April 30 – May 1, 2018 | California Association for Nurse Practitioners (CANP) conducted the business of the Association at the House of Delegates and advocated for direct access to healthcare at the Capital.   CANP is committed to:

• Supporting nurse practitioners

  

• Bridging the gaps in health care
• Meeting the needs of patients

According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP 2016), nurse practitioners (NPs) are licensed, autonomous clinicians focused on managing people’s health conditions and preventing disease. As advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), NPs can specialize by patient population such as:

• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
• Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)

Nurse Practitioners can also specialize in one of the following:

• Acute Care Nurse Pracititoner
• Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner

  

• Emergency Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

By illustration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS Dec. 2015) predicts that openings for NPs are expected to swell 35 percent between 2014 and 2024, five times the growth projected for all occupations during that time period (7 percent). Given the projected growth and impact Nurse Practitioners make within the healthcare arena it is imperative that NPs are conscious of current and/or proposed policies or legislation. We can provide the best evidence-based healthcare in the galaxy, but if we are not implementing legislation to support our profession and/or community then our actions are done in vein. 

Sources

1. https://www.nursepractitionerschools.com/programs
2. http://anp-foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Nurse_Practitioners_and_Political_Engagement_Report.pdf
3. https://canpweb.org/about-canp/mission-vision-values-and-goals/
4. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm#tab-6