would provide diabetic patients with better access to therapeutic shoes. “Nurse practitioners deliver health care in nearly every health care setting, caring for patients of all walks of life, including patients with diabetes,” Knestrick said. “This bill will ensure that Medicare patients who receive care from a nurse practitioner will have timely access to therapeutic shoes. It’s time to make this change to the Medicare program.”

A press release about the re-introduction of bipartisan legislation that would boost access to quality health care in rural areas also quoted Knestrick. “The American Association of Nurse Practitioners applauds Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Scott Tipton (R-CO), Grace Meng (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Peter King (R-NY) on introducing the ACO Assignment Improvement Act,” Knestrick said. “Accountable Care Organizations play a key role as our nation transforms from a volume-based to value-based health care system. While current law recognizes nurse practitioners as ACO providers, this legislation ensures NPs and their patients are fully included under the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Nurse practitioners provide high quality care to patients, and it is critical that they are recognized as full participants in the Medicare Shared Savings Program.”

A report released this week by the California Future Health Workforce Commission recommended, among other things, that the state modernize its NP practice laws to help address health care provider shortages. Knestrick participated in a radio discussion about ways that full practice authority for NPs might help improve California’s health care provider shortage.

Knestrick recently wrote several blogs for 30 Seconds.

• Is It a Cold or the Flu Making You Feel Lousy? Here Are Four Signs That Point to Influenza
• Tired of Failed Big Resolutions? Try These 5 Little Life Changes Instead!
• Healthy Hearts: 6 Ways to Give the Gift of Heart This Valentine’s Day!

AANP’s new data related to NP workforce numbers was picked up by several publications, and Knestrick was quoted by Patient Engagement HIT, “NPs are the providers of choice for millions of patients. Current provider shortages, especially in primary care, are a growing concern, yet the growth of the NP role is addressing that concern head-on. The faith patients have in NP-provided health care is evidenced by the estimated 1.06 billion patient visits made to NPs in 2018.”

A HealthLeaders article about transforming patient care shared insights from AANP members Jennifer O’Neill and Shawnna Cunning, among others. O’Neill said, “…the NP and clinical nurse leader can support less experienced nurses and act as a resource.” Cunning indicated that it’s the little things that make the biggest difference to patients, and she stressed that making connections and building relationships with patients can go a long way.

Maygret Ramirez, an AANP member, was the lead researcher in a study that was presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference. Ramirez’s study examined reasons that some people do not call 911 when they experience stroke symptoms. “The fact that hospital preference is the number one reason for not calling 911 tells us we need to provide better education on this issue,” said Ramirez. “People really need to understand that stroke can be a catastrophic event if not treated in time.”

A team of NP students and faculty traveled to Costa Rica to provide health care to patients. AANP Fellow Dr. Valerie Griffin led the team, according to a press release about the mission trip. “Global service requires flexibility and the ability to critically think about the assessment data in order to develop a plan of care appropriate to the patient, as well as using the limited resources available,” Griffin said. “We saw 978 patients in four clinic days and were able to host a new clinic for the first time in that region.” Griffin indicated that both clinical skills and cultural competence were gained by students who participated.

In a local news interview, AANP member Joy Williams encouraged members of her community to hydrate and protect their skin. Williams said, “If your skin becomes too dry you are at a more increased risk of developing a bacterial or fungal infection of the skin. We want to use moisturizing cream because it helps promote a barrier from germs, irritants and allergens that can potentially get inside our bodies and cause infection.” Read more tips to keep skin hydrated.

“Prescribed medicines have become an epidemic, especially with teenagers,” AANP member Julie Emery told local news reporters in an article about the increasing number of prescription drugs being found in classrooms. Emery recommended that parents “keep medicines in a locked space, even if it’s prescribed to your child.”

A clinic in Kentucky is making it possible for patients to obtain health care and dental care in the same building. AANP member Angela B. Grubbs works at the clinic and told reporters, “Patients who have received dental and medical care in the same visit are so thankful for the one-stop shop appointment. Many of the calls we receive are initially prompted by a dental concern. However, during appointments we’ve been able to identify and discuss additional health concerns when needed, bringing to the attention of our patients such issues as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and hypothyroidism. With these conditions identified, we can help patients take steps to improve their overall health.”

An article about the nurse’s role in advance directives quoted AANP member Dr. Deborah Dunn, who shared a story about the importance of displaying sensitivity to a patient’s right to self-determination and “respecting the needs of families when they are confronted with making health care decisions with and/or for their loved ones.” Read more.

Congratulations to AANP member Surani Hayre-Kwan, who recently received an Association of California Nurse Leaders scholarship. Read the press release to learn more.

February is American Heart Month, and to mark the special month, a heart health program that teaches community members about the relationship between food and heart disease was taught by AANP member Mishell Ellis. Read more.

