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

A recent Washington Examiner article about efforts to gain full practice authority in Pennsylvania quoted AANP Vice President of State Government Affairs Dr. Taynin Kopanos, AANP Washington D.C. State Representative Cathy Hampton and AANP member Dr. Adele Caruso, who serves as president of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners. Kopanos used an analogy to describe how current restrictions affect NPs and their ability to care for patients in the state. “It’s like having a driver’s license but then making it illegal for you to drive unless you have a permission slip from someone in your neighborhood,” Kopanos said of the collaborative agreement requirement.

An article by the California Healthcare Foundation indicated that nurse practitioners (NPs) with full practice authority can help expand access to quality health care for patients in rural areas. Practice environments in several states were discussed, and AANP member Karen Zink, who practices in Colorado, was quoted. “The critical issue at stake is access to care for underserved populations living in remote and rural areas as well as urban centers,” Zink said. “There is a significant body of evidence showing that the expansion of nurse practitioners’ practice authority will serve these populations well, especially as health workforce shortages loom large.”

Listen to an interview with AANP Fellow Dr. Michelle Litchman about the rising costs of care for patients with diabetes. According to Litchman, many patients are now forced to choose between basic needs for themselves and their families or the insulin they need to stay healthy.

Congratulations to AANP member Dr. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, who was recently appointed to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) ad hoc Committee on Prevention and Control of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the United States. According to a press release about the appointment, “The 17-member committee of experts in the field was convened at the request of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to study and provide direction for future public health programs, policy, and research in sexually transmitted diseases (STD) prevention and control.”

AANP Immediate Past President Dr. Joyce Knestrick wrote a blog for 30 Seconds titled, Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Provider: How It Can Save You a Lot of Headaches This School Year. Knestrick said, “Having a trusted primary care provider can help keep your family healthy and sane, and NPs are a smart choice for parents on the go!”

In a local news story about NPs, AANP member Billie Madler said, “…Nurse Practitioners are seeing over 1-billion patient visits annually, and so they are filling an incredible need in meeting a demand in the healthcare industry. And that’s really where the whole profession started from, was meeting a need.”

AANP member Lindsey Brough was quoted in a local news article about ways that technology is increasing access to health care for children and helping minimize time away from class for students. Learn more about ways that telehealth is helping students and their parents in Indiana.

A Washington Post article about the importance of end-of-life directives quoted AANP member Douglas Houghton. “The best advanced directive is to name an educated person as your health-care surrogate,” said Houghton. “You need to have a real conversation with that person, and not simply write down a name on a piece of paper that you keep in a filing cabinet.”

The Cincinnati Storytellers Project presented by AANP member Marcy Fitzgerald and four other individuals that were about unexpected adventures that changed their lives. Fitzgerald spoke about ways that a friend encouraged her to embrace unexpected adventures. Learn more.

A local news report about a recent American Heart Association study on vitamin D and cardiovascular disease quoted AANP member Amanda Kallas. “Vitamin D could be checked through a blood test, and it’s as simple as following up with a healthcare provider to obtain an order for that blood test,” Kallas said.

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

In an op-ed published by The Tennessean, AANP Oregon State Representative Dr. Laurel Hallock Koppelman and AANP member Heather Jackson explained how state laws differ and impact care for patients with opioid use disorder in Oregon and Tennessee. “Until Tennessee restrictions are lifted for nurse practitioners to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, access to health care is reduced.”

The Daily Progress quoted AANP Fellows Dr. Teresa Tyson and Dr. Paula Hill of the Health Wagon in an article about ways that telehealth is increasing access to care for patients in rural areas. In the Connecting People section of the article, Tyson and Hill explained how telehealth has helped them save patients’ lives. According to the article, “They were the first, and possibly still the only, nurse practitioners to do telecystoscopies, which allow a urologist to look inside a patient’s bladder.” Tyson explained, “What we know is we have really low rates of bladder cancer and high rates of smoking. That does not correlate. If you have high rates of smoking, you should have high rates of bladder cancer.” People were not diagnosed, because although they had symptoms, they were unable to be tested. Telehealth allows patients to obtain necessary testing.

Thrive Global recently interviewed AANP member Elis Salamone about life and leadership lessons learned in the military. Salamone served in the Air Force for more than 25 years and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. After sharing her experience and insights, Salamone said, “I also want to have a call to action for nursing professionals to be kind, be inclusive and respectful of their fellow team mates no matter how hard life gets. We spend 90% of our lifetime at work, let’s make it as pleasant as possible to improve patient outcomes and decrease burnt out. God knows there’s plenty of work and we need to pay it forward to the next generation of nursing professionals.”

AANP Immediate Past President Dr. Joyce Knestrick wrote two timely blogs for 30 Seconds.

• Lung Cancer Facts: Eight Things Women Need to Know About Lung Cancer
• Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Provider: How it Can Save You a Lot of Headaches This School Year

A Huffington Post article on sleep disorder signs quoted AANP member Ellen Wermter, who is a Better Sleep Council spokesperson. Wermter said, “If you have good sleep habits and still feel that your sleep quality is poor, that’s a sign it’s time to make an appointment with a specialist.”

AANP Fellow Dr. Christine Pintz will lead The Nurse Practitioner Technology Enhanced Community Health program at George Washington University (GWU), which will be developed thanks to $2.8 million in grant funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration. Learn more from Daily Nurse and from GWU Nursing.

