Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are formal groups within NONPF formed for the purpose of providing additional opportunities for participation within the organization and networking among faculty.  SIGs facilitate communication within the organization on topics of interest to members.  As well, they provide a ready list of identified members with an interest and expertise in a particular area.  Members of NONPF can join SIGs for $15 each.  Please see the Membership page for more information on joining SIGs. 

For an overview of the NONPF SIG structure click here.
 

Chairperson: Ramona Benkert

Co-chairperson: Doris Ballard-Ferguson

Description: The Academic Nursing Center SIG addresses issues related to the growth and sustainability of academic nursing centers (ANCs) and discusses other related topics for faculty.  This SIG organized a preconference session at the NONPF 2004 annual meeting.

Key Issues:
1.  Sustainability - fiscal stability, operational issues, patient caseloads and profiles - of ANCs.
2.   Balancing the mission of the ANC with the need to be financially stable when financial support from schools of nursing and other sources is unreliable.
3.   The need for a common ANC database and data repository.

Members: Doris Ballard-Ferguson, Ramona Benkert, Beth Bolick, Gerri Collins-Bride, Katherine Dontje, Megan Eagle, Kathryn Fiandt, Rebecca Garcia-Michels, Nancy George, Susan Grove, Margaret Hartig, Melinda Jenkins, Colleen Keenan, Ellen Long-Middleton, Jean Nagelkerk, Jamesetta Newland, Joanne Pohl, Ann L. Pron, Rose Saldivar, Patricia Schaffer, Naomi Shapiro, Karin L. Schurrer-Erickson, Linda Sullivan, Martha Swartz, Deborah Vincent, Kaen Wolf, Judy Wright

Description: The Acute Care SIG is a special interest group that addresses issues related to Acute Care Nurse Practitioner education and practice.  This SIG did preliminary work in identifying entry-level competencies and has served as a resource to the National Panel currently finalizing consensus-based competencies for the Acute Care NP.

Key Issues:
1. Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Specialty Competencies: The National Panel has completed the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty competencies, a project spearheaded by the ACNP SIG and facilitated by NONPF.  The Acute Care SIG is now working to promote dissemination, implementation and evaluation of the competencies.
2.  The Acute Care SIG is extending efforts to increase Acute Care NP faculty presence at the national meeting, and increase educational offerings and posters relevant to Acute Care NP education and practice.

Members:  Michelle Beauchesne, Linda Briggs, Richard Brown, Natalie Burkhalter, Phyllis Collins, Susan J. Corbridge, Mary Ann Dumas, Margaret Fitzgerald, Brian Graves, Lygia Holcomb, Marilyn Hravnak, Jean Ivey, Therese Jamison, Cynthia Kociszewski, Kerry Kosmoski-Goepfert, Gail Lis, Kathy Magdic, Sheila Melander, Geralyn Ochs, Ted Rigney, Mary Schira, Linda Sikora, Frances Strodtbeck, Carol Lynn Thompson, Theresa Wadas, Marjorie Webb

Description: The Distance Learning SIG addresses issues related to the development and design of NP distance learning programs, innovations in technology, and informatics for NP practice.  This SIG developed the Guidelines for Distance Learning in Nurse Practitioner Education and organized a preconference session at the NONPF 2002 annual meeting.

Key Issues:
1.  Creating a common definition of distance learning
2.  Developing a mentoring system to assist faculty developing new distance learning programs and a course to teach the basics of distance teaching/learning
3.  Accruing information on various methods of distance learning
4.  Exploring issues of authorship and intellectual property
5.  Developing a directory of NP programs that offer distance learning

Members:

