Congratulations to Debra Fournier – 2024 NHNPA NP of the Year Award Recipient

The New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner Association is proud to announce that Debra Fournier, MHCDS, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC, PMHNP-BC has been named the 2024 Nurse Practitioner of the Year. This prestigious award recognizes Debra for her outstanding leadership, clinical excellence, and relentless advocacy for the role of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in New Hampshire.

Debra currently serves as the Lead Advanced Practice Provider (APP) at New Hampshire Hospital and the Interim Chief APP Officer for the Dartmouth Health Department of Psychiatry. Throughout her distinguished career, she has dedicated herself to supporting APPs in their roles, ensuring that they have the tools and autonomy needed to excel in their practice.

Congratulations to Kristin Hansen – 2024 Advocate of the Year!

The New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner Association is proud to present Kristin Hansen, MSN-APRN, AGPCNP-BC, PMNHP, as the recipient of the 2024 Advocate of the Year Award. This prestigious award honors Kristin’s exceptional contributions to increasing the awareness and recognition of Nurse Practitioners through her leadership, preceptorship, and advocacy in underserved communities.

Kristin, who has been in the nursing field since 1993 and an APRN since 2013, has dedicated her career to providing care to vulnerable populations in rural areas, including veterans and students. She serves as a PMHNP at the Veterans Affairs outpatient clinics and Keene State College, where she also provides mental health counseling and medication management for students. Her advocacy extends to mentoring future Nurse Practitioners, shaping their approach to patient care and leadership in healthcare.

Honoring Joyce Fitch – 2024 NHNPA Lifetime of Service Award Recipient

The New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner Association is proud to present the 2024 Lifetime of Service Award to Joyce Fitch, MS, APRN, FNP-BC, in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to nursing and Nurse Practitioner practice over more than five decades of service.

Joyce has dedicated her career to caring for vulnerable populations, both in New Hampshire and abroad. Starting as a public health nurse in the 1960s, Joyce provided essential care to underserved communities. She went on to become a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and served at the only family practice in Merrimack, NH, where she was a key advocate for patient care and a devoted preceptor, shaping the future of the Nurse Practitioner profession.

We are excited to announce the recipients of the prestigious Claire Martin Memorial Scholarship for this year. This scholarship is awarded in honor of Claire Martin, whose dedication to advancing healthcare and empowering nurse practitioners continues to inspire generations. Claire’s commitment to compassionate care, leadership, and the growth of the nursing profession is reflected in the remarkable accomplishments and aspirations of our 2024 awardees.

Melanie Kapelson

We are excited to announce the recipients of the prestigious Claire Martin Memorial Scholarship for this year. This scholarship is awarded in honor of Claire Martin, whose dedication to advancing healthcare and empowering nurse practitioners continues to inspire generations. Claire’s commitment to compassionate care, leadership, and the growth of the nursing profession is reflected in the remarkable accomplishments and aspirations of our 2024 awardees.

Amy Trembly

We are excited to announce the recipients of the prestigious Claire Martin Memorial Scholarship for this year. This scholarship is awarded in honor of Claire Martin, whose dedication to advancing healthcare and empowering nurse practitioners continues to inspire generations. Claire’s commitment to compassionate care, leadership, and the growth of the nursing profession is reflected in the remarkable accomplishments and aspirations of our 2024 awardees.

Paige Tuttle  

NHNPA Advocacy Update
NHNPA is committed to ensuring that APRNs have a strong voice in Concord through active participation in various legislative commissions, including the Commission to Study Telehealth Services. Through this engagement, we advocate for policies that protect and advance APRN practice and patient access to care across New Hampshire.

During a recent meeting of the Telehealth Commission, NHNPA, alongside key stakeholders such as Bi-State Primary Care Association, the NH Medical Society, and the NH Hospital Association, successfully advocated for the removal of a last-minute recommendation to decouple telehealth reimbursement from the Commission’s final recommendations. This collaboration highlights our commitment to maintaining equitable reimbursement practices for telehealth services in New Hampshire.

NHNPA Shines at AANP Region 1 Meeting

A big thank you to Jillian Belmont, former NHNPA President and NH Liaison to AANP, for representing New Hampshire at the AANP Region 1 meeting. Here’s an update on recent legislative milestones and advocacy efforts for NH NPs:

Governor Sununu Proclaims November 10-16 as Nurse Practitioner Week in New Hampshire

Governor Christopher T. Sununu has officially proclaimed November 10-16, 2024, as Nurse Practitioner (NP) Week in New Hampshire, recognizing the critical contributions NPs make to healthcare across the state. The proclamation highlights NPs' dedication to expanding healthcare access, promoting health equity, and delivering high-quality care. With over 385,000 licensed NPs nationwide, including many serving in New Hampshire, these healthcare providers perform essential services ranging from chronic care management to preventive health counseling. As trusted providers, NPs drive over a billion patient visits annually, underscoring their value to the healthcare system. This proclamation celebrates NPs’ commitment to improving health outcomes and acknowledges their role in building an accessible, efficient, and cost-effective healthcare system for New Hampshire residents.

The New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner Association (NHNPA) invites you to join us for an elegant evening of celebration at the Nightin Gala on November 21st, hosted at the beautiful Bedford Village Inn. This special event will honor the outstanding contributions of Nurse Practitioners across our state and recognize the recipients of the prestigious NHNPA Awards and the Claire Martin Scholarships. 

Secure your tickets now and be part of a night of inspiration, gratitude, and community. Register today to reserve your spot at this unforgettable event!

We are saddened to share that our friend, colleague, mentor and champion, Mary Bidgood-Wilson passed away earlier this week. Mary's work will continue through the efforts of NPs and CNMs in NH and throughout the country.  She was such an inspiration!

Mary has asked for donations to be made in her memory to NHNPA's MBW Leadership Fund. This gift will ensure that Mary's influence on our profession will live on.

• Improve Federal Employees' Timely Access to Health Care for Workplace Injuries.
• Increase Patient Access to High-Quality, NP- and APRN-Provided Health Care by Supporting the ICAN Act.
• Improve Access for Patients Who Need Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Services.
• Improve Medicare Patient Access to Needed Therapeutic Shoes.
• Authorize the Inclusion of NPs’ Patients in Shared Savings Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs).

Consecutive Mondays Nov. 18 & 25, Dec. 2 & 9 @ noon-1:15pm

Virtual Four-Part Series

October 24, 2024 @ 3:10pm-3:55pm ET

Virtual Presentation

October 21, 2024 @ noon-1pm ET

Virtual Presentation

The attached NH Health Alert Network (HAN) message contains key points and recommendations, situational updates, background information, and reporting requirements on an important health topic. For any questions regarding the contents of this message, please contact NH DHHS-DPHS, Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at 603-271-4496 (after hours 603-271-5300). To change your contact information in the NH Health Alert Network, send an email to [email protected].

 Thank you,

September 17, 2024 @ 6:45pm-7:45pm
Bedford Village Inn - Bedford, NH

Title: Treating Asthma Symptoms With Rescue: Myths vs Facts
Speakers: Priya Bansal, Stephen Brunton & Cedric "Jamie" Rutland

September 26, 2024 @ 6pm ET

110 Grill Manchester, Manchester - NH