Judge-Executive Steve Tribble, on behalf of himself and Hopkinsville Mayor Wendell Lynch, officially proclaimed it National Nurse Practitioner Week in Christian County and Hopkinsville during a small ceremony Wednesday afternoon inside the Christian County Fiscal Court chambers. Jennie Stuart Health spokesman Chris Jung says the Proclamation was read and presented to Mrs. Helen Cayce, and a small group of local Nurse Practitioners that were on hand for the Proclamation.
Jung says, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), this week of celebration — observed this year November 13-19 — is held annually to celebrate those exceptional health care providers, and to remind lawmakers of the importance of removing outdated barriers so nurse practitioners will be allowed to practice to the full extent of their experience and education.
This year, the #NPWeek theme is “NPs: Going the Extra Mile.” For more than half a century, Jung says nurse practitioners have been doing just that — leading the charge to reduce health disparities and ensure that high-quality, person-centered health care is readily accessible to people in communities nationwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurse practitioners have been on the front lines, leading efforts to test, diagnose and treat patients and to prevent the spread of the virus.
President of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)® April N. Kapu says nurse practitioners play a critical role in educating patients on ways to improve their mental and physical well-being. She went on to say as our nation continues to face the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 and works to eliminate health care disparities illuminated by this pandemic, nurse practitioners strengthen our ability to ensure patients have equitable access to high-quality care.
