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Standing Together To Make A Difference

THE BEST RESOURCE FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS LIKE YOU.
January 2020 Newsletter
UPCOMING EVENTS
See what's happening this year .

NP RESOURCES
Visit our regional NP groups .
MEMBERSHIP CORNER
Curry Bordelon, VP Membership
With more than 4 million nurses in the United States, nursing is the largest healthcare profession. For the 18 th  consecutive year, nursing is considered the most trusted and ethical profession . We are comforting and caring professionals negotiating the ever-changing healthcare environment to provide endless, compassionate care to our patients. Deliberate actions of nurse leaders and educators contribute to the caring, leading, advocating, and innovating nursing culture we have today.  

In 2020, nurses are the focus by many organizations, such the ANA, to elevate and celebrate the contributions of nurses.  This effort by ANA coincides with the global announcement by the World Health Assembly signifying 2020 as the  Year of the Nurse and Midwife .  This effort coincides with the 200 th  birthday of Florence Nightingale . The purpose of identifying 2020 as the  Year of the Nurse and Midwife  is to support the role of nurses through leadership and advocacy.  

The Nurse Practitioner Alliance of Alabama providers opportunities for leadership and advocacy for advance practice nurses throughout the state of Alabama. Explore the opportunities by accessing the website at  www.npalliancealabama.org .
MESSAGE FROM NPAA PRESIDENT, D'Ann Somerall
We're here to guide you through your best year yet!
Dear AL Nurse Practitioners:

The Executive and Steering Committees began 2020 recognizing that to  advance the NPAA,  and to provide opportunities for NPs to practice to the  full extent  of training, a formal strategic plan was needed. The areas of interest in the  2019-2021 Strategic Plan include  leadership, membership, legislative, community engagement and finance . In future newsletters I will highlight the categories of the  Strategic Plan  that will guide us to achieve success of the NPAA and AL NPs. This month,  leadership  is the highlighted category. 

Leadership
  • Create a leadership intern or mentorship program
  • Financially support members to attend leadership development activities
  • Highlight leadership activities in the NPAA newsletter, website and other communications
  • Appoint a nominations committee who will develop a slate of officers representing NPs from around the state

I encourage you to contact me or Denise Williams, NPAA Administrative Director, if you are interested in a  leadership position . We are presently forming ad hoc committee’s and are seeking all interested members who would like to serve on an ad hoc or standing committee. 

As we prepare to enter a new legislative session , we encourage you to spread the word to your fellow NPs and encourage them to join NPAA. The first question we are asked by the members of the House and Senate is, “How many members does your organization have?” They want to know that ALL AL NPs are being represented through our efforts. We NEED your voice and that comes through being a member of NPAA. 

Sincerely,
D’Ann

Member Spotlight: Vernadette Horn, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC
1.       Where did you attend college?
  • George Wallace Community College: ADN (2009)
  • Chamberlain College of Nursing: BSN (2011)
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham: MSN/FNP (2013)
  • Chamberlain College of Nursing: DNP (2017)

2.       Tell us about your clinic? Choctaw Urgent Care Center in Butler, AL. We provide preventive care, which includes wellness exams, vaccinations, and screenings for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.

3.       What’s the best part of your job? The most fun part of my job is providing care for children. I love seeing the newborn patients who come in for their checkup when they are only a couple of days old. I live and work in a very small town, so I often see my young patients in the local stores. I love when they come up to me for a hug, or when they point to me and tell their parents “Look, there’s my doctor”….I love that. It brings me such joy. I also love getting pictures that they’ve drawn or colored just for me. It’s very touching and heartwarming!

4.       What is the most pressing issue you use for nurse practitioners in Alabama? 1) Not being fully recognized as a PCP by insurance providers. We ARE their primary provider and should be recognized as so. 2) I also see many children who participate in sports and cannot sign for their sports physical form. This creates a lag in receiving the document by having to wait for the MD to sign.

5.       What is the best piece of advice you would provide for new NPs?  
Enjoy your new role; Never be afraid to ask for help; listen to your patients, no matter how small the issue may seem; Have confidence in your ability to care for your patients. This can have a positive impact on your patient’s trust in your abilities and their outcome(s); Stay “in the know” ; Join a professional organization…NPAA!
NPAA Committee Positions
NPAA opens participation on the committee's that are essential to the functioning of the organization to the full membership. If you have a desire to serve, please email D'Ann Somerall at president@npalliancealabama.org . The committee's will meet  virtually,  so we welcome members from around the state to participate. The committee's seeking additional members:

Conference Planning Committee: Chair - Dr. Susan Appel, vpcommunity@npalliancealabama.org
Assist Dr. Appel and Denise Williams, Administrative Director for NPAA, in the planning and implementation of the 2020 Conference that will be held in Birmingham, AL at the Wynfrey Hotel on November 13-14, 2020. 

Political Action Committee: Chair - Dr. Rebecca Graves, treasurer@npalliancealabama.org
Researching the value of establishing a true PAC, developing a BOD (you do not have to serve on the board), creating the necessary documents for the committee, etc. 

Finance Committee: Chair - Dr. Rebecca Graves, treasurer@npalliancealabama.org
Will meet quarterly to oversee the finances of NPAA in conjunction with a hired CPA   

By-Law Committee: Chair - Dr. Joyce Loyd-Davis,
Meet once a year to review the by-laws and propose amendments as needed for NPAA to function for the benefit of the members and AL NPs. 

Legislative Committee: Chair - Dr. Eileen Meyer, vppolicy@npalliancealabama.org
Will provide a proactive presence in legislative and regulatory activities. Attend legislative session, if feasible. Promote message of supporting legislation that promotes the effort of NPAA and NPs in Alabama. Primary time of involvement will be during the legislative session beginning Feb 4 until March 19, 2020 (typically does not go to the last day)

Full Practice Authority Investigative Committee: Chair - Dr. D'Ann Somerall, president@npalliancealabama.org
This committee will review the pro's, con's, ins and outs of FPA. We will provide information to the formal ASNA Committee that has been developed to explore FPA for Alabama. 
NPAA Travel Grants
The NPAA’s purpose of the funding the travel grants program is to support NPs in their professional development, and to advance the NP profession. Applications for the application period for the NPAA Travel Grant will be November 1st until September 1st.

Grants are available to NPAA members in good standing and who are practicing in an NP role. Applicants must be CRNP's or graduate NP students expected graduate during the grant year of funding. Students must submit verification of enrollment in an NP program to be eligible for consideration. Applicants may receive up to $250 in funding and must complete travel within one year of the award.