The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American College of Nurse Practitioners have merged to form the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). With approximately 40,000 members, AANP serves as the largest professional membership organization in the country for nurse practitioners (NPs) of all specialties.
Leaders from both the Academy and the College play key roles in governing the new organization. David Hebert is the chief executive officer. Angela Golden, DNP, FNP-C, FAANP, retains her position as AANP president through June 2013. Dr. Ken Miller, currently the College president-elect, will become the copresident with her at the AANP conference.
The consolidation comes at a time when fewer physicians are pursuing primary care medicine and NPs are playing an increasingly critical role in providing access to high-quality primary, acute, and specialty care. This is even more urgent as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act moves forward, adding 30 million Americans to the rolls of the insured. The new AANP adds a strong, unified voice to the growing movement working to ensure NPs can practice to their fullest potential, thus best serving patients and their families.
"The nurse practitioner community has made it clear that they support this alliance and share our vision for one entity that represents the very best of what we have to offer as health care providers," Golden said. "Coming together better serves our members and benefits our patients who need NPs now more than ever."
Go to http://media.aanponline.com/psa/BOD_List.pdf for a full list of AANP board members effective January 1, 2013.
Welcome to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the new AANP. As president of AANP, I want to thank you for the overwhelming support we received from across the country, as well as from our friends abroad, as we finalized the consolidation of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American College of Nurse Practitioners. Backed by the combined strengths of both associations, AANP has successfully expanded its reach, both domestically and internationally, and will continue to be the "Voice of the Nurse Practitioner" and the definitive resource for nurse practitioners of all specialties.
I am thrilled and excited by the opportunities that lie ahead for AANP and the NP community. The future of health care is evolving, and NPs are at the forefront. Much has been accomplished, yet a lot remains to be done. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners will continue to pursue the transformation of patient-centered health care and will lend its voice at the local, state, and national levels to ensure that the general public, policy makers, and elected officials clearly understand the important role of NPs in today's health care environment.
To set the course for 2013, AANP has planned 3 events designed to provide valuable educational and networking opportunities for NPs. The 2013 National Nurse Practitioner Health Policy Conference will be held February 24-26 in Washington, DC. The conference will focus on current policy information of vital importance to NPs and includes a "policy boot camp" featuring core policy content underlying NP practice.
The 2013 AANP National Conference will be held June 19-23 at The Venetian® and The Palazzo® & Sands® Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. AANP has developed multiple new tracks, featuring expert faculty and state-of-the-art skill-enhancement workshops to address the educational and professional needs of all attendees.
The 2013 AANP Specialty and Leadership Conference will also be held in Las Vegas October 2-6. This conference will focus on specific areas of practice and include leadership courses to assist NPs in developing essential skills needed to enhance their practice and empower their careers.
It's an exciting time for NPs, filled with opportunities for personal and professional growth. With 30 million more Americans now able to gain access to health insurance, NPs will play a more vital role than ever before in providing high quality health care to an ever-increasing population. I invite you to join me on this incredible journey as NPs become internationally recognized as the health care providers of choice.