Dr. Jennifer Clifton will present “Primary Care of the Recent Juvenile Assault Victim” at the National Commission on Correctional Health Care’s (NCCH) National Conference in October. Clifton is an AANP member and the organization’s liaison to the NCCHC board of directors. Learn more about the presentation.

Oncology Nursing News quoted AANP member Laura Zitella in an article about understanding chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), treatment and adverse events. The quote was taken from Zitella’s presentation at the Third Annual School of Nursing Oncology at the University of California San Fransisco. Zitella said, “Many of your patients, even those with solid tumors, are at risk for developing leukemia. So, [learning about leukemia] is applicable to [all nurses]. In addition to that, age is one of the biggest risk factors for leukemia. So, you might have a patient who has head and neck cancer but is possibly being treated for their CLL.”

In a local news article about back to school health screenings, AANP member Susan Dock emphasized the importance of annual health screenings. “By establishing a routine, year after year, we can recognize things before they become a problem,” Dock said. “A yearly physical is always smart.”

Another back to school article from a local news station quoted AANP member Tanasha Varino, who encouraged parents to educate themselves about vaccines. “Any disease that a child is not vaccinated against does put them at risk for developing that disease,” said Varino. “Recently there has been an outbreak of MMR, Measles, Mumps, Rubella in California. I haven’t seen any of this in my personal practice, but it’s definitely a risk.”

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

AANP President Dr. Sophia Thomas wrote several timely blogs for 30 Seconds.

• Inflammation Remedies: Six Things You Can Do to Reduce Inflammation (and Feel Better, Too!)
• Six Steps to Better African-American Mental Health: How to Get the Care You Deserve
• Road Trip Health Tips: How to Make Your Family Road Trip Healthy and Fun

AANP S. New York State Representative Dr. Mary Koslap-Petraco was interviewed by Contemporary Pediatrics about the public health crisis in New York as it relates to skyrocketing measles infection rates. “Honestly, the biggest thing that we need to do is build the trust,” Koslap-Petraco told listeners. “We also need to share the stories of parents whose children have been sickened by this horrible disease … I think my final thoughts are, we pro-vaccine folks can’t be afraid to engage with parents and we need to take the time to speak with them. Always respectfully, always listening to them first, usually the way that I start out the conversation is tell me what you’ve heard and let’s discuss this point by point. Addressing every one of their concerns.”

Congratulations to AANP Fellow Dr. Lovoria Williams, who was recently named Nurse Researcher of the Year by the National Black Nurses Association. According to a press release, “As an active clinician serving the veteran, homeless and nicotine-dependent patients, Williams adeptly integrates student teaching and research into her family nurse practitioner role.”

AANP Fellow Dr. Kathleen Schachman and the Bay Community Health Clinic recently received a $2.8 million federal grant, which will allow Schachman and the Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) to train nurse practitioners (NPs) to “combat the pressing health crises of addictions and mental health in some of Michigan’s most under-served communities.” Acording to a local news article, “SVSU will empower a new generation of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners to serve on the front lines of patient care. It’s an initiative that could prove transformative to rural communities in Michigan where thousands suffer from the opioid epidemic …” Schachman said, “People are dying. Families and communities are being destroyed. Those in rural areas who are seeking care often have to travel up to 100 miles and wait two or three months to receive addictions treatment. Sadly, many die while they wait. This educational grant will target this significant treatment gap.”

Congratulations to AANP Fellow Dr. Danielle Howa-Pendergrass, who recently received a Citizen of the Year Award in recognition of her dedication to the health education and well being of citizens in her community.

A Kansas City camp offers children a fun escape from kidney disease, according to a local news article that quotes AANP member Kathleen Mallett, who volunteers at the camp. “I love seeing the kids just get to be kids,” Mallett said. “They just get to be like other kids like them. It’s pretty hard to be a kid and fit in and this is a good opportunity for them to do that.”

MD Anderson published an article about the important role that advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants play in cancer care. The article quoted AANP member Brandon Sterling. As a newly credentialed APRN on a busy unit, Sterling “was tasked with transferring a post-operative urology patient who had a stroke to a nearby hospital.” Sterling said of the experience, “I was working with the family, case manager, social worker, nursing team, attending physician, insurance company and receiving hospital. I was doing what I needed to do to ensure the whole patient received the care needed as quickly as possible.”

Congratulations to AANP member Codi Rhear, an oncology nurse practitioner (NP) who recently earned the national DAISY Award. The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem) Award is given annually to nurses and nursing faculty and students for extraordinary care of their patients. “I don’t always get to fix (patients) or cure them. You can’t always do that with cancer,” Rhear said. “But if I can help people live life to the fullest and meet those goals, I feel like I’ve accomplished something.” Learn more.

Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) serving primarily black families have more dangerous nurse-to-patient ratios, according to a Florence Health article that references a session presented by AANP member Juliette Blount at the 2019 AANP National Conference. According to the article, “There isn’t a simple or even single way to eliminate racial biases from your own behavior at work. But important first steps to make sure you’re providing equal care are to learn about racial health disparities and to ask questions.”

A local news article about clinical placements for NP students quoted AANP member Sarah Smith, who participated in the program. “It was a very small rural clinic, and I got to see a lot of different issues, which is what interested me in rural work in general and in Monroe Clinic in particular,” Smith said.

