At OAAPN, we are proud to celebrate National Nurse Practitioner Week recognizing these exceptional healthcare providers. This year’s theme is Rising to Meet the Needs of Our Patients, recognizing that from the front lines of the pandemic to telehealth, NPs are rising to meet the needs of patients in all communities and practice settings.
For more than half a century, NPs have been leading the charge to reduce health disparities and ensure that high-quality, person-centered health care is readily accessible to people in communities nationwide. In addition to honoring the work of NPs, NP Week seeks to build awareness of the importance of removing outdated barriers to practice that exist in state law and regulations.
There are over 355,000 NPs licensed in the United States, practicing in primary, acute, specialty and long-term care settings; via telehealth; and in mobile clinics. NPs truly meet patients where the need is greatest. With a focus on health maintenance and disease prevention, NPs play a key role in filling the growing demand for chronic, mental health and primary care.
As the voice of more than 16,000 APRNs throughout Ohio, OAAPN counts Nurse Practitioners, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Certified Nurse Midwives among our members. We believe that there is strength in our numbers, authority in our voice, and influence in our actions.
We hope that you will join us in celebrating the NPs who practice in Ohio, yet have encountered barriers to their practice. Together, we can promote affordable, accessible, quality healthcare for all Ohioans, and attain fair and equitable standards for all of our professions. Join today to invest in yourself and your profession.