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December 10, 2022
Find the most recent President's Message here
July 14, 2022
Nominations for the Ann Stadtler Excellence in Practice Award AND the Exceptional Preceptor Award are now open. Click here to view nomination criteria and instructions for both awards! Deadline for both is August 15th, 2022
July 7, 2022
President's Message
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Dear Massachusetts NAPNAP members and friends,
I hope this message finds you well despite such troubled times in the world … far, nearby, or too close to our homes, our safety, our basic human rights.
As our actions along with our colleagues and friends as fierce advocates for NP full practice authority brought our efforts to fruition, we have to continue to do the same – move from words to actions – to continue to provide unbiased, high-quality evidence-based patient care that is not influenced by politics but rather by shared decision-making by patients, families, and healthcare providers while supporting communities and putting in place preventative strategies that minimize suffering, maximize one’s potential, and integrate rather than alienate or fragment. You may wonder why I am not using specific wording within this paragraph – the reason is simple, the more I read over it, the more “fill-in-the-blank” phrases from all the events happening and threats to humanity, basic rights, and our safety, you can apply. Though we face many challenges, the time is not to hide but to strategize, not to give up but continue to provide sound evidence for why certain approaches and decisions improve outcomes, and why personal rights and vulnerable populations should be protected.
In order to have the energy, motivation, and perseverance to move mountains, it is also time to reflect on what has worked well, our accomplishments, and our belief in goodness of people … as it is through reflection that we learn a lot about problems, events, and actions of the past and how to tackle tasks at hand, and about ourselves and others, which then in turn helps us be better, more purposeful, more efficient, and successful.
As you have been informed along the way, our chapter has been involved in many advocacy efforts (continued anti-gun efforts, focus on FPA implementation, and much more!); putting together high-quality educational opportunities (Fall Symposium focused on skills review is coming on October 15, save the date!); growing, more palpable recognition of our members via our recently established Scholarship, Research, and Mentorship (SRM) Committee (we are adding a Preceptor Award to the now standing annual Ann Stadtler Award with the call for nominations coming out soon!); increasing and reinforcing our membership (we are ~300 members strong and counting!); sharing all the news and opportunities with our membership through our website and social media (with plan to add LinkedIn as well); and making our Chapter functions more user-friendly and efficient (we will be continuing to utilize more functions on Springly, our member management platform, with possible plan for transitioning our website under Springly as well).
As I complete my Chapter presidency tenure, it is with great pleasure and honor to transition the leadership over to Laura White. Our Chapter will be in great hands!
I cannot thank the whole Chapter Executive Board enough for their dedication, support, and continuing effort to making a difference for our patients, patient care, the PNP profession, and health care at large, and specifically to:
- Our outgoing committee Chairs/Members (We will miss you!):
- Courtney Catalano (outgoing Chair PR/Communications)
- Kim Goodridge (outgoing Program Committee Member)
- Our continued committee Chairs/Members (Thank you for your continued commitment!):
- Secretary: Elise Buckley
- Legislative Committee: Amy Delaney (Co-Chair), Carly Riker (Co-Chair)
- Treasurer: Susan Herel
- Membership Committee: Emily Vilk (Chair); Alexa Dias (Member)
- Scholarship, Research, and Mentorship Committee: Rita Olans (Chair)
- Program/Education Committee: Heather Grossklaus (Chair)
- PR/Communications Committee: Katie Leake (Chair), David Geyer (Member)
With a wish of peaceful summer,
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Marketa Rejtar, DNP APRN CPNP-AC/PC
Massachusetts NAPNAP Past President 2022-2023,
President 2020-2022, President-Elect 2019-2022
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June 27, 2022 Update
In the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, please find NAPNAP's statement on equitable access to pediatric health care here
June 7, 2022 Update
Congratulations to our own Amy Delaney on the MCNP distinguished NP award! We are inspired by all that you do.
April 7, 2022 Update
Find NAPNAP's statement on criminal prosecution of health care providers for unintentional harm here
March 1, 2022 Update
Please see below for information regarding
Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Benefits Now Cover Care for a Family Member with a Serious Medical Condition
Effective July 1, 2021, Massachusetts’ Paid Family and Medical Leave now covers family leave to care for a family member with a serious medical condition. While the federal FMLA offers job protection, the Massachusetts law provides income support for working caregivers who rely on steady income to meet their family’s needs as well as job protections. This article highlights coverage available, and how family physicians who care for seriously ill children can help their families access this benefit. Note that this benefit applies to both employed caregivers, and, in many cases, gig workers (like Uber drivers), as well
as to many recently unemployed workers.