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

The Digital Journal reported on AANP Chief Executive Officer David Hebert‘s op-ed in Time, which indicated that more nurse practitioners (NPs) could potentially solve the opioid crisis. The Time article was co-authored by Tommy Thompson, who served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and as the 42nd Governor of Wisconsin. “Empowering nurse practitioners to treat addiction—and removing unnecessary restrictions at the state level—can go a long way in liberating American patients,” Thompson and Hebert wrote.

NPs are the solution to health care provider shortages, AANP President Dr. Sophia Thomas wrote in an article for The Hill. “NP-provided care is associated with decreased hospitalizations, decreased readmissions, and improved health care outcomes. These cost savings are compounded in states with FPA, where there is less unnecessary provider duplication and involvement in matters that can be fully handled by an NP.” The op-ed was covered by McKnight’s Senior Living and Becker’s Hospital Review.

Thomas also wrote the following blogs recently:

• Group B Strep Prep: When and Why Pregnant Women Should Be Tested
• It’s OK to Not Be OK: Six Mental Health Reminders That Minorities Need to Hear
• Preparing for Summer Sleep Away Camp: Five Health Tips for Parents
• It’s Not All in Your Head: Four Steps to Improve Minority Mental Health in Your Community

Congratulations to AANP Fellow Dr. Bernadette Melnyk, who was recently elected president of the National Consortium for Building Healthy Academic Communities (BHAC), which seeks to enhance population health and well-being at universities and colleges and within their communities. AANP member Dr. Mario Ortiz serves as Research and Evidence-based Practice Chair for the organization. Learn more.

“I believe nurse practitioners are vital health care providers who can play an important role in the future health of our populations,” AANP member Dr. Kathryn Daniel said in a recent news article about her work. “Through my work and research, I am thrilled to be part of the group building the science of nursing through future nurse practitioners and nurse scientists.” Daniel recently became an American Academy of Nursing Fellow.

Congratulations to the St. Mary’s Health Wagon and AANP Fellows Dr. Teresa Gardner Tyson and Dr. Paula E.S. Hill for being among the recipients of the 2019 National Association of Free and Charitable Clinic grants from CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation. According to a press release, “The grants will support increased access to quality care through substance abuse prevention, chronic disease management and assessing the social determinants of health.”

Florence Health shared AANP member Juliette Blount’s five ways that health care providers can minimize racial health disparities. Blount presented “What is Race and Why Does it Matter?” at the 2019 AANP National Conference in Indianapolis. Blount said, “Talking about it [race] is not going to kill you. But not talking about race is going to kill patients.” Read more.

AANP Fellow Dr. Cheryl Rising educated people in her community about the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices and using an incremental approach to ensure that changes last over time. “Half of the people in our nation are either overweight or obese according to their body mass index,” Rising said in a local news article about the event. “People who continue to be overweight get heart disease, diabetes, arthritis. Kids who are overweight and obese often stay that way as adults. These children also have increased psychological problems, anxiety, depression and all the chronic illnesses that go along with obesity, and developing these problems at an earlier age than happened in any previous generation.”

A clinic that provides free health care services to uninsured patients was started nearly a decade ago by AANP member Jami Easterday. According to a local news report, Easterday was inspired to increase access to health care for patients after she “encountered a longtime patient who had to receive kidney dialysis because they were forced to choose to pay their bills and buying groceries over purchasing necessary medication.” Learn more about the clinic and the patients it serves.

Congratulations to AANP member Dr. Jeffery Ramirez, who was recently elected to serve as Member-at-Large on the American Psychiatric Nurses Association Board of Directors. Read the press release.

Risk factors liking heart disease and diabetes will be discussed by AANP member Charlie Shelton at a patient education event. Shelton will help diabetes patients identify and reduce the risk factors associated with heart disease. Participants will be given the opportunity to share their own experiences, tips, ideas and concerns, according to an advisory about the event.

Last month, AANP member Jessica Wilson told a local news station that first responders are affected by trauma, and in some cases, they can experience post-traumatic stress disorder. “It [trauma] can affect everyone a different way, but sometimes the reactions are delayed,” Wilson said. “Nightmares, intrusive thoughts, having flashbacks of what happened, avoiding things. We would then consider, is this post-traumatic stress disorder? In which case you’d really want to go seek some help and see if there’s anything we can do to get you feeling better.” Wilson was also featured in a news report that highlighted her advocacy efforts to improve mental health care for patients.

AANP member Cynthia Moreno is among the final seven candidates for three open positions on the Gila Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees. Read a summary of the question and answer session in which finalists participated.

Tips to ease allergy symptoms were shared by AANP member Dr. Nata Matthews in a local news report. Matthews discussed allergy symptoms and shared insights to help people identify whether they could treat their symptoms at home or if they needed to visit a health care provider.

Five common summer health myths were recently debunked by AANP member Natalie Yount. Read the helpful health tips she shared with readers of her local newspaper.

AANP member Tony Hogan owns an NP-led practice, and he recently opened a mobile food service and catering company. “I can’t have a disappointment because I love doing this,” Hogan said in a local news report about his new business. “I love taking care of people in my office. I love doing this. My life is full of results and positive energy now.”

In an article about preceptorships for nursing students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison designed to help address rural health care shortages, AANP member Sarah Smith discussed her experience working in a clinic in rural Illinois. “The nurse practitioner I worked with had a lot of independence in her practice.,” Smith said. “Other providers within the clinic were very supportive if she had a question. It was a really collaborative environment, working together as a team.”

