Kristin Rhodes Named as 2019 Nurse Practitioner of Distinction
Longtime CANP leader Kristin Rhodes was named the recipient of the 2019 Nurse Practitioner of Distinction Award during the organization’s recent 42nd Annual Educational Conference.
Presented during the Friday, March 15 general session, the award recognizes a CANP member who demonstrates excellence in furthering the nurse practitioner role, either in legislative efforts or clinical application.
“Given that both CANP and this award are all about advancing the nurse practitioner profession, you would be hard-pressed to find a more deserving recipient than Kristin Rhodes,” announced Jeff Vu, CANP Vice President of Corporate Affairs, in presenting the award.
Rhodes is currently a Family Nurse Practitioner at Newport Family Medicine. There she tends to patients pediatric through geriatric, with a passion for delivering high-quality care. She takes advantage of every opportunity possible to further her knowledge through continuing education in order to utilize the most current evidence-based approaches to caring for her patients.
A Leader
Over the course of 20 years as a CANP member, Rhodes has served in a wide variety of roles at both the state and chapter level within the Association. She currently sits on the CANP Board of Directors as Co-Chair of the Education Committee, returning to the board last year after previously serving in the position of Vice President of Corporate Affairs, through 2011 and 2012. In addition, she also presided over meetings of the CANP House of Delegates as Speaker of the House from 2008 to 2011.
Since becoming a member in 1999, Rhodes has also held nearly every position imaginable on the board of the Orange County Chapter, including Publications Chair, Legislative Chair, Treasurer, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Vice President, and as Chapter President through 2005 and 2006.
A Teacher
With her vast experience with the organization, Rhodes is not only a valued leader, but also an incredible mentor of chapter officers and incoming members. Her colleagues in the Orange County Chapter cite her historical knowledge of CANP and her expertise on bylaws and organizational procedures as a rich resource for those learning their way through the organization. Further, she continually encourages NP students to take an active role in CANP and to get involved within the local board.
She applies that same mindset to the broader world of NP education, where she has served as a clinical professor at Cal State Fullerton, UC Irvine, Cal State Long Beach, and UCLA over the course of the past 16 years. Her commitment to nurturing the next generation of nurse practitioners has been manifested as a clinical preceptor to countless NP students and new grads.
As a passionate provider, a treasured mentor, and an unwavering advocate, Kristin Rhodes is a well-deserving recipient of the 2019 Nurse Practitioner of Distinction award. See a complete list of past winners.
A New Tradition
At the 42nd Annual Educational Conference a new award presentation tradition began. The Nurse Practitioner of Distinction Award is now presented during only odd-numbered years. In even-numbered years the Bridging Health Care Needs Award will be presented. The change will allow for a greater focus on a single deserving recipient each year.
The Bridging Health Care Needs Award will be presented at CANP's 43rd Annual Educational Conference, taking place March 18-22, 2020 in Riverside.