National Nurse Practitioners Week celebrates those ‘Going the Extra Mile’

National Nurse Practitioners Week, which is held annually to celebrate these health care providers, will be celebrated through Nov. 13. There are more than 325,000 NPs in the United States, including 8,000 licensed in Georgia.

These health care professionals practice in clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care centers, nursing homes and private practices across the country — wherever patients are in need — and continue to provide frontline care during the COVID-19 pandemic. NPs assess patients, order and interpret tests, make diagnoses and provide treatment, including prescribing medications. As clinicians who blend clinical expertise with an added emphasis on disease prevention and health management, NPs are the health care provider of choice for millions of Americans.

Dr. Pam Cromer, Augusta University College of Nursing professor and director of the Costa Layman Community Health Outreach Program, said the Augusta Chapter will be celebrating NP week locally at its meeting Nov. 11. The chapter, which is encouraging all Augusta-area NPs to attend and join their efforts to strengthen the health care system for all Georgians, has also invited Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis to the meeting. Dr. Lynn Glenn, an assistant professor at the College of Nursing, coordinated the attendance of these legislators and noted that Kemp signed the first proclamation of 2021 on Aug. 4.

“We are proud of the unfailing dedication and voice of our advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Georgia as we continue to grow in numbers,” said Cromer, the immediate past president of the local chapter of United Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. “We have demonstrated our commitment to our patients and our communities as we worked the front lines through the second surge of COVID, and provided increasing access to equitable health care services in many of the rural areas of Georgia.

“Our constant visibility in health care delivery is galvanizing and we are honored to continue to be the most trusted of the health professions,” Cromer added. “As we look to the future with new models of care and greater outreach efforts to improve the health status of all Georgians, we are excited and privileged to work with our many colleagues in the industry and within the medical community to make health care a priority for all.”

Currently, 88.9% of NPs are certified in an area of primary care, and 70.2% of all NPs deliver primary care. There are 69.7% of NPs who are certified in family care, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners website. NPs in Georgia are also critical in serving medically underserved areas and rural populations.

The AANP website posted a list of topics that can be discussed over the next week:

All week: This year’s theme is NPs: Going the Extra Mile. Please join NPs, patients and legislators in expressing your gratitude for an NP who has made a positive difference in your life. Share your story of NP leadership, mentorship or clinical excellence here. Recognize NP excellence during media interviews, by writing blogs or articles and by posting on your social media channels.

Monday, Nov. 8: NPs are working diligently to address social determinants of health, achieve health equity and increase access to health care for patients nationwide. Share ways that NPs are uniquely positioned to reduce health care disparities.

Tuesday, Nov. 9: Help AANP celebrate the variety of roles NPs hold by sharing where you practice, teach or lead. What patient population do you serve and in what setting? What inspired you to become an NP and what motivates you to continue partnering with patients to provide high-quality, compassionate health care year-round?

Wednesday, Nov. 10: NP Week is the ideal time to celebrate the high-quality health care NPs provide through more than 1 billion patient visits each year. With data-driven insights from 50 years of research studies, it is clear why millions of Americans choose an NP as their partner in health.

Thursday, Nov. 11: This Veterans Day, we pay tribute to all veterans, including NPs and their patients who are current or previous members of the U.S. uniformed services. It is an honor for NPs to care for our nation’s service members and their families. Join AANP in recognizing veterans today.

Friday, Nov. 12: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, the importance of NP-delivered care becomes increasingly clear. With more than 50 years of evidence supporting the positive outcomes associated with NP-delivered care, what might the future hold for NPs and their patients?

Saturday, Nov. 13: AANP is The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner, advocating for NPs and their patients wherever important health care decisions are being made. How do you choose to use your NP voice? On social media, please use the #NPWeek and #NPsLead hashtags to share which causes are most important to you and what actions you are taking to effect positive change.