Congratulations to AANP members Dr. Margaret Zoellers, Dr. Alison Connell and Dr. Angela Wood and Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), who recently received a 2019 Blackboard Catalyst Award in Teaching and Learning for the “exemplary design, quality and performance of the EKU Online Rural Health Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program. “Delivering online learning presents unique challenges, but ultimately must equal that of a face-to-face program,” FNP program coordinator Zoellers said. Read the press release to learn more.

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

AANP Fellow Dr. Margaret Flinter was quoted in an article about a $3.2 million Health Resources and Services Administration grant that will help Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC) expand and develop its Postgraduate Nurse Practitioner (NP) Residency Program. “CHC created the model and established the first formal Postgraduate Nurse Practitioner Residency Training Program in 2007 to provide new NPs committed to practice careers as primary care providers in complex settings like community health centers with a depth and intensity of training to be successful in this challenging setting,” Flinter said.

“Nurses should always have a voice whenever and wherever health care is a discussion,” according to a Nurse.org article that describes AANP member Dr. Veronica Southerland’s experience speaking to the United Nations. Southerland said, “Once you realize that you have more to add to your profession and that people actually need to hear what you have to say via your experience or research that you’ve completed, it makes a difference. We, as nurses, need to understand our worth. I don’t know if nurses genuinely understand that.”

What’s it like to be the only primary care provider in a small, rural town? At the 2019 AANP National Conference in Indianapolis, Dr. Tammy Bartholomew received the 2019 State Excellence Award for Missouri, in part for her full-practice advocacy and collaboration with the school district. She sat down with Florence Health to discuss the pros and cons of being a family care provider in an underserved area. Learn more.

Congratulations to AANP member Dr. Jennifer Adamski, who is a new board of directors member for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Read the press release.

A member of the first cohort of the Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) program through Florida International University (FIU), AANP member Angelina St. Germain, shared her perspective with FIU News. St. Germain mentioned her mentor, AANP Fellow Dr. Tami Thomas, in the article, and said, “My hope is to investigate effective strategies to improve understanding of the HPV vaccine as a cancer prevention tool, which could increase vaccine uptake, reduce stigma and enhance informed decision-making among rural parents … I have chosen to focus my studies on strategies to increase HPV vaccination rates, particularly among rural middle schoolers.”

Congratulations to AANP members Kelly Spray and Anna Wistrom-Thesing, who were recently recognized along with several other Essentia Health physicians and advanced practice clinicians as being among the top in the nation for patient care. Read the press release.

Congratulations to AANP member Roxanne Phillips, whose quality improvement project on health care provider awareness regarding statin prescribing guidelines received the best poster award at the Society of Vascular Nursing 2019 Annual Meeting in Washington D.C. A local news article about the honor indicated that “The poster featured a quality-improvement program on statins for peripheral artery disease using health information technology. Ms. Phillips, a nurse practitioner with Vascular Institute of Chattanooga and DNP student at University of Alabama at Birmingham, determined electronic reminders in a patient’s electronic medical record increased the percentage of patients at VIC who were appropriately treated with statins based on best practice guidelines.”

“Nearly two dozen hospitals and educational institutions from across Long Island each nominated a top nurse for recognition at this year’s Nurse of Excellence Award Ceremony in Nesconset,” according to a press release that indicates AANP member Dr. Justin Waryold was recently recognized as the top nurse on Long Island. Congratulations Dr. Waryold!

Summer is prime time for insect bites, stings and poison ivy, according to a local news article that quotes AANP member Linda Moghalu. Several over the counter remedies were shared by Moghalu, who said, “You can put some antibiotic ointment on there and a Band-Aid and that’s really all you need to do. Some common remedies that people use are urine and meat tenderizers and those are typically not effective.”

Tips to stay safe in the summer heat were shared by AANP member Kim Glasgow on a local news station. Glasgow shared a number of ways to protect your skin from the sun and exposure to summer weather.

AANP member Lily Limon wrote an article about fitness and heat-related illness that was published by Grand Canyon University. Stay cool, keep hydrated, be informed and know who is a high risk were among the tips Limon shared.

Sunscreen related tips were provided by AANP member Rachel Talbot in a local news report. “What we worry about are skin cancers,” Talbot said. “One in five Americans will develop skin cancer sometime in their lifetime and over the age of 65 skin cancer actually becomes to most common cancer that people end up getting.”

July is Ultraviolet Safety Month, and AANP member Faith Schiltz shared tips for protecting your skin with KIWA Radio News. Wearing sunscreen daily was one of Schiltz’s recommendations.

What is a nurse practitioner? AANP member Rand Pennington wrote an article about the NP role that was published by The-Dispatch.com. Pennington wrote, “I became a nurse practitioner for many reasons. I enjoyed patient interactions but wanted to know more and build off my foundation as a registered nurse. Becoming an advanced practice nurse allowed me to learn more about disease management and gave me the ability to offer treatment for patients.”

An article about a patient with diabetes who underwent a pancreas transplant quoted AANP member Dr. Catherine Coyle, who recommended the transplant to the patient. “She had always been diligent about her self-care, which made her an excellent candidate for transplant,” Dr. Coyle said. The patient reports that her health has dramatically improved post-transplant.

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

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are one solution to the opioid crisis that has been inexplicably ignored, according to a TIME article written by AANP CEO David Hebert and Tommy Thompson, who formerly served as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Governor of Wisconsin. “Empowering NPs to treat substance use disorder—and removing unnecessary restrictions at the state level—can go a long way in liberating American patients,” Hebert and Thompson wrote.

