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The Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners is the professional organization representing the 6,000 NPs in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioner's (PCNP) was formed
in the early 80's by three nurse practitioners. They first met to discuss
issues affecting NPs. The goal was to be proactive rather than reactive
to issues affecting NPs and the citizens of the Commonwealth of PA. These
NPs represented several regional groups across Pennsylvania. In February
of 1996 there were seven regional groups and in 2005 there are seventeen
regional groups, with more in the process of forming. In November 2003,
PCNP incorporated as a member-based organization. Members of the regional
groups are also members of the state organization (PCNP). There are also
members-at-large, who do not belong to a particular regional group. The
current regional groups include: Berks, Blair Regional, Bucks/Mont, Central PA, Ches/Mont,
DEL VAL NAPNAP, Greater Susquehanna Valley, Lancaster, Laurel Highlands,
Lehigh Valley, Mid-State, Monroe, Northeastern PA, Northwestern PA, Philadelphia,
Pine Creek, Southern Chester County, Southwestern PA, Tri County, and Three Rivers
NAPNAP. The regional groups have their own officers and conduct meetings
in their areas. In addition to the PCNP officers, a member from each
regional group sits on the Executive Board of PCNP.
Through the early years, representatives of these NP groups met to discuss
and remove barriers to NP practice. Some of PCNP's accomplishments to
date are:
- Prescriptive authority was obtained in 2000
- Sole regulation by the Board of Nursing in 2002
- Clarification of DOH regulations permitting written and
oral orders in hospitals by CRNP
- Signatory authority for disability plates and placards
in 2004
- Resolution of the inability to have a collaborative agreement
for prescribing with an osteopathic physician in 2005
- Establishment of six task forces to address barriers
to NP practice in Pennsylvania
- Establishment of the PCNP website and member listserve
- Semi-annual newsletter
- Board of Nursing meeting coverage by an NP representative
- Sponsorship of a statewide annual NP conference
- Establishment of a central office for PCNP
- Organizational affiliate membership in the PA State Nurses
Association
- State Affiliate organization of the American Academy
of Nurse Practitioners and the American College of Nurse
Practitioners
- Continued membership in the PA Alliance of Advanced Practice
Nurses - an organization of the four advanced practice
nursing groups that seeks to remove legislative and regulatory
barriers to APN practice
PCNP will continue to strive to remove barriers to NP practice
and to be a voice for NPs across Pennsylvania.
Click
here to view our bylaws.
Click here for the PANPS Archives.
If you would like more information about PCNP or
have questions contact:
Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners
Margie Mengle, Administrative Assistant
P.O. Box 545
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
pcnp@pacnp.org
Phone (717) 766-4458
Fax (717) 766-4458 |
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