On March 19, we celebrate Certified Nurses Day, a worldwide day of recognition that celebrates nursing specialty, subspecialty and advanced practice certification. As part of this year's celebration of Certified Nurses Day, we talked to Audrey Looman, who was a tireless advocate for the recognition and certification of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, which led HANCB to develop an AIDS Certified Licensed Practical Nurse certification. We now offer self-directed online modules as part of the ACLPN, ACRN and AACRN certification process.  

I graduated from Grand Rapids Community College in 1991 and was licensed as a practical nurse (LPN) the same year and began working in hospice and oncology. During the 80s and 90s, the public was becoming aware of HIV/AIDS. People were afraid, nurses didn't want to care of people with AIDS due to fear of "catching it" and passing it onto their families. But my position was, if a person met the criteria, they deserved the quality end of life care and death with dignity we promised to all patients. Home of Hope, a hospice residence specifically designed for AIDS patients was created and I was the first LPN hired there.  

My certification means a great deal to me. I come from an era when not much stock was placed in LPNs. I became aware that there was a hospice certification program for RNs but not LPNs. After many emails and phone calls, I was about to give up trying to call attention to this, but then I was notified that a new program for LPNs had started. I was a Certified Hospice Licensed Practical Nurse for 12 years. For many years, I also advocated for an LPN HIV/AIDS certification through HANCB and am happy to see they have created a certification for LPN/LVNs. I was thrilled to be the first to receive this certification. We play an important role in HIV nursing and I encourage my fellow LPNs to get certified. 

While it started with hospice care for AIDS patients, I also became aware of a new organization for nurses - ANAC! I became a charter member of the West Michigan ANAC chapter and it was a great support system. I am extremely grateful for my association with ANAC. It has given me experiences I would otherwise never have had. Our ANAC chapter put on several presentations about AIDS to inform the public and I was honored to visit Honduras three times with ANAC friends Chris Frederick, RN, and David Sterken, RN. Chris started a home for kids with AIDS who had no where to live because people were afraid of their HIV/AIDS diagnoses and abandoned them. During my three trips, I helped the staff review their hospice philosophy, presented to local hospital staff and the public and spent some time rocking babies on the top of a mountain.

I learned that if you want something badly enough you have to fight for it and that it is OUR job/duty to take care of our fellow man. I believe it is important to "do unto others" and to "do small things with great love."