Substandard wound care can create legal risks, according to a Nurse.com article that quoted AANP member Linda Farmer. “Remaining current on the latest wound care practices via continuing education (CE), literature review, following and participating in research, and practicing excellent wound-care specific documentation is essential,” Farmer said. “Wounds should be measured and progress recorded in an organized manner for the duration of the treatment and a plan of care delineated so you can know if the patient’s healing is progressing, and if it’s not, what’s next.” Visit the AANP CE Center for activities that are free to AANP members, and save the date for upcoming AANP conferences to take advantage of hands-on learning opportunities.  

Congratulations to AANP Fellow Dr. Charon Pearson, who will receive the Loretta Ford Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Nurse Practitioner Symposium in July.

AANP member Theresa Mallick-Searle told readers of Practical Pain Management how they can contribute to clinical research. According to Mallick-Searle, “There are many ways to get involved with clinical research while still maintaining your day job.” AANP members may also be interested in these research opportunities.

Congratulations to AANP Fellow Dr. Safiya George, who will serve as Dean of the Florida Atlantic University College of Nursing. “I truly look forward to working with everyone, including our phenomenal faculty, staff, students, alumni, advisory board as well as members of the community at large,” George said in an FAU statement. “I have a passion for people, holistic health, caring and nursing science and I believe that I can contribute to and further support the impressive initiatives and programs at the college and across the campus.” Learn more.

Immediate Past President Dr. Joyce Knestrick was quoted by Medscape Medical News in an article about MedPAC’s proposal to end “incident-to” billing by advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants. AANP applauds the MedPAC proposal, and Knestrick said, “We urge Congress to act on this recommendation as soon as possible.”

Knestrick also wrote the following timely blogs for 30 Seconds.

• How to Prevent Drownings: Six Pool Safety Tips to Help Kids Splash Safely Into Summer
• Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention: Three Easy Lifestyle Tweaks to Reduce Your Alzheimer’s Risk

Leading up to the national conference, National Public Radio (NPR) quoted Knestrick, who encouraged NPs to receive training on Medication Assisted Treatment (MATs) at the 2019 AANP National Conference. Knestrick indicated that some states, including Indiana, still require NPs to have an agreement with a physician to be able to prescribe. “So it really makes it complicated and really limits access to care,” Knestrick said. “We want to remove those barriers to allow nurse practitioners, regardless of where they live, to be able to help fight this epidemic.” The story also ran on Indiana Public Radio.

A local news station in Indianapolis reported on the important role NPs play in fighting the opioid epidemic by prescribing MATs to patients with substance use disorder (SUD). The article quoted AANP member Julie Denton, who said that MATs can help patients whose brains may have been altered by opioid use overcome SUD.

Florence Health covered the 2019 AANP National Conference in Indianapolis and published the following articles.

• Five Lessons From the Bad*ss Nurses Honored at the AANP Conference’s Opening Ceremony
• Five Ways Health Care Providers Can Minimize Racial Health Disparities
• Four Highlights From the First Three Days of the 2019 AANP National Conference
• Six Reasons Primary Care Providers Should Integrate Travel Health Into Their Everyday Practice

Read Clinical Advisor’s coverage from the 2019 AANP National Conference, including the following articles.

• What to Expect at the 2019 American Association of Nurse Practitioners Annual Meeting
• Increased Demand, Lack of Resources for Nurse Practitioner Preceptor Development
• Naldemedine Therapy May Reduce Symptoms of Opioid-induced Constipation
• More Nurse Practitioners Ordering Multi-target Stool DNA Test for Colorectal Cancer Screening
• Rifaximin Beneficial for Abdominal Pain Symptoms in Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Diarrhea
• Therapies for Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder in Primary Care
• Imbalanced Microbiome Related to Symptoms of Pain and Mood
• Postgraduate Education Improves Nurse Practitioners’ Job Satisfaction
• Softgel Vaginal Insert for Menopausal Vulvar, Vaginal Atrophy, Dyspareunia
• Minimal Clinically Important Improvement: A Novel Approach to Osteoarthritis Assessment
• Study Finds Tiotropium/Olodaterol Effective for Exacerbations of COPD
• The Role of the NP in Identifying and Managing Bipolar Depression

A local news article about AANP member Haley Becker highlighted her work to improve the health of women in her hometown. According to the article, Becker said that “the overall state of health care for women, including the lack of local providers, is what drove her to go back to school to become a nurse practitioner.”

Oncology fellowships prepare nurses to take on multiple roles, according to an Oncology Nursing News article that quoted AANP member Dr. Ana Adriazola. After participating in a fellowship, Adriazola said, “I’ve had the opportunity to see how departments such as palliative care and psychology work as part of a multidisciplinary team in cancer care. I’ve also learned about the policy side of oncology by attending a national oncology conference and authoring an academic manuscript to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.”

“Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury among seniors,” according to a local news interview with AANP member Maureen Beck. Fatal incidents from falls have recently increased three-fold among seniors, so Beck encouraged seniors to talk to their NP to have their medication lists reviewed, practice home safety and determine if they are eligible for physical therapy. Learn more about the increase in falls and Beck’s recommendations to help keep seniors safe.

AANP member Dr. Denis Tarrant wrote an article about the cost-effectiveness of in-home visits that was published by Medpage Today. Tarrant wrote, “…nurse practitioners are providing more primary care home visits than physicians. A study of Medicare claims data from 2012-2013 showed nurse practitioners providing more medical home visits across a broader geographical area (Yao, et al., 2016). By shifting our focus on where our patients need the care most, we can continue to offer greater access to this high cost, highly complex population, while reducing cost and preserving the Medicare trust fund.”

