Tina Bettin Named To American Association
Tina Bettin has been following legislative issues regarding advance practice nurse practitioners since she began her career nearly 30 years ago.
Recently Bettin, DNP, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, APRN, at ThedaCare Physicians-Manawa and New London, was elected to be Wisconsin’s State Representative to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). She takes office later this month at the National Convention in San Antonio, Texas. “I’m excited about it because it’s another way to reach out to APRN nurses within the state,” she said.
AANP is the largest and only full-service national professional membership organization for nurse practitioners (NPs) of all specialties. AANP represents the interests of more than 205,000 NPs, including more than 67,000 individual members and 200 organizations, providing a unified networking platform and advocating for their role as providers of high-quality, cost-effective, comprehensive, patient-centered and personalized health care. The organization provides legislative leadership at the local, state and national levels, advancing health policy; promoting excellence in practice, education and research; and establishing standards that best serve NP patients and other health care consumers.
The AANP is the largest organization of advanced practice nurse practitioners in the nation, added Bettin. “By being the largest organization, we are recognized,” she said. “People know who we are.”
In Wisconsin, she will meet with nurses around the state and work on issues regarding practice concerns. She will also meet with regional representatives from states around Wisconsin and aid in their issues or seek their input on state matters. One example of an issue Bettin is following in the State is reviewing Chapter N8, “which is our prescriptive authority,” said Bettin. “We have provided input to the Board of Nursing on the Governor’s request to update all of the rules from the different Boards. We have recommended changes to Chapter N8 to match practice in the fast paced changing of health care.”
Many Federal and State statutes and rules were written before NPs started practicing 50 years ago, making it difficult to get them changed to reflect how practices is today and for the future, said Bettin. Bettin is presently serving her third term as President of the APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) Forum of Wisconsin Nurses Association (WNA). In this role, she also serves on the APRN Coalition of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Council on Medical Education and Workforce (WCMEW).
Adding the role of Wisconsin’s State Representative to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) will allow her to be a liaison to both organizations. “The more people are informed, the more educated, the more you can mobilize people as you need to,” said Bettin.
Bettin enjoys her role as a nurse practitioner, serving in rural communities like New London and Manawa. “I enjoy taking care of generations of families and watching people grow,” she said, noting she has more autonomy in rural locations. “People are happy that you are available in their own community versus having to drive a distance.” And when there are issues that arise affecting the scope of her care, she is grateful for the organizations that work on her behalf. “The work at the AANP and with the APRN Forum rejuvenates you in your regular job because you see that there are people working on things that you struggle with in your practice,” she said.
For more than 100 years, ThedaCare™ has been committed to finding a better way to deliver serious and complex healthcare to patients throughout Northeast Wisconsin. The organization serves over 200,000 patients annually and employs more than 7,000 healthcare professionals throughout the region. ThedaCare has seven hospitals located in Appleton, Neenah, Berlin, Waupaca, Shawano, New London and Wild Rose as well as 34 clinics in 14 counties. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving our specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a non-profit healthcare organization with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs as well as a foundation dedicated to community service. ThedaCare Regional Cancer Center in Appleton opened in February. For more information, visit www.thedacare.org or follow ThedaCare on Facebook and Twitter.
