NAPNAP National Conference Recap
The 45th annual NAPNAP National Conference recently wrapped up in beautiful Denver, CO. This event hosted more than 80 sessions covering a wide variety of pediatric topics with an estimated 100 hours of CEU's available. The Greater Texas Chapter of NAPNAP was able to provide scholarships for two members to attend this year. Check out what Rashidat had to say and how her experience can inspire you to go ahead and start planning on attending next year!
"How I enjoyed it……..45th NAPNAP conference in Denver, Colorado.
It was a great honor to win one of the scholarships being offered by the Greater Texas Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) to be able to physically attend the conference that took place in Denver, Colorado the week of March 13. With this being my first ever NAPNAP conference, I was very excited and also worried about what to expect. From the moment I stepped into the convention center, I could feel the energy and excitement of like-minded professionals eager to share knowledge and expertise in pediatric care. The conference was well organized, programs and locations were printed in a detailed format. The room numbers and locations of daily events were easy to find. There was a variety of different topics you can choose to attend. First timers were recognized with a sticker that is attachable to your badge. There was a lineup of speakers, workshops, and networking opportunities; all tailored to address the unique challenges and advancement within the realm of Pediatric Healthcare. One of the highlights of the conference was the summary of the keynote speaker, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho. She encouraged health care providers to make use of all the resources we have in this country to the fullest and stand up to fight for the health and wellbeing of the children and their families. Furthermore, the caliber of speakers was exceptional. Their engaging presentations not only imparted knowledge but also inspired providers to strive for excellence in their various practices. From discussing the latest research findings, sharing personal experiences, or offering practical tips for improving patient outcomes, each session was full of lots of useful nuggets to take home. In conclusion, the NAPNAP conference was an informative experience that equipped me with the knowledge and inspiration to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and their families. I arrived back in Dallas, TX feeling eager to apply what I learned to enhance the growth of Pediatric Healthcare.
Thank you NAPNAP! Thank you, Greater Texas Chapter, of NAPNAP.
Rashidat Babalola"
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NAPNAP Board
2023-2024
President:
Ashlyn Coenraad
Past President:
Julianne Doucette
President Elect:
Joyce Henry
Treasurer:
Melissa Rowles
Secretary:
Sara Moore
Continuing Education Chair:
Quanica Darden
Legislative Chair:
Cathy Lux
Membership Chair:
Shabina Walji-Virani
Newsletter Chair:
Lindsey Clark
Technology Chair:
Susan Akberzie
Public Relations Chair:
Terry Willey
Nominations Chair:
Samantha Kilgore
Pharmville Conference
Co-Chair:
Joyce Henry
Pharmville Conference
Co-Chair:
Alison Bray
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NAPNAP Board Open Positions
2024-2025
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Our next newsletter will feature our new board members for the 2024-2025 year. We are still looking for someone interested in the role of President-Elect. This position is a progression over 3 years. The first year is spent learning from the current President on how to master the role. The second year, this position transitions into the role of President. As the final duty, this position moves into a supportive role for the next president who has shadowed you the previous year. This position has been held by some incredible leaders in the past and had been coordinated to ensure the next leader of our chapter experiences nothing but success.
We are also still looking for a student representative from UTA. If either of these roles interest you, or you have any questions, please reach out using the link below.
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CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP OUTREACH
If you have any friends or colleagues who are not currently a member of the Greater Texas Chapter of NAPNAP, now is the time to encourage the to join and get involved in all the great things this chapter is doing. This chapter is also a great place for students to get involved early and begin networking before they ever start independent practice. The Greater Texas Chapter advocates for advanced practice providers serving the pediatric population in our state, provides continuing education opportunities for members and organizes several community service projects throughout the year. Any students interested in learning how they can get involved are encouraged contact us using the link below.
NAPNAP STUDENTS
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Chapter Continuing Education:
June 25, 2024:
Topic: Passive Neurological exams Virtual
September 24, 2024
Topic: Tube Feed Intolerance in Enterally Fed Patients Location: Kirby’s Steakhouse in Southlake
December 3, 2024
Topic: Respiratory Illness Location: TBD
Check the discussion board on our website for updates on chapter meetings and events!
46th National Conference on Pediatric Healthcare:
March 10-13, 2025
Next years conference will be held in Chicago, IL on March 10-13, 2025 with a pre-conference day on March 9th.
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No matter where we practice, we are the experts in pediatric health care that those around us look to for guidance. It is so important that we remember to emphasize water safety this time of year at every possible opportunity. Drowning is the number one killer of toddlers ages 1-4 after birth defects.
In an effort to lessen these harsh statistics, one of our community service projects as the Greater Texas NAPNAP Chapter, is to fund swimming lessons for underprivileged children in the DFW area each Summer.
For a host of resources you can utilize in practice, home, school, church, or community outreach, click the link below.
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SHAC SYMPOSIUM 2024
Lindsey Clark, a pediatric nurse practitioner and Greater Texas NAPNAP member, serves as a member of the Student Health Advisory Council within the North Lamar Independent School District in Paris, TX where she lives, practices, and is an active parent of two NLISD students. This advisory committee recently developed a Student Healthy Activity Choices Symposium 2024. This symposium was created as an active hands on learning experience for high school students to dive into practical tips, tricks, and advice on how to live healthier lifestyles to improve their mood, class performance, athletic performance, and their positive impact on their Lamar County community.
There were 62 students invited in this SHAC Symposium 2024 pilot program. The objective of this program was to provide easy to apply changes to daily routines that kids can implement and share with friends and family that help them overcome bad habits, understand unhealthy trends, discover ways to make healthy motion fun, and how to have a better and more positive outlook on life and relationships. The 8 stations students worked through included Effective Techniques for Stretching and Mobility, Basics of Resistance Training, The Effects of Energy Drinks, Resilience Training, Vaping and You, Healthy snacks and Game Day Dining, and Stop the Bleed.
Lindsey developed one of the stations that was titled "Resilience, The Ability to Handle Life's Adversities Without Letting Them Wreck You." The focus of this station provided strategies on getting through tough times and coming out stronger on the other side. While most booths focused on physical health, this one targeted mental health and students were able to discuss some of the adversities they face while going over the recipe for resilience an even were able to put together a resilience salad by adding ingredients for resiliency that were each represented by candy. Overall the feedback from students was positive and once the feedback gathered through a QR code is reviewed, there will be discussions on how to improve this event for next year.
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For questions, comments, research, or other story ideas that you think would be great for our quarterly newsletter, please reach out to Lindsey Clark at lindsey.clark2207@gmail.com |
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