U.S. Congress Recognizes National Nurse Practitioner Week, November 7-13

    AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States House of
 Representatives recently honored the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
 (AANP) and National Nurse Practitioner Week in a concurrent resolution
 (HConRes500) introduced by Congressman Michael C. Burgess (R - Flower Mound).
     "It is a great honor for nurse practitioners to be recognized by the
 United States Congress.  As the number of nurse practitioners increases, so
 does public awareness of the significant contributions made by this group of
 dedicated healthcare professionals," said Dr. Judith Dempster, executive
 director of AANP.  "Nurse practitioners have differentiated themselves from
 other clinicians by focusing on the whole person when treating specific health
 problems, as well as educating the patient on the effects those problems will
 have on them."
     More and more consumers are choosing nurse practitioners as their partner
 in health because, in addition to providing high-quality primary, acute and
 specialty healthcare, nurse practitioners empower patients to maintain and
 improve their health by providing individualized and comprehensive health
 education and counseling.  Nurse practitioners focus on promoting health and
 preventing disease, which can reduce healthcare cost for patients.
     "Nurse practitioners fill a vital role in American's healthcare system.
 There are over 106,000 nurse practitioners providing high-quality care around
 the nation, and they are especially important in rural and underserved areas,"
 said Congressman Burgess, a physician practicing in Lewisville, Tx.  "I have
 worked with nurse practitioners and certainly I learned a great deal more from
 them than I was ever able to teach them."
 
     About AANP
     The AANP was founded in 1985 and is the largest, full-service national
 professional organization for nurse practitioners of all specialties.  With
 more than 17,500 individual members and 100 group members, AANP represents the
 interests of approximately 90,000 nurse practitioners around the country.
 AANP continually advocates for the active role of nurse practitioners as
 providers of high-quality, cost-effective, personalized healthcare.  For more
 information about AANP, visit http://www.aanp.org .
 
      AANP: 504
      Contact:
      Nancy McMurrey
      Dir. Of Communications
      (512) 276-5906
 
 

SOURCE  American Academy of Nurse Practitioners