Cheryl Ahern – Lehmann, Marilyn Albert, Cathy Arvidson, Barbara Berner, Mary Ann Best, Deborah Booton – Hiser, Andrea Brassard, Linnea Carlson – Sabelli, Debbie Ciesielka, Denise Coppa, Carla Dieter, Sharon Ewing, Catherine Ferrario, Margaret Fitzgerald, Barbara A. Hoglund, Jennie Humbert, Catherine Jennings, Barbara A. Johnston, Catherine Juve, Veronica Kane, Jane Kass-Wolf, Marilyn Lauria, Judy L. Leflore, Julie Marfell, Donna Behler McArhur, Mary B. Neiheisel, Mary Nichols, Geralyn Ochs, Eileen Owen-Williams, Leigh Ann Poole, Lorraine M. Reiser, Lenore K. Resick, Jacqueline Rhoads, Marla Roesemann, Maureen Ryan, Sharon Stark, Aruna Mary Thampy, Julee Waldrop, Sherry Ward, Janet M. Wills, Mari J. Wirfs

Description: The topics of interest include issues such as giving bad news, advance directives, hospice, palliative care, symptom management, spirituality, family and interdisciplinary communication and care. End of life issues arise with all age groups and yet little has been included in curricula for NP students on end of life.

Key Issues:
1.  Disseminate ELNEC training to interested NP faculty and assist faculty with resources for teaching strategies and materials as they include end of life training in their programs.
2.  Propose a pre-conference on end of life issues for the annual conference in 2006
3.  Ethical issues regarding end of life in early Alzheimer's disease, placement issues for elderly including hospice care and palliative care, and family communication regarding death of a child

Members:  

Geraldine Abbatiello, Deanna L. Babb, Candace Berardinelli, M. Katherine Crabtree,

Alice E. Conway, Sharon Dudley – Brown, Deborah Dunn, Sharon Ewing, Pamela Fordham,

Lois Hamel, Dana Hansen, Cherri Hicks, Minnie Gail Hill, Cynthia Kociszewski, Ruth Palan Lopez, Lori Martin – Plank, Craig R. Seller, Margaret Wells, Lynn Wimett 

Description: The Gerontological Nurse Practitioner SIG addresses issues related to gerontological content for NPs and the GNP role.  This SIG held its first meeting in April 2004.

Key Issues:
1.  Explore opportunities for networking among faculty of GNP programs.
2.  Foster greater marketing of GNP programs to potential APN students.
3.  Enhance liaison with the National Conference of Gerontological Nurse Practitioners (NCGNP).

Members:

Carolyn Auerhahn, Patricia Coleman, Virginia Lee Cora, Laurie Dodge, Evelyn Duffy, Julie Eggert, M.J. Henderson, Shelley Huffstutler, Michaelene Jansen, Kathleen Jett, Patricia Kappas – Larson,

Laurie Kennedy – Malone, Catharine Kopac, Irma Lara, Elizabeth Macera, Mary B. Neiheisel, Sue Poilio,  Sharon Stark, Ruth Staus, Lynn Wimett, M. Catherine Wollman, Jean Wyman

Chairperson: Patricia Krauskopf

Co-Chairperson: Dale Allison

Description:  The International SIG is a group of national and international faculty involved in APN education, research and practice in the global nursing community. The members of this group focus on collaborating across borders, oceans and continents in an effort to enhance the preparation of APNs in their own nation. The overall goal is to facilitate dialogue about global health issues that affect education and practice of the APN in the international community through the sharing of ideas, materials, methods, outcomes and contextual or collegial exchange.  The SIG collaborates closely with the Global Advancement Committee.
 
Key Issues:
1. International APN education, research and practice
2. APN program guidelines for improved global health care
3. Collaboration and collegial exchange to enhance APN preparation

Members:

Amy J. Arthur, Michelle Beauchesne, Mary Burman, Jane Dimmitt Champion, Anne Chien,

Sarah Sheets Cook, Susan Denman, Suzanne Doucette, Elizabeth Downes, Sharon Dudley – Brown, Margaret Fitzgerald, Rosemary Goodyear, Elaine Gustafson, Charlene M. Hanson, Gene Harkless,

M.J. Henderson, Cynthia Hornberger, Polly Hulme, Anita Hunter, Karen Ivantic – Doucette, Catherine Jennings, Gayla Jewell, Patricia Kappas – Larson, Laima Karosas, Lori Martin – Plank, Sharon McGuire, Renee P. McLeod, Linda Nasir, Patrice Nicholas, Joanne Pohl, Bill Powell, Randolph Rasch, Doris Rosenow, Maureen Ryan,Sharon Schulling, Lorna Schumann, Barbara Sheer, Eric Staples, Lynn Stringer, Aruna Mary Thampy, Charlotte Torres, Paula Grace Tropello

Description: The Program Director SIG addresses issues related to program administration and funding and other related topics.  This SIG held its first meeting in April 2004.

