How did you become interested in NAPNAP?

Although I come from a family of nurses, I am the first in my family to pursue advanced practice and a Master’s degree in Nursing. I am also one of the few Filipino-American/Asian-Americans in my PNP program, so I wanted to join an organization where I would meet more folks with a background similar to mine. With this in mind, I wanted to engage with experienced PNPs and nurse scientists in NAPNAP for support and guidance in navigating the PNP profession. The networking provided by this organization has been an extremely helpful resource for my career interests in allergies, primary care, and the intersection of children’s health and climate change.

Describe two events you took part in over the past year and how you benefitted from them?

This year, I was the inaugural recipient of the PNCB/NAPNAP Empowering PNP Professional Diversity Scholarship. I was able to use this scholarship to support living expenses to conduct research activities in Southeast Asia. Over the summer, I had the opportunity to intern with an NGO based in Singapore to educate global policymakers about the intersections of climate change and children’s health. NAPNAP’s support in my scholastic journey has helped form my framework in thinking about how Pediatric NPs can be leaders in the conversations regarding climate change and children’s health. This summer was an incredible opportunity that I was able to pursue in part due to NAPNAP’s support.

Do you have any tips for other students who are new members?

Be visible – NAPNAP provides an extensive network for potential mentors, future colleagues, and career references. Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself and reach out to folks with shared interests. During your time as a student, thinking about professional development early can be beneficial in the long run and help you graduate feeling prepared.

What does being a NAPNAP member mean to you?

Being a NAPNAP member means being able to turn to a nationwide community of children’s health experts and feeling supported whenever I have a question. Everyone I have met through NAPNAP has been very invested and supportive of my PNP journey, and I am grateful to continue to learn and grow in this organization!

How did you become interested in NAPNAP?

I have been part of professional nursing associations since I was a prelicensure nursing student. I first found out about NAPNAP while studying for my CPN after 2 years of RN practice. I was very interested in some of the specialty symposiums that were offered at that time. When I considered returning to school for a postgraduate certificate to become a Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, I came across TeamPeds Talks, including the series “Focus on Child and Adolescent Mental Health” and the series “Conversations on Child Health Equity”. These awakened my passion to return to school and join an organization that addresses the needs of vulnerable patients and families.

Describe two events you took part in over the past year and how you benefitted from them?

The first NAPNAP event I participated in was a DBMH virtual coffee hour. As a student member of this SIG, I had the opportunity to meet experts, innovators, and change-makers in a field of interest. I was also fortunate to be selected to cohost a TeamPeds Experts Live event with an expert DBMH PNP, Jennifer Keller, CPNP-PC, PMHS. We explored the mental health needs of children and youth with special healthcare needs. This was an opportunity to collaborate with an expert and work on my presentation and education skills.

Do you have any tips for other students who are new members?

Participating in professional organizations has been transformative throughout my career. I recommend all PNP students join NAPNAP and make sure to participate in opportunities available to members. I also think that students should feel confident to participate fully. When student members are full participants in conversations and opportunities, they have the ability to shape the profession and also learn from experts.

What does being a NAPNAP member mean to you?

Being a NAPNAP member is a part of my professional ambitions and endeavors. It provides me with connections to other professionals with similar goals, opportunities to collaborate on improving the health of vulnerable families, and role models to guide my professional path. Being a NAPNAP member is my connection to so many great pediatric-focused advanced practice nurses going all the way back to the origins of our profession. Finally, being a NAPNAP member joins me with the future “experts in pediatrics and advocates for children.”

How did you become interested in NAPNAP?

Joining NAPNAP seemed like a given to be from the start. My background is in PICU bedside nursing, so before applying to graduate programs, I wanted to shadow a PCP and see whether the PC or AC world might suit me better as a future PNP. A friend set me up to shadow Dr. Jessica Peck, who happened to be the NAPNAP President. The rest is history! Participating in this organization became synonymous to me with learning the ropes of the profession.

Do you have any tips for other students who are new members?

I encourage new student members to attend the conferences! There is something about being all together in person, learning from experts in every facet of the field, and forging connections across states and subspecialties that are unique to the conference environment. I also encourage students to consider participating in the student ambassador program. This program has been a great avenue for me to get involved with NAPNAP early in my career and meet some amazing people!

What does being a NAPNAP member mean to you?

Above all, I value the connectedness being a NAPNAP member provides. There is a kind of “same, same but different” feeling inherent in the clinical and legislative concerns PNPs face across the nation. Being a NAPNAP member allows sharing of these struggles and potential novel solutions. It is an ever-present reminder that you are not alone.

Describe a recent achievement and how it will impact you beyond your time as a student member.

I recently received a Fulbright award to research advanced practice nursing in the UK! Before I graduate, I get to move to Wales for six months to study resilience in pediatric advanced practice nurses (PAPN) there. The hope is to generate and disseminate information on what factors correlate with said resilience to educational and governing bodies across the UK to support the growth and success of the UK PAPN population. Only a handful of countries currently use PAPNs/PNPs. To me, forging connections between these pockets of our profession is paramount to the future of advanced practice nursing across the globe. Helping to foster that collaboration is a chief aspiration of my career.

How did you become interested in NAPNAP?

I had a nursing professor during my undergraduate education who emphasized in our leadership courses the importance and value of professional organizations. I wanted to be a leader in nursing, so I took her words to heart, and I joined my professional organizations when I graduated.

