Seeking the Upside of a Downturn through NAPNAP Unification

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• Linda L. Lindeke, PhD, RN, CPNP, President and Fellow

Did the title of this column catch your attention? Good! As president, I urgently want NAPNAP members to read this column and respond to its issues and challenges.

NAPNAP Board and staff members currently are engaged in a deep process of setting the organization's strategic direction to ensure that decisions are aligned with its mission and goals. Be sure to attend the Business Meeting and the Town Hall Forum at the March San Diego Conference to get details about the plans and provide your input. But don't wait until then; send me an e-mail message at any time at president@napnap.org. Your voice is important to this process.

Troubling national and global financial downturns form a backdrop to this planning process. Had this strategic alignment work concluded in mid 2008 before the gloomy economic reports, perhaps the outcome might be somewhat different—but probably not. NAPNAP has stayed true to the original focus of the organization: promoting optimal health for children through leadership, practice, advocacy, education, and research. In downturns as well as in boom times, NAPNAP must stay focused on this primary mission. Member and societal constraints only make our mission more urgent. So, more than ever, your membership support and active participation are needed. The five specific goals of NAPNAP remain:

Have you heard the phrase, “Nursing is recession-proof”? Clearly, nursing care needs increase in economically distressed times. People neglect their health until conditions are severe, funds are cut from health and welfare safety net programs, and numbers of uninsured typically rise. So, “nursing is recession-proof” from a demand perspective; however, nurses do experience layoffs, and health systems face budget cuts and other constraints. We live in challenging times!

Is NAPNAP recession-proof? It has to be! Economic downturns heighten the urgency for policy advocacy, member support, dissemination of accurate information, and PNP/APN role enhancement. Thus, for the sake of the children we serve and for our members’ well-being, NAPNAP must remain strong!

In the past 36 years, NAPNAP has grown to 48 chapters and more than 7000 members. Its state, regional, and national activities are far-reaching and include activism in Congress and legislatures, partnerships with nursing groups and other professional groups, projects with key industry partners, and member support in multiple forms: publication, continuing education, employment opportunities, networking for problem-solving, and innumerable leadership opportunities. NAPNAP's 2009 Strategic Directions Plan focuses on those goals (see Figure).

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  Draft: NAPNAP strategic direction and programs. Draft revisions: October 25, 2008. © 2008 National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.

One major project is the Unification Project entitled “NAPNAP: One United Voice.”

The Unification initiative implements NAPNAP's strategic directions by strengthening NAPNAP chapters and enhancing national projects. Chapter autonomy is a key reason for NAPNAP's success. That autonomy will be enhanced through unification because officers will be able to focus on chapter activities rather than on member tracking, dues collection, and reporting of chapter members; National Office staff will provide some of the services and processes related to member recruitment and tracking that can be time-consuming and tedious. It is essential that every chapter tells the Board about their experiences and provides recommendations for continued strengthening of our organization and membership. The outcome will be worth the effort of this transition. NAPNAP will work hard to inform members about their state's legislative activities and continue to provide the federal perspective we have provided in the past. We plan to continue to expand and enhance resources and services to all members and chapters. Change is never a straightforward process; however, careful planning, clear communication, and ongoing support enhanced by the technology now available will ensure that this is a win-win process improvement.

As you decide about your spending and volunteer priorities, please make NAPNAP your No. 1 professional priority! The health of children, the well-being of families, and the continued success of the PNP/APN role need your active membership and support. NAPNAP has multiple layers of participation. It has remained true to its vision. It is flexible and has focus. It continues to ride the waves of change to serve you and children better.