Nov. 9, 2009 - "Nurse Practitioners – 125,000 Solutions to the Primary Care Shortage" is the theme for the 2009 National NP Week, November 8 - 14.
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners is urging its members to use the occasion to celebrate the vital role that NPs play in bringing high-quality, cost-effective, comprehensive, patient-centered, personalized primary care to all populations of the United States.
The shortage of primary care providers is a hot topic in the healthcare reform debate. NP Week is a good opportunity to showcase the many ways that NPs are the primary care providers of choice for many patients and to let others in your community know about the value of NP-delivered primary care.
The AANP is also offering a resource guide for your use in planning and executing a successful week building awareness of the nurse practitioner as well as educating the general public about the value and benefits of having an NP as their healthcare provider. According to the AANP, the week is an ideal opportunity to deliver a message about NPs and to shape a perception in the minds of the general public about the advantages of choosing an NP as their Partner in Health. Although the current healthcare debate lends itself to promoting NPs as primary care providers, this is still an opportunity to bring attention to the acute and specialty healthcare services provided by NPs.
The AANP is also asking members to notify them with how members and their colleagues celebrate this week so they can share your stories in a future publication. Submit articles (300 word maximum) and photos electronically to editor@aanp.org. Review the resource guide and contact AANP if you have any
questions.
Source: AANP