I learned about NAPNAP early in my DNP education and quickly became a student member. Both NAPNAP and the Acute Care SIG were perfect resources to assist in my learning and help me collaborate with others. Through my student membership with NAPNAP and the acute care SIG, I have gained many student colleagues, APRN and faculty mentors, and experiences from which I can learn and develop as a professional. Within NAPNAP, there are educational and professional resources to consult, evidence-based journal or position statements to review, researchers to collaborate with and discover, and mentors to help grow my career. As a NAPNAP student ambassador, I shared my experience within NAPNAP with my peers and advocated for the importance of professional memberships within APRN practice. Additionally, at the local NAPNAP chapter level, I connected with local APRNs who have offered a variety of advice and mentorship for a future career.

Do you have any tips for other students who are new members?

During your schooling, it’s easy to focus on mastering content, clinical hours, studying for exams, board review, etc. However, you should also take this valuable time to lay the groundwork for your own professional development and personal growth. Get involved with your local NAPNAP or graduate organizations. Explore passions that will help you combat burnout and be a better provider for your patients and their families. Get involved with advocacy and use your voice to fight for things that are important to you or your profession. Find mentors and network with others as much as you can! If you have the bandwidth during this crucial time, just say “Yes!”– you never know what doors it may open for you in the future.

What does being a NAPNAP member mean to you?

For me, being a NAPNAP member means being a lifelong learner. Early in my pediatric nursing career, I was taught that one of the best ways to promote patient safety is to always practice with a questioning attitude. While the questioning approach is usually centered on patient safety, I’ve taken this idea to heart in other ways. Akin to a preschooler always asking, “Why?” I always strive to consider the multitude of questions within my daily nursing practice, such as “What is the pathophysiology behind this disease?”, “Why am I giving this medication to my patient?” or “Is this the most effective way to provide care?”

Learning is a lifelong process where there are always new ideas, philosophies, research, or abilities. To answer these questions, I must search for knowledge or collaborate with others to learn. As an APRN and member of NAPNAP, I expect to continue my questioning approach by actively engaging in learning, whether by reading the latest evidence-based article, attending conferences, networking, or participating in quality improvement projects and research. NAPNAP has been an integral part of my DNP student journey, and I look forward to participating more as an APRN member.

Describe two events you took part in over the past year and how you benefitted from them?

Last year I attended the NAPNAP conference in Dallas and met a mentor, Dr. Kelly, in person during the conference. She is now serving as a mentor and clinical practice expert on my DNP project. I also learned a lot from the conference and was able to network with PNPs from across the country. Another event I participated in this past year was the Rocky Mountain Chapter’s social event. I was able to network with and meet other PNPs in the Denver metro area.

Do you have any tips for other students who are new members?

My advice to students who are members is to make time to be as involved as you possibly can and to continue networking with your local chapter. I also suggest that students take advantage of attending the annual conferences! There are so many opportunities for learning and growth at conference.

What does being a NAPNAP member mean to you?

Being a NAPNAP member means exploring my gift and talent as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner student and obtaining a foundation of support from future peers. It also serves as a great place to network with peers, explore my specific passions, and provides a place to advocate for our vulnerable youth, and continue to advance my education.

How did you become interested in NAPNAP?

I was looking for an organization to help bring me a closer connection to the profession and give me more insight into what nurse practitioners deal with in their day-to-day work.

Describe two events you took part in over the past year and how you benefitted from them?

I participated in my university’s clinical intensives in August and was able to learn hands on experience in performing critical care procedures. Being a full time student and nurse has not left me much extra time for events. I am attending the NAPNAP conference in March in Orlando and am excited about that.

What does being a NAPNAP member mean to you?

I take pride in being a member of an organization that is dedicated to moving the pediatric focused nurse practitioner forward and shining light on the importance of evolving this profession so that we are more widely recognized.

How did you become interested in NAPNAP?

I first heard about NAPNAP through my instructors in my APRN program talking about how they were involved in NAPNAP. I am in a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program with a Dual Primary/Acute Care specialty. However, I did not actually begin considering joining myself until a preceptor of mine told me about how she was a member. She showed me the NAPNAP website and showed me how there were even student memberships. My preceptor taking me aside and showing me what NAPNAP had to offer was what encouraged me to join.

Describe two events you took part in over the past year and how you benefitted from them?

I joined as a NAPNAP Student Ambassador. In this role, I get to tell other students about what NAPNAP can offer them and encourage others to join NAPNAP. I also got the opportunity to meet virtually with other student ambassadors across the country. Via social media, I also promote infant and child health through sharing NAPNAP’s messaging. This has benefitted me by sharing my passion of pediatric healthcare with others and finding others who share this common passion. I also have been taking some continuing education courses from the PedsCE Course Catalog. However, what I am most excited about is that I plan to attend the NAPNAP Conference in March 2023. It will be my first time attending, and I am excited to learn about what is new in pediatric health care and meet people with similar interests.

Do you have any tips for other students who are new members?

I think my biggest tip for other students who are new members is to dive in. I think it was intimidating for me as a student who is still learning about so many things to join a group of professionals who seem to have it all figured out. Everyone within NAPNAP has been friendly and welcoming to me as a student and also excited to see that I am passionate about learning. Also, even though it may seem to me that everyone else has it all together, NAPNAP is a place where everyone can still learn and grow. As students, we bring that fresh energy and passion for new knowledge.

What does being a NAPNAP member mean to you?

Being a NAPNAP member means being a part of something bigger than myself. I am one piece of a larger puzzle that advocates for pediatric health care and advances knowledge.