December 2017 Newsletter
A Letter from Robin Lawson, NPAA President

Greetings Fellow Nurse Practitioners,

As I reflect on previous years’ accomplishments in nurse practitioner practice in the state of Alabama that has been made possible by the diligent contributions of past NPAA leadership and membership support, it is evident to me that working together to enact incremental change can have a huge impact on outcomes for the patients, families, and caregivers we serve. As we embark upon NPAA’s twelfth year of existence, I am filled with excitement for what the New Year will bring as NPAA continues efforts to remove barriers in nurse practitioner practice in our state. Because the challenges and obstacles are great, strengthening the relationships with our legislators, constituents, allies, contributors, and other health care colleagues across the state is critical to successfully removing the scope of practice restrictions. I would like to thank each of you in advance for your continued support and commitment to NPAA as we continue to develop winning strategies that will one day lead to full practice authority for nurse practitioners in Alabama. Right now, the next logical step to achieving this goal may be to seek full signature authority in the next legislative session. Please be on the lookout for more information about this possibility in the near future, and be ready to give us your feedback. I wish you many blessings in the year to come. Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Joyfully,

Robin Lawson
NPAA President
NPAA Launches New Website!
NPAA announced the launch of its new website at its’ 11th Annual NPAA Conference. The www.npalliancealabama.org site offers quick and easy access to essential information and features while offering a more comprehensive understanding of nurse practitioners (NPs) within Alabama. The website also offers updated information on news and press releases, travel grants, legislative policy, and educational and career opportunities. Blog posts will include topics centered on advocating for issues of significant importance for the general welfare of NPs.

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2017 Guideline for High Blood Pressure in Adults: Guidelines Lower Definition of Hypertension
The 2017 guideline is a comprehensive guideline incorporating new information from studies regarding blood pressure (BP)-related risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), home BP monitoring (HBPM), BP thresholds to initiate antihypertensive drug treatment, BP goals of treatment, strategies to improve hypertension treatment and control, and various other important issues.