The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners is an association that exists to enhance the practice of pediatric nursing. It is a professional association for PNPs and other advanced practice nurses who care for children and aims to advocate for children’s health by:
– Providing funding, education, and research opportunities to PNPs, and
– Producing and distributing educational materials to parents and families.
The health and safety of our nation’s children is one of the most important things to advocate for. The health professionals in charge of caring for these children must be properly regulated. In addition the best interests of these professionals must be taken into account. To strike this balance, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners was born.
According to The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners’ website, the association has the following mission.
Mission Statement
“Promoting optimal health for children through leadership, practice, advocacy, education, and research”
As mentioned previously, the main aim of the organisation is to ensure that the nation’s children are cared for in the best way possible. This involves adequate leadership within pediatric nursing, a strong focus on adequate practice within the profession, advocacy for the rights of the children being cared for as well as for the rights of the nurses caring for them in order to increases life satisfaction and interest in their jobs, educational opportunities that will enhance the knowledge and skills of each of the nurses in question, and the continued research into the possibility of enhancing the practice of pediatric nursing.
Member Benefits
In order to attract new members and retain old ones, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners, like most nursing organisations, has a number of excellent benefits to offer its members. These benefits are felt at two levels:
– An individual level as you will be able to receive a number of educational and career opportunities through the organisation, and
– At a more general level as the actions of the individual members of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners are aimed at enhancing pediatric nursing as a whole.
One of the new benefits that are available to members of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners is daily coverage of pediatric healthcare news through PNP Daily News. This allows members to keep in touch with the latest advances in the industry. Members are also eligible for discounts through NAPNAP’s Vacation Center. All you have to do to receive to this benefit is to mention that you are with NAPNAP when booking your vacation. As a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners you will also have access to hundreds of job openings through the NAPNAP Career Connection. Through this portal found on the association’s website you will be able to browse many jobs directly related to your area of expertise and offered by the best employers. Continuing education is an essential part of recertification as a nurse. With this in mind, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners offers a number of continuing education opportunities through its online learning community PNP SOURCE. In addition you will also receive free copies of Ready, Set, Grow: Raising Healthy Kids which is a magazine written for parents with children between the ages of 5-18. This resource will help you both in your nursing career as well as in your personal life. Because networking is an essential part of advancing your career, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners offers a number of opportunities to participate in Special Interest Groups to network with peers whose practice relates to yours. This is also supported through a network of 48 local chapters to support you where you live and work, as well as the networking and support of over 7,500 colleagues in the NAPNAP community. The Special Interests Groups that you cna join include the following:
- Acute Care PNP
- Adolescent Health Care
- Asthma and Allergy
- Breastfeeding Education
- Child Care
- Child Maltreatment & Neglect
- Childhood Literacy
- Childhood Obesity
- Children in Disasters
- Developmental Behavioral and Mental Health
- Global Health Care
- Immunization
- Injury Education & Prevention
- Pediatric Health Care Home
- Pediatric Orthopedic
- Pediatric Palliative Care
- School-Based Health Services
If you are specifically interested in any of these particular areas of pediatric nursing, you will have the opportunity to pursue your interest further through the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners.
Members also receive discounted registration to NAPNAP’s Conference. This conference is a must for most nurses, especially because it allows you to earn up to 20 contact hours of continuing education toward maintaining your certification and licensure. Other member benefits that you can receive through the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners are:
- A subscription to the bimonthly Journal of Pediatric Health Care, the only journal focused exclusively on clinical issues in pediatric health care from the NP’s perspective. This will increase your knowledge in your chosen area of expertise.
- Optional complimentary subscription to Pediatric News. This subscription allows you to stay up to date with any new advancements that occur in the field of pediatric nursing.
- Research mentoring and notification regarding funding opportunities from the NAPNAP Research Committee.
- Nursing research funding opportunities supported by the NAPNAP Foundation, Inc.
- Discounts on NAPNAP publications.
Chapters
The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners offers membership opportunities at local chapter levels in addition to national membership with the larger organisation. This allows you to participate in legislation affecting the practice of pediatric nursing at a local level that affects you more immediately. It also means that you will be given access to resources and opportunities that are available in your specific area. The association has the following chapters:
- Alabama (Birmingham)
- Arizona (Phoenix)
- Arkansas (Little Rock)
- California: Los Angeles (Chino Hills)
- California: Orange County (Irvine)
- California: San Diego (San Diego)
- California: San Francisco Bay Area (San Mateo)
- California: San Joaquin (Fresno)
- Colorado (Centennial)
- Connecticut (Southington)
- eChapter (Virtual)
- Florida (Altamonte Springs)
- Florida: Gulf Coast (St. Petersburg)
- Georgia (Powder Springs)
- Hawaii (Pearl City)
- Illinois (Chicago)
- Indiana (Indianapolis)
- Iowa (Iowa City)
- Kentucky (Louisville)
- Maryland: Chesapeake (Glen Burnie)
- Massachusetts (Reading)
- Midwest Chapter (Omaha, NE)
- Michigan (W. Bloomfield)
- Minnesota (Minneapolis)
- Missouri: Greater Kansas City (Kansas City)
- Missouri: St. Louis (St. Louis)
- New Jersey (Voorhees)
- New York: Greater (Chappaqua)
- New York: Long Island (Stony Brook)
- New York: Upstate (Pittsford)
- New York: Western (Buffalo)
- North Carolina (Raleigh)
- North Carolina: Charlotte (Charlotte)
- Ohio (Troy)
- Oklahoma (Oklahoma City)
- Oregon (Portland)
- Pennsylvania/Delaware Valley (East Norriton)
- Pennsylvania: Three Rivers (McKeesport)
- South Carolina (Columbia)
- TN: Music City (Nashville)
- Texas: Greater (Arlington)
- Texas: Houston (Houston)
- Texas: South Texas Alamo Chapter (Schertz)
- Utah (Layton)
- Virginia (Northern Virginia/Richmond)
- Virginia: Hampton Roads (Chesapeake)
- Washington State (Seattle)
- Wisconsin (Madison)
If you would like to find out more about each of these chapters, please visit this link. Each of the different chapters have different people with whom you must make contact if you wish to join. Generally speaking membership with the larger parent organisation is required before chapter membership becomes possible. There are a number of chapter events that you could take part in. Information about the chapter events that are coming up can be found here. There are a number of chapter webinars that are also available, which you can find out more about by visiting this link.
Contact Information
If you would like to make contact with the organisation please use the information provided below.
NAPNAP
5 Hanover Square
Suite 1401
New York, NY 10004
Telephone: (917) 746-8300
Fax: (212) 785-1713
Members Only: (877) 662-7627
Email: info@napnap.org
National Office Staff Contacts:
- Chief Executive Officer – Sandra Vassos, MPA
- Chief of Staff – Michele Stickel
- Director of Membership, Chapters, and Communication – Felicia K. Taylor, MBA, BA
- Director of Practice, Education, and Research – Dolores Jones, EdD, RN, CPNP, CAE
- Director of Human Resources, Finance, and Administration – Catherine Van Horn, PHR
Alternatively you contact the organisation directly at this link.
Membership with this organisation can enhance your career in a number of ways. For one thing you will be provided with a number of opportunities to improve your knowledge and skills through the association. In addition your membership is like a badge of proof that you are a skilled pediatric nurse, as well as telling potential employers that you are willing to go the extra mile to ensure that you are skilled at your job and that you are able to offer the best level of care possible to their charges.
