American Association of Nurse Practitioners
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
` The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) is a nonprofit membership association representing nurse practitioners across North America, especially in the United States and Canada. The association was established in 2013 and it seeks to form a cohesive voice for 355,000 nurse practitioners currently licensed to operate in the United States(Staff & Jessica Peck). AANP is governed by elected board of directors and a chief executive officer.
The association’s legislative agenda includes bolstering the NP profession, increasing access to treatment, and bettering health outcomes. The association also presents agendas such as granting full authority to nurse practitioners, supporting workforce development, and addressing healthcare disparities. The AANP’s Government Affairs team develops these agendas closely with the board of directors, members, and the chief executive officer. The Government Affairs team uses research, polls, member feedback, and analysis of legislative and regulatory measures at the state and federal levels to shape the agenda. After the agenda is set, it is disseminated to members via newsletters, online platforms, and in-person gatherings. The AANP maintains a separate advocacy website where members may learn about and participate in efforts around the organization’s policy concerns and access advocacy materials.
The AANP collaborates with other nursing associations to achieve common objectives and influence healthcare policy. For example, the AANP collaborated with several nursing groups to lobby for nurses’ interests on Capitol Hill as part of the Nursing Community Coalition. This collaboration has significantly impacted national and state healthcare policy (Thomas, 2021). For instance, because of the AANP and its allies’ efforts, nurse practitioners (NPs) may now submit claims for reimbursement directly to Medicare for their services.
I am planning to join AANP after graduation. Joining AANP has several benefits for healthcare practitioners, especially nurse practitioners. The benefits include increased access to continuing education, networking, and advocacy opportunities. Members of professional groups also have a place to voice their opinions and work to influence healthcare policy via advocacy and policy change initiatives. The AANP classifies Georgia as a “Red State.” This means that Georgia has restrictive practice rules that make it difficult for nurse practitioners (NPs) to operate with authority to depict full extent of their education and training. For instance, NPs in Georgia are only allowed to prescribe medicine with the oversight of a physician, which may lead to excessive wait times and higher overall healthcare expenses(American Association of Nurse Practitioners. 2019). We can change this through advocacy activities and legislative reform to lower practicing obstacles for NPs and alter Georgia’s “Red State” designation.
References
American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2019, September 4). https://www.aanp.org/
Staff, A. A. N. P., & Jessica Peck, D. N. P. AANP FORUM.
Thomas, S. L. (2021). The American Association of Nurse Practitioners®(AANP) Shaped My Career. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(6), 646.
