2013 Regional Leadership Meeting: Charting the Course

Your FNPN Board and several supporting members were well represented at the Region 11 AANP Annual Leadership "Charting the Course" In Orlando this Saturday, March 16, 2013. Gail Sadler, AANP State Representative lead our delegation along with Doreen Cassarino, FNPN President. Bonnie Sklaren current Co-Chair of the Coalition and Chris Saslo, past chair of the Coalition, shared their long time advocacy experience.  Several Florida Fellows attended: Claudia Hauri, Jean Aertker, Jeannie Merritt, Janet Dubois, Cindy Parsons, and Deb Danforth.  Representatives of several Florida NP Groups participated or were invited: Vicki Stone-Gail, Angelia Crozier, Ed Neuzil, Heidi Magyar, Karen Blankenship, Susan Porterfield, Susan Lynch, George Smith, Mai Ying Kung, Mary Smolenski, DJ Djenie Helne (NP student), Mary Healy, Deborah Shelby, Diane Wink and Kelly Hawes. The message we want to share with you is this: "We ask legislators, colleagues, consumers, and supporters to help us close the gap in what we can provide and the amount of restrictions placed on our profession in Florida.

All states shared information on the state of their states! Florida (n= 13574 NPs) addressed our current practice and legislative issues. Despite these challenging issues, we found that our SWOT analysis, we hold positive consumer acceptance of the NP, Florida Alabama (n= 4425) shared news about their current bills including Controlled Substance bill and OT prescribing. Mississippi (n=2891) is dealing with attempts to unnecessarily place restriction on NP practice, and Georgia (n= 4611) is working on ordering diagnostic radiography and telehealth restrictions proposed. The big message from all attendees is to ask all NPs to send the message out to their respective states - lets build 100% membership of all NPs in the AANP! What power this would be!