As pediatric nurse practitioners we know that parents need time and support to care for children with serious health conditions and the importance of secure attachment for new babies and children.
Summary of benefits available to Massachusetts working families:
Up to a maximum of 12 weeks, per benefit year, for any of these, but not more than 12 weeks total for a
combination of them:
● Family Leave to Bond with a new baby, or an adopted or foster child. This is available for each caregiver. Leave is available any time within the first year of birth, adoption, or foster care placement. (In place since January 1, 2021.)
● Family Leave to Care for a Family Member with a Serious Medical Condition. (New on July 1, 2021.) There are other benefit provisions not directly tied to child health, including up to 20 weeks of paid medical leave to manage one’s own serious medical condition, and up to 26 weeks to care for an active service member with a serious health condition related to military service.
Pediatric nurse practitioners have three important roles to play in supporting families to apply for either kind of Family Leave (Bonding or Caring for a Family Member with a Serious Medical Conditions).
1. Encourage both working caregivers, who are likely eligible for Family Leave upon the arrival of a new baby or child (adoptive or foster), to take bonding leave. This is a precious time to form lifelong attachments that are vital to child and family well-being. This summer, the AAP published a clinical report and policy statement that discussed the key importance of early relational health.
2. Explain this new benefit to families with children and youth with special health needs. In many cases, they may be eligible for Family Leave to Care for a Family Member with a Serious Medical Condition. This can include providing the daily living needs that the family member cannot perform due to their serious health condition, such as helping them get dressed or helping with meals; providing transportation to the doctor or other facilities for appointments and treatment; providing support for their serious mental health condition, such as taking them to therapy or medication appointments. Families with children with special health needs have been particularly stressed during COVID. See the AAP Family Snapshot published October 1, 2021 for more details.
3. Consider whether caregivers will need time to care for hospitalized children. Caregivers of children with newly diagnosed or ongoing serious illness, including cancer, diabetes, and serious injuries may also be eligible.
How to apply:
Families can apply for this benefit via the Department of Family and Medical Leave website. Through this site, caregivers can explore the benefits and eligibility, get information on required forms and the process by which to apply for benefits. And the Department’s call center can also assist families, including families whose primary language is not English. Call center staff can also assist self-employed individuals to make an application. Pediatric practices will need to certify medical conditions for caregivers looking to apply for Family Leave to Care for a Family Member with a Serious Health Condition. Information on the certification form can be found on the Department of Family and Medical Leave website. NOTE: Physicians and nurse
practitioners do not need to certify a birth or adoption.
More details about PFML in Massachusetts:
1. The better known FMLA benefits do not include paid leave. Massachusetts’ Paid Family and Medical (PFML) leave program offers a percentage of an individual’s pay, making leave accessible to many families who lack the financial resources to use FMLA.
2. Most Massachusetts employees and many Massachusetts independent contractors are covered by the PFML law and eligible for benefits.
3. Most municipal employees, including teachers, are not eligible.
4. Massachusetts PFML benefits include job protection.
5. Weekly benefit amounts are calculated as a percentage of earnings. Individuals can check their eligibility and use the online calculator at the Department of Family and Medical Leave website to estimate their benefit amount.
6. Application for benefits can be made online, via computer or cellphone, or on paper.
7. The Department of Family and Medical Leave has a staffed PFML Contact Center to answer questions.
8. Persons unemployed for up to 26 weeks may also be eligible.
9. Self-employed individuals may be eligible for coverage but must opt-in and pay the tax.
Let’s reach as many babies, children, and families as we can!
Dr. Robert Sege, MD, PhD, Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center
Elaine M. Gabovitch, MPA, Director, Division for Children & Youth with Special Health Needs, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Alexandra Risley Schroeder, MEd, DMin, Economic Opportunity Team Facilitator, MA Essentials for Childhood
The authors are members of Massachusetts Essentials for Childhood, a CDC-funded statewide initiative