An article about heart health mentioned AANP member Dr. Amy Doneen and the Bale-Doneen Method of Heart Attack Prevention, which she co-developed. The heart attack prevention program was referred to as one of the most effective in the U.S.

Cardiovascular disease symptoms may be more vague for women, according to AANP member Joni Miller, who was quoted in a local news report about heart disease and American Heart Month.

An article about a Heart Month celebration in California quoted AANP member Cindy Peters. “For a long time, heart disease has been thought of as a bigger threat to men than women,” Peters said. “The fact is that women are equally, if not more, affected by heart disease than men. This lack of awareness makes heart disease more deadly in women because the symptoms are often ignored until they become very serious.”

Spotlight on NPs highlights exciting achievements and activities of American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) members.

AANP released the results of its 2018 National Sample Survey and quoted AANP President Dr. Joyce Knestrick in a press release about the survey results. A Forbes article by Bruce Japsen reported on AANP’s findings and quoted Knestrick, who said, “Current provider shortages, especially in primary care, are a growing concern, yet the growth of the NP role is addressing that concern head-on. The faith patients have in NP-provided health care is evidenced by the estimated 1.06 billion patient visits made to NPs in 2018.”

Congratulations to AANP member Dr. Jess Calohan, who was recently named director of the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program for Frontier University. Daily Nurse reported that Calohan is a retired Lt. Col. In the United States Army whose “military record includes a list of distinguishing awards like the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, and eight Army Commendation Medals.”

Missouri State University’s MSU Care clinic is celebrating its third year of providing free health care to patients. AANP member Vanessa McConnell told reporters that years of chronic illness without access to health care has negatively impacted the mental and physical health of some patients … “Where then they can no longer be productive citizens of society, hold down jobs, those types of things, because they need those services and those treatments.” Read more.

Congratulations to AANP member Dr. Michelle Appelbaum, who was recently elected president of the Nurse Practitioner Association of New York State. “Never has there been a more exciting time to be a nurse practitioner in New York State,” Appelbaum said. “Nurse practitioners have gained increasing recognition as vital members of the health care system.” Read the press release.

A local news report about a gala benefiting a medical facility for women who have breast cancer quoted AANP member and breast cancer survivor Casey Waddle. Learn more.

An advanced skills workshop held by a university in New York state quoted AANP member Cynthia Durham, whose “lecture provided comprehensive training on wound evaluation and healing, local anesthesia selection and delivery, instrument choice, suture selection and how to prepare a wound for sutures,” according to a press release. Durham encouraged students to ask for help when they are beginning to learn about suturing. She said, “Learn from you peers, get better and grow your skill set. You’ll learn how to suture more complex wounds as you progress through your career.”

A new NP-owned clinic was recently opened in rural Arizona by AANP member Donna Buchanan. In a press release about the clinic, Buchanan said, “I want the independence. I want affordable health care. We are a cash-pay practice, but we work with people who are uninsured and insured.”

An article about school closures due to illness in Tennessee quoted AANP member Kayla Johnson, who indicated that there were fewer cases of influenza reported than this time last year, but strep throat was currently a concern in that area. Stomach viruses were also reported to be common.

Life After a Stroke was the subject of a local news interview featuring AANP member Megan Millikan. In order to reduce the risk of having another stroke, Millikan suggested the following:

• Manage blood pressure, as a high BP often leads to a stroke.
• Keep cholesterol in check.
• Diabetics should manage their blood sugar.
• Stop smoking.
• Maintain wellness through a good diet and nutrition.

Tips to help patients with pre-diabetes avoid type 2 diabetes were shared by AANP member Pamela Larocque during a public education event. In addition to patients monitoring their blood sugar levels and talking to their health care providers about concerns, Larocque said that type 2 diabetes “doesn’t have to be inevitable. There are a lot of things they [patients] can do to prevent it [pre-diabetes] from becoming diabetes.” Learn more.

Spotlight on NPs highlights exciting achievements and activities of American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) members.

A new Medpage Today article about recommendations made by policy experts to stop incident to billing quoted AANP President Dr. Joyce Knestrick. “It really masks the true impact of the reliance of the health care system on nurse practitioners (NPs),” Knestrick said. “We know that we provide about a billion visits per year, but we can’t count all the ones that are ‘incident to’ billing. This … undermines the foundation of value-based reimbursement.”

Knestrick also wrote several blogs for 30 Seconds.

• Low-Pressure Resolutions: 5 Healthy Resolutions You Can Knock Out in 5 Minutes (or Less)
• Prostate Cancer: The Symptoms & Stats That Men Need to Know
• Quality Health Care: Here Are 4 Reasons to See a Nurse Practitioner This Year
• How to Get Healthy in 2019: Here Are 3 New Year’s Resolutions That Don’t Involve a Scale
• Autism: A Little Insight for Parents Worried About Autism Spectrum Disorder

A recent Modern Medicine article about salary negotiation strategies quoted AANP Fellow and Dermatology Specialty Practice Group Co-Chair Peggy Vernon, who said, “Nurse practitioners generate revenue for the practice by providing patient care and billing insurances. As part of the provider staff they are in an excellent position to negotiate their salaries based on production and revenue generated.” Vernon also indicated that some large companies may have set salaries, based on a provider’s education and experience.

