NEW YORK, June 17, 2024 – The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) has announced the third and final phase of their NAPNAP Cares program, an extensive library of online continuing education (CE) courses focused on pediatric mental health. First launched in June 2023, NAPNAP Cares strengthens the skills and expertise of pediatric-focused nurse practitioners (PNPs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to provide vital mental and behavioral health care for pediatric patients.
“One year after launching, NAPNAP Cares remains dedicated to providing expert-developed continuing education related to children’s mental health and promoting positive patient outcomes,” says NAPNAP President Regena Spratling, PhD, RN, APRN, CPNP-PC, FAANP, FAAN. “With the addition of new courses, NAPNAP Cares continues to equip PNPs and APRNs with the tools they need to deliver effective, patient-centered care.”
NAPNAP is committed to providing NAPNAP Cares for free to members until June 2025 thanks to the generosity of our Acute Care, Adolescent Health Care, Childhood Obesity, Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs, Developmental Behavioral and Mental Health, Pediatric Emergency Care, and School-based Health Care special interest groups, and the courses remain available for purchase by non-members. New course topics include genetic disorders, bipolar and related disorders, and obsessive-compulsive and tic disorders, among many others. In addition to a comprehensive set of recorded sessions and online resources, individuals have access to course presenters for additional questions — enabling PNPs and APRNs to chart their learning path at their own pace.
“We have seen over 6,000 enrollments since launching last year, highlighting the value that NAPNAP Cares brings to PNPs and APRNs,” says James H. Wendorf, NAPNAP Executive Director. “The comprehensive nature of NAPNAP Cares is helping providers deliver better mental and behavioral health care for the children they serve.”
The next 10 courses are available now, along with the first phases of 20 courses.