Congratulations to 37 AANP members, including 24 AANP Fellows, who are among the 231 nurse leaders to be honored as new American Academy of Nursing (AAN) Fellows in October. AANP Fellows are listed below, followed by other AANP members.

• Michael H. Ackerman, DNS, RN, FCCM, FNAP, FAANP
• Christopher W. Blackwell, PhD, APRN, ANP-BC, AGACNP-BC, CNE, FAANP
• Margaret T. Bowers, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP
• Susan Bragg Leight, EdD, RN, APRN-BC, FNP-C, FAANP
• Rasheeta Chandler-Coley, PhD, ARNP, FNP-BC, FAANP
• Anecita P. Fadol, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAANP
• Dawn Lee Garzon Maaks, PhD, RN APRN, FAANP
• Sherry A. Greenberg, PhD, RN, GNP-BC, FGSA, FAANP
• Debra J. Hain, PhD, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, FAANP, FNKF
• Donna M. Hallas, PhD, RN, PPCNP-BC, CPNP, PMHS, FAANP
• Deborah L. Hopla, DNP, APRN-BC, FAANP
• April Nicole Kapu, DNP, MSN, RN, APRN — Region 4 Director for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
• Susan A. Kelly-Weeder, PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP
• Joyce M. Knestrick, PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP — Immediate Past President of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
• Jeffrey J. Kwong, DNP, MPH, ANP-BC, FAANP
• Colleen A. Leners, DNP, APRN, FAANP — Chairperson of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Nomination Council
• Catherine Ling, PhD, FNP-BC, CNE, FAANP
• Kimberly McIltrot, DNP, CRNP, CWOCN, FAANP
• Karen S. Moore, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, FAANP
• Susanne J. Phillips, DNP, RN, APRN-CNP, FNP-BC, FAANP
• Nancy Tkacz Browne, MS, PPCNP-BC, CBN, FAANP
• Linda J. Washington-Brown, PhD, EJD, MSN, APRN-C, FAANP
• Susan Webber Buchholz, PhD, RN, NP, FAANP
• Jennifer Wilbeck, DNP, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC, ENP-C, FAANP

• Rhigel Alforque Tan, DNP, RN, APRN, GNP, ANP, PMHNP
• Carmen Paula Alvarez, PhD, MSN, BSN, RN, CRNP, CNM
• Kathleen D. Becker, DNP, ANP-BC, FNAP
• Aliza Bitton Ben-Zacharia, DNP, ANP-BC
• Kathryn M. Daniel, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, GNP-BC, GS-C, AGSF
• Diana M. Drake, DNP, MSN, APRN, WHNP
• Beth Faiman, PhD, MSN, APN-BC, AOCN
• Holly B. Fontenot, PhD, RN, NP
• Michele Grigaitis-Reyes, DNP, FNP-BC, CNRN
• William J. Lorman, PhD, JD, MSN, RN, CRNP
• JoEllen Schimmels, DNP, RN, PMHNP
• Dorothy Wholihan, DNP, AGPCNP-BC, GNP-BC, ACHPN, FPCN
• Clareen A. Wiencek, PhD, RN, ACNP, ACHPN

A Johns Hopkins article about the new AAN Fellows highlights AANP Fellows Dr. Catherine Ling and Dr. Kimberly McIltrot, as well as AANP member Dr. Carmen Alvarez. Read more.

Congratulations to AANP Fellow Dianne C. Morrison-Beedy, who is the recipient of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society’s Audrey Hepburn Award for Contributions to the Health and Welfare of Children. Learn more.

Orthopedic NP and AANP member Eric Willoughby recently educated local Rotary Club members about risk factors and effects of osteoporosis in men and women as well as bone density screenings. Read the press release.

A local newspaper highlighted AANP member Priscilla de Anda, her career in nursing and her path to becoming an NP. Learn more.

AANP member Joyce Johnson was quoted in a local news article about a new mobile app that can help patients combat substance use disorder. “It provides evidence-based education that is easy to understand and relevant to what’s happening as they move through the stages of recovery,” Johnson said. “It gives my patients another avenue to create a sober community and to interact with their healthcare and recovery team in a way that is easy and more in tune with the way we use technology in our daily lives.”

Congratulations to the following AANP members who recently received prestigious awards from the Emergency Nurses Association. Read the press release.

• Nycole Oliver — Frank L. Cole Nurse Practitioner Award
• Vicki Patrick — Nursing Competency in Aging Award
• Christine Gisness — Nursing Practice and Professionalism Award

A pancreatic cancer chat is the first of a “Let’s Chat” series, and it will be led by AANP member Tammy Lo. According to a press release about the chat, “Lo has been examining the link between diabetes and pancreatic cancer,” and she will be encouraging those who have a family history of pancreatic cancer or have had diabetes for a year or less to participate in a screening study.

The third annual Choose Wellness Community Health Fair was co-founded by AANP member Jeremy Malin and was recently held to help increase awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. “The majority of medications I prescribe are for lifestyle-related chronic diseases – hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, obesity,” Malin said in an article about the event. “These diseases, and many others, can be prevented and reversed, but not with medications. Through Choose Wellness, I hope to pass along some of the knowledge that I have received throughout my life of pursuing wellness by showing others how eating a predominantly whole food, plant-based diet, exercising regularly, getting adequate sleep, managing stress and avoiding risky substances use can lead to longer and happier lives.”