AANP Fellow Dr. Elda Ramirez serves as the Director of the Emergency/Trauma Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of Texas and was recently quoted in an article about about the Advocates’ Roadmap Report. Ramirez said, “With more than 37,000 deaths and millions of injuries annually on our roads, elected officials throughout the country must move forward with the preventative countermeasures in Advocates’ Roadmap Report. Failure to do so will result in more traffic crash victims in emergency rooms—an outcome no emergency nurse wants to experience.”

A 32-year veteran, AANP member Lt. Col. Katrina Lloyd recently relinquished command of the 2^nd Battalion, 119^th Regiment of the Louisiana National Guard. A news article about the leadership transition commended Lloyd and the contributions she has made to the state of Louisiana.

Congratulations to AANP member Dr. Rozina Bhimani, who is a recent Association of Rehabilitation Nurses/Rehabilitation Nursing Foundation Research Grant award recipient. According to a press release, Bhimani’s research on Effects of Mobilization Patterns on Spasticity Symptom Cluster: Understanding Functional Outcomes will “explore the pattern of mobilization in stroke patients with spasticity symptom cluster (SSC) and determine how this mobilization pattern correlates with functional outcomes over time.”

AANP member Sheri Carson was recently recognized for developing a new, evidence-based child-abuse screening program. “Statistics are showing that hospitals across the country are not doing a good job screening for child abuse,” Carson said. “We have protocols in place to treat it once it’s been identified, but it’s the cases of missed abuse that are the problematic ones. Those are the ones that we’re trying to capture through screenings.” Read more.

“A medical group in southeastern Oklahoma is expanding,” according to a local news report about a merger involving a clinic that was owned and operated by AANP member Kasi Whatley. “Many times, rural offices struggle with finding resources available to patients in regard to referrals and continuity of care,” Whatley said, and she explained that the merger will increase access to resources that will help her clinic increase services for patients.

A recent diabetes awareness event included AANP member Rosary Munoz, who is both an NP and diabetes educator. Munoz shared common risk factors associated with diabetes and encouraged people to consider dietary changes as appropriate. Read more.

Spotlight on NPs highlights exciting achievements and activities of American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) members.

AANP President Dr. Joyce Knestrick wrote the following articles on timely health issues that were published by 30 Seconds.

• Is Your Health IQ the Biggest Barrier to Better Health? Here’s Your Cheat Sheet!
• Symptoms of Throid Problems: 14 Signs Your Thyroid May Be Out of Whack

Through the I Serve 2 initiative, AANP member Dr. Alicia Gill Rossiter is collaborating with the Biden Foundation on improving the health of military-connected children. Read a recent article coauthored by Rossiter that was published by the Biden Foundation. Rossiter has more than 25 years of combined military service and was selected as both a Jonas Veteran Healthcare Scholar and an American Academy of Nursing Policy Scholar.

Father-son talks about condom use help prevent sexually transmitted infections, according to a study led by AANP member Dr. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos and published in Pediatrics. Additional coverage of Guilamo-Ramos’ research was provided by HealthDay News and published in U.S. News & World Report, NBC News, United Press International and WebMD. “The findings showed that communicating about condom use can be a powerful way to help prevent teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.”

Congratulations to AANP member Dr. Lorna Finnegan, who is the new dean of the Loyola Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. In a press release about her new role, Finnegan said, “I’m excited to work with Niehoff’s remarkable faculty and staff to advance its mission of preparing students to improve the health outcomes of people and communities locally and globally.”

AANP member Jan Hershberger has returned to her hometown to care for patients, according to a local news article. “I’m looking forward to giving back to the community that helped raise me,” Hershberger said. “I’m also excited to be in the community where my son is going to grow up.”

Congratulations to AANP member Janie McGhin who was recently honored by Caravan Health for “helping patients live better lives and exceeding standards in quality and care.” McGhin received the Outstanding Provider Leadership Award in recognition of her work. Learn more.

It may be difficult for patients to distinguish between common symptoms of several seasonal illnesses. In a recent episode of the Ask the Expert news series, AANP member Ayesha Nutt explained a few distinguishing factors associated with the common cold, strep throat, sinus infections and more. See what she had to say.

AANP member Nyla Fleming also spoke to a local news station about flu symptoms and shared flu remedies and fallacies with viewers. Learn what Fleming recommended to help people protect themselves from the flu.

A recent article about telehealth in elementary schools included a quote from AANP member Lindsey Brough. The program is part of an effort in Indiana to help improve access to health care for children.