On the Scene at GAPNA
The care of older adults is the overriding issue at this year's GAPNA conference of course, but members are also turning their attention to national practice issues that affect all NP specialties. Yesterday, Evelyn Duffy, NP, director of the adult and gerontologic NP program at Case Western Reserve University, presented an informational session about the consensus model for APRN regulation, which is proposed for phase-in in 2015 (boy, that could be a pivotal year for NPs -- it coincides with the effective date for the DNP as entry to practice!). Gerontologic NPs in the audience voiced their concern about the model's plan to change NP licensure to be organized along population foci, because it would require a combination of adult health and gerontology education. (GNPs already in practice would be grandfathered.) NPs would be licensed as adult-gero NPs and then could specialize in gerontology via a new mechanism.Duffy explained that this plan would improve practice laws by aligning licensure, certification and education. She also noted that a key component of the plan is that nurse practice acts would have to be reopened and NP independence would be required. This is exciting stuff. How do you think state legislatures (and state NP organizations) will react?