MISSION Formed in 1985, the AANP is the largest and only full-service professional membership organization in the United States for NPs of all specialties. AANP has steadily expanded services to meet its mission to:
* Promote excellence in NP practice, education and research;
* Shape the future of healthcare through advancing health policy;
* Be the source of information for NPs, the healthcare community and consumers;
* Build a positive image of the NP as a leader in the national and global healthcare community.
MEMBERSHIP AANP has more than 24,500 individual members and 147 NP group members. AANP represents the interest of the over 125,000 practicing NPs in the U.S. Members of current group member organizations receive a $10 discount on AANP individual full membership dues.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AANP is governed by an elected Board of Directors comprised of a 5 member Executive Committee and 11 regional directors who set policy for the organization. Elected state representatives in every state serve as liaisons for AANP members and other NPs at the state and local levels.
OFFICE & Staff AANP has two offices. The AANP National Administration Office is located in Austin, TX and houses membership, finance, communications, conferences/meetings, education/CE, research, publications, information technology and administrative operations for the organization. The AANP Office of Health Policy is located in the Washington, DC area and is a major resource for health policy, legislation, regulatory, political action committee (PAC) activities and practice issues affecting NPs. Between these two offices, the AANP currently employs 36 staff members to serve the needs of members, other NPs and healthcare consumers.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE The 2009 AANP 24th national conference will be held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN from June 17 – 21. Check the AANP website (www.aanp.org) for updates as schedules and activities are finalized. AANP’s 2008 conference in National Harbor, MD was a huge success with 3,400 individual NPs and more than 240 exhibiting companies.
EDUCATION & RESEARCH A comprehensive nationwide list of NP programs of all specialties is available on the AANP website. AANP members receive free CE activities through a variety of resources and formats. AANP provides continuing education approval and accreditation for hundreds of meetings and continuing education materials each year. Qualified groups may apply to receive AANP CE Provider designation. AANP maintains the only national NP database of all practicing NPs and conducts national surveys gathering critical data about NP demographics, workforce, practice and prescribing. The AANPNR, created in 2002, is a national practice based research network of NPs.
PUBLICATIONS Publications include AANP SmartBrief, a daily e-newsletter highlighting cutting-edge news impacting NPs (sign up at www.aanp.org), a monthly peer-reviewed Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (JAANP) and the NP brochure, Your Partner in Health - The Nurse Practitioner, available in English and Spanish languages. Nurse Practitioners – Celebrating excellence in healthcare, practice, education and research, a commemorative booklet, chronicles the first 40 years of the nurse practitioner role. A companion video, The First 40 Years (DVD format) presents an overview of the nurse practitioner role as seen through the eyes of a myriad of healthcare professionals. A variety of position and policy papers are also available.
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS AANP markets and advocates for NPs extensively through multiple activities such as publishing position statements and position papers, providing legislative testimony and pro-actively participating in numerous partnerships, alliances and coalitions. AANP is active in supporting collaborative agreements with government agencies, organizations within nursing and other disciplines, and with healthcare industry members. AANP exhibits at numerous international, national, regional, state, and local conferences.
NPFinder.com an online resource to help consumers locate NPs in their communities can be accessed here. NP members wishing to list their practice sites where they are accepting new patients or to update information for NPFinder.com can click here.