Dear Colleagues-
The coming year presents us with significant opportunities for growth in our profession. There are several things that I want to share with you and look forward to working with you on in this coming year. First, I believe that we are at important crossroads in our profession and that exciting challenges are ahead for us. Second, the increasing deficit of skilled healthcare providers will create new opportunities where none may have existed in previous years. Lastly, your continued support and involvement with NAPNAP will help us to shape the future of professional nursing practice as well as allow us to improve the quality of health care for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
As I was reflecting what to write in my president’s letter, I looked back at our past President’s, Esther Sikorski’s, letter from a year ago. She wrote about Senate Bill 481 which is now Senate Bill 2 (SB2) which gives definition to the Nurse Practitioner within the Public Health Code. It’s hard to believe a year has gone by and we are still fighting this same battle. That is how things in politics work though. It is a long, slow process but we must continue to write those supporting letters and contacting our representatives. National NAPNAP has given us a toolkit of talking points, letter drafts, etc. to help us with this. I can’t stress it enough how important it is for all of us to advocate for the changes SB2 will provide, which is defining our scope of practice. If we don’t fight for ourselves no one else will.
On a lighter note we have had a great year! We gave out over 400 helmets to children in need. Our spring conference in Lansing was a big success. We had another successful Comedy for a Cause. A big thank you to Bethany Musallam, our Program Chair, who coordinates these three events with the help of other NAPNAP members!
I would like to welcome new Board member Donna Marvicsin, Recording Secretary. Current Board members include: Esther Sikorski, past President; and Andrea Kline Tilford, Treasurer. I would like to say thank you to the following board members whose terms have ended: Vickie Trabucci, past President; Cynthia Danford, Recording Secretary; and Jeanie Koops, Legislative Chair. Last but not least I want to say farewell and good luck to our colleague Kristi Martyn who is leaving the state. She will be missed.
I welcome members’ ideas for improvements and ways to increase membership. We have an amazing group of colleagues on this board and I welcome our members to become involved wherever your interest may lie. I look forward to a challenging and exciting year in serving on the MI NAPNAP board as your President!
Kim Fenbert, DNP RN CPNP
President, MI NAPNAP