Holiday message from ANPA President

Happy New Year! 

We all say it, but do we mean it?  I hope and pray that as you say these words to your family, friends, patients, and co-workers that you truly are happy.  My dream is you go into this “new” year with hope and joy.  Hope for a healthier and safe year leading to great discoveries as we battle the COVID-19 virus.  Joy that you are here to live and enjoy the life you live.  I believe a great year is in store for Nurse Practitioners, a year we can step up and show our patients that they are in good clinical hands during a pandemic.  So many Nurse Practitioners are on the front lines of this pandemic, we salute you and thank you.  For others, we are the watchful eye that listens, educates, clinically evaluates and treats our patients guiding them to lead healthier lifestyles during this difficult time.  The mental health of our patients has taken a striking toll from depression, anxiety, exhaustion, fear, and dread of the unknown.   I am thankful our profession is here to make an impact. 

As we enter 2021, know that ANPA appreciates you.  Our Board of Directors, along with our committees, are striving to enhance your practice by keeping you up to date throughout this time.  We have members serving on the COVID vaccination workgroup led by our state epidemiologist (Dr. Dillaha) and Immunize AR.  We provide weekly updates of expectations with the vaccine rollout.  We plan to increase ANPA social media presence.  Our wonderful webmaster team is gearing up to bring you up to date personal stories as the COVID vaccine rollout occurs.  We are providing concrete information to help NPs make educated clinical decisions, especially with the frequent updates about COVID and related vaccinations.  What an amazing time to step up and be active in the research process of vaccination trials and studying the long-term effectiveness of messenger RNA vaccine. We encourage our members to participate in any of our committees, please reach out to one of our Board members, including our district representatives, or any of our emails from our website.

We encourage you, as we enter a legislative year, to continue your membership.  Your membership dues provide ANPA continued success.  Some NPs are hesitant to join, because they cannot “see” what their membership dues provide for them.  2021 is special, because we hired our first lobbyist for the legislative session.  Lobbyists help advance legislative goals, educate legislators, and increase stake holders.  Also, they monitor activity at the Capitol that impacts our practice (both positive and negative) ensuring we are well represented while we continue to focus on our daily NP practice.  ANPA’s legislative team is working hard with Senator Hammer to present a Full Practice Authority Bill for Arkansas NPs.  This means the collaborative practice agreement, that grants NP’s prescriptive authority, would NOT be required.  We hope to establish this while keeping our practice regulation under the Board of Nursing.  We realize there is debate among our profession on this topic.  We hope you will reach out to us to discuss your concerns.  We need to be united in our goals and purpose.  If ever there was a time to grow and unite, it is now.  I urge you to encourage your peers to join us as we enter 2021.  It is a great time to be a part of ANPA!

We are still offering a discount on membership through June 1, 2021.  Use code ANPA2020 to receive 25% off your membership.  Our gift to you during a most difficult year for our nation.  We continue to unite, support, educate, and enhance the professional identity of Nurse Practitioners in Arkansas, while promoting and advocating for excellence in practice.

I leave you with a prayer of hope, good will, and health along with much happiness for you in 2021.  God bless you and thank you for your service in our profession.    

 

Julie Wylie MS, APRN, ANP-C

ANPA President