By Dorsey Griffith
Contributing Writer
CANP’s 43rd Annual Educational Conference, supported by NSO, wrapped up a successful two-day virtual meeting April 24 with a focus on the NP’s role in supporting health equity and justice and in engaging in legislative efforts that advance the profession and improve access to health care. The event was a big success in every way. CANP extends its deepest gratitude to the sponsors, exhibitors & symposia and attendees whose engagement and support made it all possible. All sessions were recorded and are available to paid attendees through May 28 on the event platform.
Friday’s keynote speaker was Dr. Scharmaine Lawson, a nationally recognized and award-winning NP known for her house-call business, which took off immediately after Hurricane Katrina left thousands of people in New Orleans without access to health care. Lawson spoke about how NPs are in a powerful position to lift up communities, especially in times of great challenge. In her talk on “The Business of Nursing,” Dr. Lawson shared her keys to success for nurse entrepreneurs and emphasized the importance of finding your eagle (aka mentor), supporting like-minded organizations, then executing repeatedly. She also emphasized the importance of self-care, noting: “It’s OK to take time for you. If you don’t do the self-care, you aren’t going to have anything left to give. Otherwise, you’re going to try to serve people on an empty tank. You have to keep filling yourself.”
She congratulated CANP members on the tremendous victory of AB 890 and achieving full practice authority, and left this insight: “Take care of others. Yes, nursing is a business, don’t miss that. But at the end of the day, it goes back to the patient. It goes back to increasing accessibility to health care. It’s about the patients and what they deserve. We as NPs will go where no others will go to see patients in rural areas, see patients who are vulnerable, see patients in marginalized communities …at the end of the day, it has to be about impact.”
CANP’s legislative advocate Kristy Wiese, who was instrumental in the passage of AB 890 (Wood), was the closing keynote speaker on Saturday. Although AB 890 became law on Jan. 1, 2021, CANP is focused, both legislatively and through the regulatory process at the Board of Registered Nursing, to ensure that the full intent of the legislation is achieved. Wiese provided updates on bill implementation advocacy efforts – including AB 852, the follow up bill to AB 890 also authored by Assemblymember Wood – that will update other sections of California law to ensure that NPs are fully recognized as independent providers.
Wiese emphasized why CANP members need to stay engaged in the legislative process: “Take some time to get involved. Even though we are all tired of being on Zoom, and certainly all miss in-person contact, the opportunity to come to the Capitol, and take the opportunity to go to a legislator’s Town Hall. Zoom and all these virtual platforms do make it easier. You don’t have to travel; you don’t have to schedule it. You can get connected and involved at any time. The best way to get involved is to work through your chapter. We have tremendously involved chapters. Grassroots engagement is also more important than ever before.”
We encourage CANP members to join us for our virtual Lobby Day 2021 on May 24 when Wiese will dive deeper into AB 890 bill implementation and provide a training on virtual lobbying.
Conference sessions spanned the medical gamut, from the latest in managing ADHD, pediatric nutrition and arthropod bites and stings to empowerment of primary care providers in diabetes care, EKG analysis and the impact of chronic care management on heart failure readmissions. There were talks on COVID-19 and women’s health and managing care in an ICU on the Mexican border, as well caring for transgender patients and using telepsychiatry to treat sexually traumatized females.
"I am so grateful these excellent sessions were recorded,” said CANP President Patti Gurney. “Several times during the live conference I had a hard time choosing which session to attend. With this format, I can attend them all."
Other sessions focused on NP practice and oversight, including malpractice claims and peer review, as well as NP leadership and the two new categories of NPs established with AB 890. The virtual conference also included several practice specialty and networking “lounges,” including several for discussions about work toward achieving health justice.
"The networking lounges were a special time to connect in a truly powerful way,” said Gurney. “I hope this is the start of many such opportunities to get to know and learn from each other."
During the closing session, president-elect Cynthia Jovanov presented Dr. Garrett Chan with the year’s NP of Distinction Award for his demonstrated excellence in furthering the nurse practitioner role through legislative efforts and clinical application.
All sessions are available to paid attendees through May 28 on the event platform.