2022 National Nurse Practitioner Week Celebrated November 13-19
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON (NOVEMBER 14, 2022) — As the demand for quality health care continues to increase, nurse practitioners (NPs) are rising to meet the needs of patients. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, NPs have been on the front lines of health care delivery, ensuring patients have access to lifesaving vaccinations, as well as primary, acute, long-term and specialty care. To honor their many contributions to the health of communities nationwide, WSU College of Nursing is recognizing the critical role of NPs as part of the annual National Nurse Practitioner Week
(NP Week) celebration, held November 13-19 this year.
NP Week recognizes the positive impact NPs make in the lives of patients through more than 1 billion annual visits. More than 355,000 NPs are increasing access to equitable, person-centered, high-quality health care. These health care professionals practice in clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care centers, nursing homes and private practices across the country — wherever patients are in need. NPs assess patients, order and interpret tests, make diagnoses and provide treatment, including prescribing medications. As clinicians who blend clinical expertise with an added emphasis on disease prevention and health management, NPs are the health care provider of choice for millions of Americans.
“NPs prioritize the needs of patients and improve the health of their communities,” said April N. Kapu, DNP, APRN, ACNP- BC, FAANP, FCCM, FAAN, president of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP). “Since the nurse practitioner role began more than 50 years ago, NPs have risen to meet each challenge, worked to eliminate health care disparities and strengthened our nation’s ability to ensure patients have equitable access to high-quality care.”
WSU Coug Nurse, Andrea Perry ’11, is just one example of how a nurse practitioner will go the extra mile. Just in the month of November, Perry has helped save the lives of two Cougar football fans in the Spokane, Washington area.
Local Nurse Practitioner groups include:
- WSU’s Nurse Practitioners group on Facebook
- Nurse Practitioner Group of Spokane (NPGS), and on Facebook
To access a wealth of timely health care resources, explore ways protect your health during the COVID-19 pandemic and learn more about NPs or locate an NP near you, visit wechoosenps.org.
This article is part of a series of features highlighting Nurse Practitioners during National Nurse Practitioner’s Week.
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