Alaska APRN Alliance

You don’t want to miss this year’s ANPA Conference! You’ll have opportunities to network with your peers, hear amazing speakers, and earn CEUs!

🌟Early bird pricing through August 25th

September 25th - Reception
September 26th & 27th - Conference

A block of rooms have been reserved at a special rate at the Residence Inn through August 25th.

Link in bio for registration and agenda details!

Did you know that around 6% of people will experience PTSD at some point in their lives? That’s roughly 13 million Americans each year who are affected by this condition. PTSD can develop after a person has been through a traumatic event such as combat, assault, or a natural disaster.
Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men, with about 8% of women experiencing it compared to 4% of men. Veterans are particularly at risk, with up to 23% experiencing PTSD in any given year. Additionally, around 30% of first responders deal with PTSD and other mental health issues due to the nature of their work.
Recovery is possible with the right support and treatment. Let's break the stigma and raise awareness about PTSD. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out for help. Resources are available, and together, we can make a difference. 🌿💚

Sources:
* National Center for PTSD
* CFAH.org

🎉 Though Social Worker Month fell in March, we're extending our gratitude into April to celebrate the incredible contributions of social workers! Your dedication and compassion shine year-round, making a lasting impact on countless lives. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to advocacy and empowerment. Here's to honoring your invaluable work not just in March, but every day.

🎉 Happy Doctors Day! 🎉

Today, we celebrate the remarkable dedication, heart, and skill of the doctors in our state. Your expertise, compassion, and commitment inspire us all. Thank you for embracing collaborative care and partnering with APRNs to deliver comprehensive healthcare services. Together, let’s continue to uplift each other and enhance patient outcomes. 🩺💙

Alaska has some amazing CNSs, many of whom are on our board and do amazing work in our community every day!

"CNSs are invisible champions whose role is often misunderstood and underutilized," says NACNS President Mitzi Saunders (2021). Through the NPI system, we can shed light on the invaluable contributions of CNSs, influencing policy, filling care gaps, and fostering education (Reed et al., 2021). 📢Let's spread the word and empower CNSs to make a significant impact in healthcare! Register for your NPI Number today: https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov |

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🌐 Source: Saunders, M. M. (2021). Informing and supporting the new clinical nurse specialist prescriber. AACN Advanced Critical Care, 32(4), 404–412. ➡ https://bit.ly/3QfBI4p

🌐 Source: Reed, S. M., Arbet, J., & Staubli, L. (2021). Clinical nurse specialists in the United States registered with a national provider identifier. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 35(3), 119–128. https://bit.ly/3H0sg0y

Posted on behalf of the AKPQC

Link in bio!

The Alaska Perinatal Quality Collaborative (AKPQC) and Maternal and Child Death Review (MCDR) are holding a joint summit on April 5, 2024. We are pleased to offer you an exciting experience with updates on initiatives as well as presentations from state and national experts on the topics of maternal health equity, preventing perinatal morbidity and mortality, and improving care of infants and pregnant patients affected by substances.  This year we will be having the Summit in-person in Anchorage, Alaska but also have a virtual option available.
 
Funding is available for rural providers to attend in person.  See in person registration for more details.

Unable to travel with us to New Orleans this March 10-13? ✈️ You're in luck! We're offering virtual registration options for those who cannot join us in person. This option will include access to post-event recordings and handouts. Plus, you can still earn up to 71.75 enduring CE credits! 💡 Check out your registration options here: https://brnw.ch/21wH74T

What’s Impacting Your Region?

Staying up to date on key developments in health care and policy is a priority for AANP members. Now there’s a convenient place to get the updates you need — the 2024 AANP Region 9 and 10 Member Meeting!
Join AANP to hear about the latest efforts in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, the U.S. Pacific Territories and Washington to advance the NP role and to get the news you need to shape the future of your practice.

