About Us
FROM THE BEGINNING…….UNTIL NOW
In February 1984, nurse practitioners from the Tri-Cities Tennessee area met to discuss issues, protocols, impending legislation, peer review, and how to increase public awareness of the role of nurse practitioners. This group decided on the focus of meetings and continued to meet every couple of months for about two years. During this time period, many issues regarding NP practice were being looked at by the Tennessee legislators. NPs were allowed to write prescriptions, but were restricted to a site approved by the Primary Care Advisory Board. This board consisted mainly of physicians and NP protocols were mailed to and approved by that group.
In April 1992, the local nurse practitioners reconvened and began the group that is now known as the Northeast Tennessee Nurse Practitioner Association (NETNPA). The focus of the group was to share professional information and experiences, discuss issues, socialize and provide educational programs. At this time the Tennessee Nurses Association (TNA) was looking at legislation lifting the site restriction for prescription writing, formularies, and rules for nurse practitioner physician supervision.
Initially, the NETNPA met every other month. Interest from NPs in the organization, coupled with developing support from pharmaceutical companies, enabled the group to move toward regular monthly meetings. In 1993, the NETNPA group initiated annual membership dues. Nurse practitioner students are welcome to become members of this professional organization and reduced membership dues has encouraged their participation.
The first official newsletter was mailed in May, 1995. By-laws were patterned after the by-laws for the TNA Advanced Practice Council Operative Rules and adopted in June 1995. In the fall of 2001, the NETNPA began offering and annual conference for NPs and PAs in the East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia area. This conference has provided expert and timely educational opportunities for primary care and specialty practitioners, offering continuing education credits for participation. Several scholarships have been awarded to a nurse practitioner student.
The NETNPA is still involved in legislative issues through several initiatives. The group has provided annual support of TN-PAC, arranges regular joint discussion between the area legislators and nurse practitioners about issues of concern to advanced practice nurses, and regularly reports on legislative issues, meetings, and communications at the NETNPA meetings.
The current monthly meetings of the NETNPA focus on an educational topic of interest. Some of the
educational offerings are accredited for continuing education and are provided at no charge to members.
The NETNPA is a professional organization for advanced practice nurses and welcomes physician assistants and NP and PA students to its membership.
