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Psychiatric Mental Health NP Program, Barbara Rouleau Preceptor Award and more...

Posted about 5 years ago by Michelle Wade

In this newsletter:

  • Your help needed on allocation of funds to the UVM Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Program
  • Nominations invited for the Barbara Rouleau Preceptor Award
  • FREE AANP Conference Registration – still time to apply! 

UVM Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Program

The Vermont Senate Health and Welfare Committee is in the process of considering funds to re-open the University of Vermont Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Program.  A portion of the Tobacco Settlement funds have been designated to support increasing the mental/behavioral health workforce. With recognition of the dire need for PMHNPs and psychiatrists, UVM was offered the opportunity to apply for these funds.  Through this funding UVM would be able to offer students a tuition-free post graduate Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) in PMHNP. 

Please consider contacting the members of the Committee in support of this funding. A pre-written script is provided for your convenience. Please add your personal identification as indicated and can also add any comments or patient stories to illustrate the dire need in our communities. We hoping that you also copy your district house member as well.  Responses are needed now, as the Committee will consider this early next week. Time is of utmost importance to notify them prior to or at the beginning of the post recess session which begins on Tuesday 3/12.  If you have any questions, please contact Deborah Wachtel at  dwachtel@med.uvm.edu

Dear Senator  __________,

My name is ________ and I am a resident of _________. I am a primary care nurse practitioner and practice at _________, where I see patients. I witness firsthand the impact that the opioid epidemic and mental health crisis has on my patients on a daily basis. Your committee is currently considering appropriating money to the University of Vermont to reopen its Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program. This funding, and the subsequent reopening of the program would allow NPs currently practicing in Vermont to add an additional psychiatric level of certification, which they could bring back to apply in their current practice. Currently our patients in need of mental health and or addiction treatment must often travel out of the community or go without this important – sometimes lifesaving - care.  

Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely, 

Sen. Virginia "Ginny" Lyons, Committee Chair, Chittenden County, vlyons@leg.state.vt.us

Sen. Dick McCormack, Committee Vice Chair, Windsor County, rmccormack@leg.state.vt.us

Sen. Debbie Ingram, Chittenden County, DIngram@leg.state.vt.us

Sen. Ann Cummings, Washington County, acummings@leg.state.vt.us

Sen. Richard Westman, Orleans County, rwestman@leg.state.vt.us

You can find contact information for your local representatives here: https://legislature.vermont.gov

Barbara Rouleau Preceptor Award

We invite your nominations for the Barbara Rouleau Preceptor Award.  Named for Dr. Barbara Rouleau, this award recognizes the contributions of an outstanding preceptor and their impact on nurse practitioner students and future nurse leaders. Barb was a compassionate clinician, a patient mentor, a talented educator, a generous colleague, and a dear friend to numerous colleagues. She was a clinical assistant professor in the University of Vermont Department of Nursing and a nurse practitioner in the UVM College of Nursing and Health Sciences faculty practice at Appletree Bay Primary Care.

Please nominate a preceptor who:

  • Is a nurse practitioner who served in a preceptor capacity for NP students in Vermont between April, 2018 and April, 2019;
  • Demonstrates a commitment to effective clinical teaching, mentoring, evaluation, and student growth. This may include:  demonstrating creative teaching methods; opening their practice to students frequently; helping to organize activities that benefit student learning; working closely with the students' academic program/s;
  • Nominees do not need to be VNPA members.

To send a nomination, please send an email to VermontNP@gmail.com with the following information:

  1. Your name
  2. Your email and phone contact info
  3. Name of the NP Preceptor you are nominating
  4. Contact info for nominated NP
  5. Name of the practice/s where this NP precepts students
  6. Tell us in a few sentences how this nominee demonstrate excellence as a preceptor and why they should be recognized for their clinical teaching

The Awards Committee will review all nominations and select the recipient. The 2019 Barbara Rouleau Preceptor award recipient will be honored at the VNPA Conference which will be held April 4-5, in Stowe, Vermont. Please send nominations not later than Monday, March 25.

Win a FREE AANP Conference Registration – Deadline Sunday, March 17

CE funds running low? Wishing you could attend the National AANP Conference in Indianapolis this year? VNPA has one free conference registration to give to a VNPA member! 

Send an email to VermontNP@gmail.com, let us know why you want to join us in Indianapolis, and how you would benefit from a free conference registration.  

We will pick one lucky winner on March 17 - just one week away so don't delay!

Please note: this applies to the conference registration only. It does not include airfare or accommodation. The recipient will be responsible for their own travel and housing. 

For more details about the conference visit the AANP website.