Register for the 2024 AANP Region 9 and 10 Member Meeting to:
* Hear AANP leaders share news about how the association has represented and advocated for NPs nationwide.
* Receive updates from AANP’s policy experts about the latest developments on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures.
* Listen to AANP State Liaisons as they highlight recent practice and policy issues unique to each state in your region.

Register at my.aanp.org

We are so excited to let our APRN community know of this important change coming soon regarding Medicaid coverage. As of February 1, 2024, the Division of Public Assistance (DPA) will now provide 12 months of postpartum Medicaid coverage to:
* Medicaid recipients whose pregnancy ended or will end on or after February 1, 2024,
* Medicaid recipients who are no longer pregnant but who are still within a 12-month postpartum period, and
* Individuals that are no longer receiving Medicaid benefits but had a pregnancy end in the last 12 months.
 
Action for beneficiaries:
 
* These affected individuals do not need to submit a Medicaid application to receive these extended postpartum Medicaid benefits. Previously, postpartum coverage ended at 60 days.
 
Additionally, the income limit for Medicaid coverage will increase to include pregnant women with countable income under 225% of the federal poverty level.
 
Actions for beneficiaries:
* If a pregnant woman is not currently receiving Medicaid benefits, an application can be submitted online through healthcare.gov or MyAlaska, or by submitting a paper Application for Services (GEN 50C) in person, by fax or mail, by email to [email protected].
* Current Medicaid recipients can report changes in pregnancy status by submitting a report of change in person, by fax or mail, by email to [email protected], or by calling 800-478-7778.
 
This is a great accomplishment and step towards our commitment and work to decrease maternal mortality in Alaska. Please help us in spreading the word!

Alaska APRN Alliance President-Elect, Sara Kozup-Evon, DNP, PMHNP, & President Marianne Jp, DNP, FNP, ACHPN representing AK APRNs to Senators Lisa Murkowski & Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Mary Peltola. We discussed federal/CMS regulations hindering APRN patients specific to federal health care workplace injury, diabetic shoes, & cardiac/pulmonary rehab, as well as, encourage support of the ICAN Act for all APRNs.

All of the staff were true Alaskan supporters. They were receptive, knowledgeable and kind, offering guidance and wisdom of the complexities of passing legislation specific to federal Healthcare.

More importantly, they were appreciative to know that the AK APRN Alliance is here at their side, and we are ready to get in the trenches with them to confront the healthcare issues that all Alaskan patients navigate.

Thank you 💜!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/illuminating-radiology-tickets-777978694217?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios

Please join the Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association (ANPA) at an in-service sponsored by Imaging Associates. Two radiologists will be discussing imaging: when, what type, why, how, and more! The date is February 7 at 1800 at the Imaging Associates located on Piper Street across from the UAA health science building. We especially want to welcome our APRN students!

Please RSVP for this event using the QR code on the flyer. Imaging associates require a count to justify the expense of hosting this event, and without RSVPs, the event can be canceled. This is a fun event with drinks, food, and two top radiologists ready to discuss imaging choices, answer your questions, and enjoy a night out to mingle with fellow NPs and PAs.

Hope to see you there,

Morgan Brissette President ANPA

We are very proud to share the success of one of our own APRNs with you. Dr. Timmerman was a critical care nurse for over 40 years with the last 15 years serving as a clinical nurse specialist APRN. Rose is currently in the research scientist role at Providence Alaska Medical Center. She received her DNP in 2015 and is currently working on her PhD. Dr. Timmerman was a past board member of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and is currently on the editorial board for Critical Care Nurse.

From the CNSI Institute:

The Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute (CNSI) is pleased to announce the 2024 Class of CNSI Fellows. This is a highly prestigious honor and only awarded to those members of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) who epitomize the excellence of Clinical Nurse Specialist as leaders of the nursing profession, staunch advocates for patients and families, and forerunners of innovations to improve the health of populations. The new fellows will be inducted on Tuesday, March 12th during the NACNS 2024 conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. Guest tickets for attending the dinner event are available on the NACNS conference registration website.

