Celebrating the Achievements of APRNs

Cleveland Clinic has more than 1,000 advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and like other hospitals, the healthcare organization will celebrate those dedicated individuals during National Nurse Practitioner Week in mid-November. “The advanced practice nurse is a growing role in healthcare,” says Meredith Lahl, MSN, PCNS-BC, PPCNP-BC, CPON, Executive Director/ACNO of Advanced Practice Nursing at Cleveland Clinic. “It’s important that these providers are recognized not only by the organizations they work for, but also by consumers, patients and families who receive high-quality care from advanced practice registered nurses.”

APRNs at Cleveland Clinic work in four roles: certified nurse practitioner (CNP), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) and certified nurse midwife (CNM). “During National Nurse Practitioner Week, we will recognize all of those roles, as well as individuals within those roles and how they contribute to healthcare delivery,” says Lahl.

Cleveland Clinic has several events and activities planned for the week, including the following:

• Educational events – The healthcare organization will hold a free one-hour, continuing education session on APRN law, including the role of APRNs and legal and ethical implications of their work.
• An online contest – APRNs who correctly solve the online quiz will be entered into a prize drawing.
• Social networking – Several events are planned, including a tailgating party before a Cleveland Browns game and a wine and painting party.
• Essay contest – APRNs can submit an essay describing their role, and the person voted to have the best essay will be invited to a small group lunch with Cleveland Clinic Executive Chief Nursing Officer K. Kelly Hancock, DNP, RN, NE-BC.

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners offers a resource guide for planning a celebratory week for APRNs. It’s not too late to line up activities, says Lahl. “Any type of recognition is so important, even if it’s just individual emails to providers thanking them for the work they do,” she says. Cleveland Clinic leaders, including the chief of staff, CEO and chairs of various departments, send cards and emails to APRNs, and banners will be hung in prominent areas.

“Cleveland Clinic is truly supportive of these roles and is growing them,” says Lahl. “It’s a testament to our organization that the growth we’ve had is because of support at the highest level.” That support is on display not only during National Nurse Practitioner Week, but all year-round.