AANP member Rachel Prusak is a member of the House of Representatives in Oregon state and was quoted in an article about the Oregon House approving a cigarette tax bill. According to the article, Prusak said the bill represented a “thoughtful and common sense tool for making sure tobacco use is no longer the leading cause of preventable death in our state.”

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

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

• Fatigue is Dangerous: Three Scary Facts About Lack of Sleep
• Men’s Health: Healthy Men Do These Five Things (Are You One of Them?)
• Cancer-free Is Not Worry-free: Why Cancer Survivors Need Your Support
• Alzheimer’s Awareness: Seven Signs Your Forgetfulness Is Really an Early Symptom of Alzheimer’s Disease

The Health Wagon, including AANP Fellows Dr. Paula Hill-Collins and Dr. Teresa Gardner, are “organizing two major health outreach events this summer that will bring free medical services to Southwest Virginia, including one with no-cost veterinary services.” Hill-Collins said, “We are blessed and exhilarated to bring these much needed services to our deserving patients.” Read more.

A research proposal submitted by two AANP Fellows has received the Nurse Practitioner History Research Scholar Award from the Eleanor Crowder Bjoring Center for Nursing Historical Inquiry at the University of Virginia. Carolyn Torre and Dr. Kim Curry submitted a pilot proposal to conduct videotaped interviews with early nurse leaders involved in the evolution of the original state scope of practice laws that enable the practice of nurse practitioners. Learn more.

Congratulations to AANP North Carolina State Representative Dr. Frank Manole, who was recently selected to serve as the Director of Operations for Avance Care. According to a press release, Manole said, “It is incredibly important that we address the patient in front of us in the best possible way, but too often, we handcuff ourselves by not thinking about the impact and the responsibility we have of shaping our health care system.”

A Huffington Post article by AANP member Nadia Santana explained why she is a health care provider without commercial health insurance. Santana wrote, “As both an uninsured patient and a health care provider, I am in a unique position to view our health care crisis from both sides of the spectrum. Being uninsured is a humbling experience and can provoke a lot of anxiety and fear. There’s always an underlying fear of a huge medical emergency happening, one that I won’t be able to afford. I’ve learned that a lack of insurance not only affects a person’s quality of life, but also affects many of the decisions they make.”

Physicians should not feel threatened by Pennsylvania Senate Bill 25, according to an op-ed written by AANP member Heidi Gibbons. “In Pennsylvania, there is an existing shortage of primary care providers — primarily in underserved rural and urban areas,” wrote Gibbons. “Over half of nurse practitioners are educated to provide primary care. Nurse practitioners are twice as likely as physicians to serve rural communities and nurse practitioners in states with full practice authority are more likely to practice in rural areas compared to those states without it — like Pennsylvania.”

“A new training program in Idaho Falls helps prepare nurses to properly examine sexual assault victims at their clinics,” according to a local news report that quoted AANP member Kara Boll. “We are so fortunate to have nurses in the area who want to take part in this program and were willing to help get it together,” Boll said. The program is the only one west of Dallas in the United States.

Congratulations to AANP member Dr. Alvin Mena Cantero, who was recognized by the Good Samaritan Foundation as a Silver Award Winner in the 2019 Excellence in Nursing Awards. “Through the Excellence in Nursing Awards, the Good Samaritan Foundation encourages others to celebrate and recognize individual nurses who excel in their chosen fields. Nurses are nominated by their peers for their passion, leadership, mentorship, and service to our Texas communities.” Learn more.

Nurse practitioners are not giving up the legislative fight in Florida, according to a recent article that quoted AANP Florida State Representative Arlene Wright. “Modernizing antiquated health care statutes gives patients accessibility and choice,” Wright said. “It also decreases preventable delays in care, especially for the outlying, underserved areas. The cost savings are reflected in the decreased utilization of emergency services for nonemergency health care issues and unnecessary referrals. Ensuring that the population has access to preventative health care services will decrease hospitalization rates and reduce length of stays.”

A news article about ways that local organizations are helping survivors of Hurricane Michael in Florida quoted AANP member Denise Miller. Speaking of a mobile medical clinic that increases patients’ access to health care, Miller said, “We offer medical and dental. We take certain insurances. For people that don’t have insurance we go by a sliding scale base, so depending on your income and how many people are in your household, you could be seen first visit for like $25. After that they decide from there.”

Recently, AANP member Kristin Pratt shared health and immunization information with community members in South Dakota. Of vaccines, Pratt said, “Everything has been tested and proven to be safe and effective.” Pratt blamed social media for spreading misinformation, and she urged people to question their sources of information and challenge what they read. Learn more.

A Men’s Health Week article quoted AANP member Monica Schmucker. Health maintenance is “… a little bit like taking care of your vehicles,” Schmucker said. “You’re going to want to do your preventative maintenance, get your oil changed and make sure the tire pressure is correct — those types of things. I think we all understand that’s so we’re going to make sure to keep our vehicle working properly and prevent much more expensive problems down the road. It’s kind of the same thing.”