One of our members received this in their email and we think it’s a great deal if you haven’t already done your MATE training that is now required.

🌟Free DEA MATE Requirement Course from American Physician

Offer Ends Friday, December 22, 2023

We’ve already had hundreds of registrations for the Opioid & Substance Disorders Review that lets you meet your DEA MATE Act Requirement. The course includes 8+ hours of lecture presentations and earns you up to 8 AMA PRA Category 1 CME Credits™.

But this free offer without purchase or obligation ends at midnight on Friday, December 22, 2023.
Whether or not you need to meet your DEA MATE Act requirement, you may be interested in learning more about substance use disorders. So, hurry to take advantage of this free offer. If you have already registered for this course, please send this email with this free offer to your colleagues. To learn more and register for free, click the link in our bio.

https://api.americanphysician.com/e/53222/email-utm-campaign-EOYCampaign/ljr9np/1434135647/h/tp6LrrsDxUN-sF8gffm3N3qMYc_Ffld1ahvm7vxKvS4

Not to brag or anything, but it’s been a busy year rallying our APRNs and lobbying on behalf of our communities. Here’s just a teaser of our full Year in Review which was emailed on December 16th. If you would like a copy please join our mailing list AND email us on the website and we can send it to you directly.

🎉 **Alaska APRNs Shine in 2023! 🌟**

👥 **Board of Directors Update:** Meet the faces steering the ship in 2023 and heading into 2024, including President Marianne J-Petty, CNP, and other dedicated leaders. 🚀

📜 **Legislative Wins:** From signature authority gains to telehealth legislation, Alaska APRNs are breaking barriers! 🏥

🔍 **80th Percentile Rule Repeal:** Dive into the challenges faced and how the APRN Alliance is advocating for fair reimbursement in the evolving healthcare landscape. 💼

🌐 **Federal ICAN Act:** Discover how the ICAN Act is paving the way for NPs to enhance patient care. 💪

🔄 **Nursing Licensure Compact:** Learn about the push for license portability to address the nursing workforce shortage. 🌎

📊 **Workforce Survey & Reimbursement Equity:** Get insights into the committee's efforts to gather data and advocate for reimbursement fairness. 💰

📰 **Year-End Highlights:** Celebrate the accomplishments of Alaska APRNs, from awards to leadership positions. 🏆

💙 **Support Matters:** Help us continue the vital work of the APRN Alliance by donating. Your support ensures positive changes in healthcare accessibility! You can easily donate by visiting our website - links are at the bottom of the front page! Link in bio. 🙌

👩‍⚕️ **Thank You!** To all APRNs for your exceptional care. Let's continue to support and uplift each other! 🌈

Congratulations to our very own Certified Nurse Midwife, Kathryn Ault for her promotion to Director of Midwifery at South Peninsula Hospital. We are excited for this new opportunity for her and for the birthing community in Homer.

Due to the low number of RSVPs for the Imaging Associates open house and lecture on “Selecting Imaging,” it was postponed. However, it will be tried again in the spring. Keep checking the ANPA website for the newly updated invite when it is released.

The ANPA and Imaging Associates cordially invite all APRNs, PAs, and students in either program to attend an open night to explore navigating "what imaging test is best."

Date: Dec 13, 2023 at 18:00 hrs.
Venue: Imaging Associates, located at 3650 Piper St STE A, Anchorage, AK 99508

A QR code is attached to the invitation, and there is a capped number of attendees, so RSVP sooner than later.

Refreshments will be provided.

We hope every nurse practitioner working in our state has felt appreciated every day, but especially this week, National Nurse Practitioner Week. Every NP has worked incredibly hard to earn their education and licensure, and every NP has gone above and beyond to grow within their specialty. We recognize you and your excellence! We want to share some of the amazing NPs who have been recognized by our own ANPA in 2023.