Key Issues:
1.  Program Requirements and Competencies
2.  Faculty shortage and need for qualified faculty
3.  Fluctuating enrollment

Members: 

Janyce Cagan Agruss, Dale M. Allison, Louise Autio, Doris Ballard – Ferguson, Claudia Barone,

Kathleen Lent Becker, Dorie Beres, Judi Berry, Deborah Booton – Hiser, Mary E. Bowen,

Margaret Brackley, Chris Bray, Debra J. Brown, Alice E. Conway, Cynthia Darling – Fisher,

Janice Unruh Davidson, Felicitas A. Dela Cruz, Susan Farbermann, Donna Freeborn, Donna Hodnicki,

Susan Houde, Alicia Huckstadt, Susan Instone, Margaret Jopp, Teri Kaul, Colleen Keenan, Jean Kelley,

Laurie Kennedy – Malone, Farideh Khoiny, Kathleen M. Lamaute, Kathleen B. LaSala, Diane Lauver,

Ricki S. Loar, Julie Marfell, Jean Martin, Kristy Martyn, Carolyn Maynard, Renee P. McLeod, Emily Merrill, Bobbi Meyer, Alvita K. Nathaniel,Bonnie Nesbitt, Victoria Niederhauser, Nancy O’Connor, Joanne Pohl, Rosanne Pruitt, Randolph Rasch, Loretta Reinhart, Jacqueline Rhoads, Melinda E. Rush, Patricia Smart, Elizabeth Stullenbarger, Linda Sullivan, Anne Thomas, Deborah Walker, Veronica Wilbur, Mari J. Wirfs

Chairperson: Margaret Brackley

Description: The Psychiatric Mental Health Special Interest Group addresses issues related to Psychiatric-Mental health nurse practitioner education and practice.  This SIG initiated development of the PMHNP competencies, served as a resource to the National Panel that identified the consensus-based competencies, and organized a symposium on implementation of the competencies for the NONPF 2004 annual meeting.

Key Issues:
1.  Discussion of CNS as PMHNP
2.  Regulatory issues regarding what states expect if you carry the NP designation versus the CNS.
3.  Questions regarding content of post-masters programs for NPs who wish to become PMHNPs, as well as for PsychCNSs' who wish to become PMHNP
4.  Current ANCC certification for Family PMHNP requirements
5.  Accreditation issues related to CCNE adopting the Criteria for Evaluation

Members: 

Geraldine Abbatiello, Susan M. Adams, Merry Armstrong, Linda Beeber, Sharon Bennett,

Andrea Bostrom, Margaret Brackley, Linnea Carlson – Sabelli, Rebecca Carreon, Jeanne Cartier,

Margery Chisholm, Ann Marie Collins, Geraldine Collins – Bride, Kathleen Delaney, Janyce Dyer,

Margaret Fitzgerald, Belva Gonzalez, Janice Goodman, Judith Haber, Nelda New, Ann L. O’Sullivan, Beth Phoenix, Joanne Pohl, Ester Ruiz, Deborah Shelton, Rebekah Shephard, Diane Snow, Mark Soucy, Gail Ray Springer, Sandra Talley, Joan Thomas, Mary Vincenz, Kathleen Wheeler 

National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF)
1522 K Street, NW, Ste. 702
Washington, DC 20005
tel: (202) 289-8044 ● fax: (202) 289-8046
nonpf@nonpf.org

President: Joanne Pohl, PhD, APRN, BC, FAAN