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

“Participation in professional organizations has substantially shaped my career and has provided me with opportunities to not only become a more productive, informed and engaged nurse, but also a more thoughtful and globally-connected individual citizen,” AANP Fellow Dr. Richard Ricciardi said in an article for George Washington University. Ricciardi, president-elect of Sigma Theta Tau International and past-president of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, encouraged readers to join one or more professional organizations. “In my own career,” Ricciardi said, “the opportunity to work alongside a diverse group of colleagues on committees or work groups has nudged me to take on new roles and progressively greater responsibility, while also providing me mentorship and support. Nurses represent the largest segment of the health care workforce. As such, nursing organizations play an important role in representing and strengthening the capabilities and value that nurses bring to improving health for individuals, families and communities. Ensure your unique voice is included through active participation as we move our profession forward.”

Ongoing measles outbreaks in the U.S. put elimination status at risk, according to a Pharmacy Times article that quoted AANP Fellow Dr. Mary Koslap-Petraco. Parents make decisions about immunizations on an emotional level, according to the article, and Koslap-Petraco suggested that health care professionals may be able to use that knowledge to help encourage parents to get their children vaccinated. Koslap-Petraco said, “Find something that you can agree about with parents, say something right up front, ‘I know you want the best for your children, and I only want the same,’ and then continue the discussion from there.”

Congratulations to AANP Fellow Dr. Susanne Phillips, who was recently recognized as the Coast Magazine Readers’ Choice Women in Health Care award recipient. In an article about the honor, Phillips said, “Approximately 50 years of research demonstrates we provide high-quality, cost-effective health care equivalent to physicians.”

Those interested in becoming a nurse practitioner (NP) might benefit from reading an article by AANP member Dr. Jolene Cannady, who described how she overcame challenges in her youth to become an NP. Cannady mentioned the key role that a professor played in her life by mentoring and encouraging her. “The sky is the limit in nursing, and it is an amazing career,” said Cannady. “We need people with a passion for caring for others. Come and join me in a profession that will change your life.”

In a local news article about the importance of regular health checkups to prevent and detect colon cancer, AANP member Michelle Deprey said, “Among cancers that affect both men and women, colon cancer is the number two killer, and it is something that we can prevent.” Deprey indicated that although screenings for colon cancer normally begin later in life, “There are some risk factors that people should be aware of that require patients to be screened earlier. So a family history of colon cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases, patients that have genetic syndromes that can lead to needing earlier screening.”

A new NP-led clinic founded by AANP member James Lehman was highlighted in a local news report. Lehman discussed the importance of diet and exercise to stay healthy and said, “We want to catch things early and try to make interventions so we don’t have disasters, long-term.”

Temperatures are rising in most parts of the United States, and a local news article about how to cope with the heat featured AANP member Bryan Combs, who encouraged readers to stay hydrated. Start drinking water a day before heat exposure, Combs encouraged. “Keep in mind, it’s not just water. You are doing a lot of work in the morning and you are sweating, you are losing electrolytes. Potassium, that kind of stuff. You want to replace that as best you can,” said Combs.

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

Please read this special Memorial Day letter to the editor of CentralMaine.com, written by AANP member Peggy Akers, who served in the Vietnam Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War. Akers shared heartbreaking memories of her experience helping the severely wounded. The article and its author were then highlighted by CBS News.

“Because patients always come first. In our quest to manage pain, stop hemorrhages, restart hearts, catch babies, comfort children and hold the hands of the dying, we put ourselves last,” AANP member Emily Weston wrote in an article published by KevinMD.com that was written in response to recent comments made by Washington State Senator Maureen Walsh. Read Weston’s account of what it is like to be a nurse.

Red tape delays nurse practitioner (NP) -ordered home care, according to a Campaign for Action article that quoted AANP Vice President of Federal Government Affairs MaryAnne Sapio, AANP Fellow Dr. Sue Mullaney and AANP member Dr. Ron Ordona. According to the article, “The Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2019, first introduced more than a decade ago would allow NPs, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants to certify Medicare patients for home health services.”

Congratulations to AANP member Dr. Jennifer Adamski, who was recently elected to serve on the American Association of Critical Care Nurses Board of Directors. Learn more about Adamski from Emory University and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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

• Teens Are Struggling With Mental Health Issues: Here’s How You Can Help
• Eight Facts About Skin Cancer That Could Save Your Life (You Won’t Believe Number Seven!)

At the end of April, Knestrick was interviewed while attending the 2019 World Health Care Congress in Washington D.C. Watch the interview.

In MD Magazine, Knestrick discussed the many ways that NPs can help alleviate the primary care crisis in America and emphasized the need for NPs to bill under their own names. According to Knestrick, it comes down to accountability. “If NPs aren’t able to practice to the fullest extent of their training, they cannot bill under their own names. Extending that scope will hold NPs accountable for their care and could improve the care they provide. ‘We can’t accurately see what everyone’s doing when they’re not billing under their own name,’ she said. ‘It makes it hard to get clear data. [Allowing it] will improve our data about the high-quality care that we give out.'”

Kudos to AANP member Laura Knisley, who recently received the 2019 Ohio Distinguished Health Educator Service Award from the Ohio Public Health Association. “I am proud to be involved in public health,” said Knisley. “I greatly value the opportunities each day to empower my clients to achieve the best quality of life possible.” Learn more.

AANP member Beverly Haliburton was quoted in a local news article about allergies. “Because of the condition and the warmth and the rain of this climate, we have growing plants all year-round unless we have a freeze,” Halliburton said, indicating that there is no time of year when the area experiences a lower incidence of allergies, unless there is a freeze.

Congratulations to AANP member Dr. Mariea Snell, who was one of ten nurses selected from 300 nominees to be honored by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as a 2019 Heart of Health Care recipient. Learn more.

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.