Karen received the 2023 Alaska Nurse Practitioner Award for being an excellent resource and advocate for Alaskan NPs. With years of experience in cardiology and acute care, Karen is an accomplished educator and ambassador of lifelong learning. Karen strives for excellence in her role as a nurse practitioner.

Megan received the Alaska State Advocate Award. Megan is an exemplary educator in nursing and Family Nursing Practice, promoting advocacy for the importance of excellence in nursing education. She provides mentorship and leadership in health practice and education for NP students through her work as Director and educator for the DNP program at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

The APRN Alliance is proud to have two fantastic nurse practitioners representing Alaska. Karen and Megan were able to attend the award ceremony at the National AANP meeting in New Orleans this June. It was great to see our Alaska NPs highlighted at the national conference.

Link in bio!

The Alaskan APRN Alliance (APRN-A) whose members include the Alaska Affiliate of the American College of Nurse Midwives (AAACNM), the Alaska Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AKANA), the Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association (ANPA), and the Alaska Clinical Nurse Specialist Association (ACNSA), along with the Alaska Board of Nursing know the importance of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to the sustainability of the Alaskan healthcare system. However, community members, inter-professional healthcare colleagues, politicians and legislators, and even some APRNs don't recognize or understand this value as one of the first APRN Full Scope of Practice states.

The Alaskan APRN Alliance and the Alaska Board of Nursing need facts to corroborate efforts to advocate for healthcare, legal, and legislative systems to support quality care of all Alaskan patients. This survey, the Alaska State APRN Workforce and Practice Reimbursement Survey, is an effort to gather these facts, including the characteristics of Alaskan APRNs, evaluate the impact of third-party reimbursement on Alaska APRN practices, practice owners, and independent contractors, and provide data to further educate APRN stakeholders.

Your participation in the survey is voluntary. It will take about 15 minutes and all questions are important to support you in your practice so please take the time to complete it. Completion of the questionnaire will be interpreted as consent. You may choose not to answer any question by selecting "Prefer not to say" or typing in "Prefer not to say." Your responses will be kept confidential and reported without any identifying information.

As an incentive, you have the ability to be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card of your choice at the completion of the survey. If you supply your contact information, this information will not be shared with other organizations or sold to a vendor.

You can answer the online survey at: https://bit.ly/3PLYcuP

If you have any questions, please contact APRN Teresa Lyons ([email protected]) or the APRN Alliance ([email protected]).

September is National Su***de Prevention Month

We want to take the time to say we see you and we are here for you. Please reach out if you are experiencing any of these warning signs. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

These are some warning signs that someone is at risk for su***de. Risk is greater when these behaviors are new or increased. The risk for su***de is also greater if the following behavior(s) is linked to a painful or stressful event, loss or change.

Talking about wanting to die or committing su***de
Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or purchasing a gun
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
Talking about feeling trapped
Talking about being a burden to others
Increasing use of drugs or alcohol
Acting anxious or agitated
Behaving recklessly
Change in sleeping habits - too much sleep or too little sleep
Withdrawing or feeling isolated
Showing rage or talking about revenge
Extreme mood swings

***deprevention ***depreventionmonth ***deawareness

Space is limited. There is no cost for this training. There is no CME for this training.

To register for a session, RSVP to David Heidinger ([email protected]). Please provide the following information to register:
* Full Legal Name
* Professional Designation
* NPI number
* Email address
* Business address

Option #1:
September 20th, 2023
5:00 - 7:00 pm
Springhill Suites by Marriott
4050 University Lake Drive
Anchorage, AK

Option #2:
September 21st, 2023
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Springhill Suites by Marriott
4050 University Lake Drive
Anchorage, AK

Book Your Group/Corporate Rate | Marriott International

We are so excited for the return of conferences to our community and think this will be a great opportunity for APRNs to reconnect and learn from each other.

Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association The Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association (ANPA) is a non-profit organization whose membership consis

Every August, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) sponsors National Health Center Week (NHCW) to celebrate and increase awareness of America’s 1,400 Community Health Centers (CHCs). National Health Center Week is an opportunity to highlight the commitment and passion of Community Health Center staff, board members, and supporters who make it possible to provide quality, comprehensive healthcare services to more than 30 million patients across 14,500 communities annually.

2023 Theme: The Roadmap to a Stronger America

Community Health Centers serve as the beacon of strength, service, and care in their communities. In moments of pain and loss, they offer support and love. In moments of triumph, they offer hope and a vision for the future. This year’s National Health Center Week theme takes us on a virtual road trip across America, highlighting the achievements and amazing work being done at Community Health Centers in every state and territory. Celebrate the uniqueness of your community and get to know others as we journey across the U.S. together!

We are highlighting the Sunshine Community Health Center who will be hosting a celebration of their own on August 12th. If you find yourself in Talkeetna, stop by and celebrate just how much care is provided in our rural areas. Join us in celebrating National Health Center Week as we celebrate community health with YOU. Grab a bite to eat, listen to live music, play games, and learn what resources you and your family can benefit from.

Live Music
Food
Vendors
Information Resource
Bouncy House
Face Paint
Silent Auction
& More

The PCAN 7th Annual Symposium details are finally here!! Be sure to save the date in your calendars - November 4th, 2023!! The theme this year is Palliative Care: Embracing Guided Partnerships. We have some really amazing guest speakers lined up. Don't miss out of this wonderful CEU opportunity!

July is UVF Safety Awareness Month

According to American Academy of Dermatology Association UV is the root cause of most skin cancers and encourage the public to take precautions. The AAD recommends that the public practiceSafeSun the year-round by following three simple steps while outdoors:

☀️ Seek shade when appropriate
☀️ Wear sun-protective clothing
☀️ Apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher

Even in Alaska we are prone to sun damage year round. So put on that sunscreen then reapply often if you’re having fun in our local lakes!

We’re spicing things up and meeting in person for a more social gathering. We would love to see you!

July 18th at 6 pm at Midnight Sun Brewing Company

Congratulations to the newly published Traci Sickich, MSN, FNP, ACHPN! She has contributed to the second edition of Advanced Practice Palliative Nursing in Chapter 18 “The Palliative APRN in the Rural Community”.

We celebrate the work our APRNs do in our diverse and amazing state!

https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Practice-Palliative-Nursing-2nd/dp/0197559328/ref=asc_df_0197559328_nodl?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=564831286739&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17444595132657289785&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033841&hvtargid=pla-1595610929422&psc=1&dplnkId=252e933a-3d17-4fee-85e3-6d2ed30eaefd

Do you want to help you fellow nurse practitioners and their legislative goals? Consider donating to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Political Action Committee (AANP-PAC). The AANP-PAC is a vital tool that allows AANPs to unite as one voice to urge Congress to remove outdated federal barriers that limit the ability of more than 355,000 NPs to provide high-quality, timely care to patients.

Please consider a small donation. Even a $25 donation could help make effective change in our nation and communities.

For more information please visit www.my.anpa.org

Edit: The graphic is incorrect! They are not “certified”. Thanks to an awesome CNS for pointing out our error!

The United States currently has 89,000 Clinical Nurse Specialists and there are 3,000 in Canada.

What is a Clinical Nurse Specialist?

CNSs are advanced practice registered nurses who have graduation preparation (Masters or Doctorate) in nursing. As APRNs they are trained in advanced physiology, pharmacology and physical assessment in addition to their particular areas of specialty. They can diagnose, treat, prescribe and bill like other APRNs as allowed by their state regulations.

One of the biggest impacts that a CNS can have is through their expertise by providing support to nurses caring for patients at the bedside, helping to drive practice change in an organization, as well as ensuring the use of best practices and evidence-based care to achieve the best possible outcomes.

For more information please go to www.nacns.org