NONPF 28TH Annual Meeting Draws Many Faculty to Look at Future of NP Education
Laurie Kennedy-Malone, PhD, RN, CS
Chair, NONPF Programs Committee
Chair, 2002 Annual Meeting
Over 400 nurse practitioner educators came together in Minneapolis for the NONPF 28th Annual Meeting, April 11-14, 2002. Through a full program of activities, participants shared timely information and networked with faculty colleagues. NONPF used this year's meeting to bring faculty together for discussion at the national level about the important theme of key influences and strategies for Shaping New Paradigms in Nurse Practitioner Education.
Lucy Marion and Janet Allan
A distinctive cadre of speakers participated in plenary sessions addressing the meeting theme. The opening plenary session on Thursday evening highlighted key challenges facing nurse practitioners within health care today. Janet Hale, PhD, RN, CS, FNP, Professor and Director of Interdisciplinary and Community Partnerships of the University of Massachusetts, Worcester, focused attention on the very timely threat of bio-chemical terrorism and presented an overview of roles for the advanced practice nurse (APN) in response. Janet Allan, PhD, RN, CS, FAAN, Dean and Professor of the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and the Vice-Chair of the US Preventive Services Task Force (Pictured above with Lucy Marion), focused the discussion more broadly on challenges and opportunities for nurse practitioner (NP) education and practice within the health care system. These presentations linked national issues with specific roles for APNs and set the stage for further discussions in the meeting on challenges for NP education.
Shirlee Drayton-Hargrove, Lucy Marion, & William Harvey
During the Friday luncheon session, William B. Harvey EdD, Vice President and Director, Office of Minorities in Higher Education from the American Council on Education in Washington, DC challenged the audience to consider assuming greater leadership positions in higher education. He discussed the nursing shortage and reminded us that at this time associate degree programs are leading the way in preparing large numbers of registered nurses.
Eileen O'Grady, Helen Burstin, and Laurie Kennedy-Malone
The Saturday morning panel discussion addressed contemporary influences on nurse practitioner education. Helen Burstin, MD, MPH, Director, Center for Primary Care Research Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) referenced the IOM study, “Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century” and the important role nurse practitioners will continue to play. She also shared with the audience the research priorities for AHRQ in primary care and encouraged NPs to submit proposals. Eileen O’Grady PhD, RN, NP, Policy Analyst, Center for Health Policy. Ethics, and Research at George Mason University informed us to date of the progress of the task force that is looking at nursing funding under Title XVIII and the impact that the proposed changes may have on the future of nurse practitioner education. Doreen Harper PhD, RN CS FAAN, Dean, School of Nursing, University of Massachusetts, Worcester and NONPF Project Director for Data Collection, discussed some of the interesting findings of the latest NP curriculum survey and the continued variety to the titles of nurse practitioner graduates without corresponding national certification exams.
Cheryl Stegbauer, Julie Sebastian, and Mary O'Neil Mundinger
The Sunday program featured a highly informative panel discussion of the new clinical doctorate. The session included presentations of different programs by Mary O'Neil Mundinger, RN, DrPH, Dean and Centennial Professor in Health Policy of Columbia University School of Nursing, Julie Sebastian, PhD, RN, CS, FAAN, Assistant Dean for Advanced Practice Nursing and Director of MSN and DNP Programs at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, and Cheryl Stegbauer, PhD, FNP, Professor and Director of Academic Programs at the the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Following this session, leaders of NONPF provided some additional thoughts on the clinical doctorate and other trends for the future of NP education.
Conference attendees in the exhibit hall.
Before the start of the plenary session on Thursday, participants had the opportunity to hear updated information from representatives from national certifying bodies. Mary Smolenski, EdD, RN, CS, FNP, discussed the changes faculty can expect to see when they receive certification results later this year from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Jan Towers PhD, NP-C, FAANP, from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners gave an overview of the AANP test and the results that faculty receive. Plans are underway to offer a computerized version of the test in the future. Linda Lindeke PhD, RN, CNP, along with Jan Wyatt, PhD, CRNP, who was available via phone from National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners provided the members information about the certification process for pediatric nurse practitioners and the availability of results for faculty. The participants posed very stimulating questions to the representatives.
Meeting attendees looking at posters.
The Thursday program offered additional opportunities to faculty interested in participating in pre-conference seminars for in-depth discussion (1) Advancing a Scholarly Career, and (2) Distance Learning in Nurse Practitioner Education. The morning seminar panel highlighted the NONPF Faculty Practice Tenure and Promotion statement and addressed how faculty can develop their own portfolio and map out scholarly activities for promotion. The afternoon session, organized by the NONPF Distance Learning SIG, featured a panel discussing the use of PDAs, course management systems, and lessons learned in developing distance learning programs.
Preparing for the Fun Run/Walk
The meeting program featured also a variety of other valuable educational sessions. The program showcased over 75 individual faculty presentations and workshops within the concurrent sessions. These presentations highlighted the meeting theme and other topics relative to current trends and innovations in nurse practitioner education. Traditional poster and electronic poster presentations further showcased faculty work. A new program feature on Friday afternoon was an open dialogue on issues specific to academic and other nurse managed centers. Hosted by the NONPF ANC SIG and the Faculty Practice Committee, this session brought together over 50 faculty to discuss shared resources and opportunities for collaboration.
MJ Henderson at the podium during the awards banquet.
Despite a full program of activities throughout the meeting, the attendees were able to share laughter and fun times also with colleagues. The Thursday evening reception followed the presentation of the NONPF Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Janet Allan. On Friday afternoon, some attendees took advantage of a colorful, city tour while some others headed to the Mall of America for shopping. On Saturday evening, all attendees went to the stunning Minnesota History for an evening of dancing, dining, and laughs! Attendees enjoyed exhibits and hitting the dance floor to the rockin’ tunes of the Magpies during the cocktail hour. Once dinner finished, attendees joined Mistress of Ceremonies, MJ Henderson, for an entertaining award ceremony followed by even more entertainment by the evening headliner, NP comedian Kevin Smith. MJ Henderson welcomed the audience in her “Minnesota-preparedness” attire and kept the evening rolling in her usual entertaining style.
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More photos capturing the highlights of the meeting will be added to this site. To order tapes of plenary and concurrent sessions, please visit www.intelliquestmedia.com. The NONPF 2003 annual meeting will be held April 3-6 in Philadelphia, and the electronic abstract submission form will be available on the NONPF Web site by June.