Nomination Council Candidate
Campaign Message
My name is Larlene Dunsmuir, and I am running for a position on the AANP Nomination Council. I have been a member of AANP since 2013 and strongly believe in the mission of Empowering all NPs to advance accessible, person-centered, and equitable, quality care for diverse communities. I am an experienced leader and advocate with a proven track record of vetting qualified applicants. I will leverage this expertise to help AANP membership select strong and capable leaders for the future. I am known for my personal commitment to professional organizations, integrity, and passion for our profession. If elected to the nomination council, I will ensure that applicants are diverse and committed to maintaining the mission and goals of AANP. Thank you for considering my candidacy. I am excited for this opportunity.
Bio Sketch
Larlene Dunsmuir, DNP, FNP, ANP-BC, has been a nurse practitioner since 1993 and maintains a clinical practice, as well as serving as the Program Director of the DNP/FNP program at OHSU. Additionally, she does content editing for a nurse practitioner professional development company. Larlene brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of nursing practice, policy, and education to her work. She has practiced in neurology, family medicine, and urgent care. From 1995 to 2007, she co-owned a family care clinic with another nurse practitioner. She also worked with a small group of NPs who established a nurse-practitioner telehealth practice in 2012, which now serves patients in several states. She received her BS in nursing in 1985 from the University of Portland (UP). She returned to UP to complete her master s degree in nursing, with a focus on adult health nurse practitioner, in 1993, and a post-master's certificate in family nurse practitioner in 2000. She completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2014 at Chatham University in Pittsburgh. Larlene has held many positions in local and national professional associations and is a strong advocate for the nurse practitioner profession.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing NPs in the delivery of health care over the next decade? How should AANP address this issue to support NPs and the populations they serve?
While the number of states that allow nurse practitioners (NPs) full practice authority (FPA) is increasing, some states still have very restrictive laws and regulations governing NP practice. Additionally, the states where FPA does exist continue to struggle with arbitrary barriers to practice autonomy, not the least of which is payment parity. I would like to see AANP establish a workgroup comprising members from various states who can collaborate to develop strategies and plans for overcoming practice barriers and advancing toward payment parity models.
Describe, in detail, leadership and other professional skills that you will bring to AANP and provide at least one initiative or outcome that occurred because of these skills.
I have held many formal and informal leadership positions throughout my career. The value that I would bring to AANP includes organizational skills, strong communication, and critical thinking. These particular skills have ensured my success in advocating for things like payment parity for NPs in Oregon, inclusion of NPs in prescribing cannabis, and many other policy initiatives. Additionally, I have served on other nominating committees, boards, and commissions, and have extensive experience in vetting candidates and scholarship recipients. I have received training and gained experience in DEIB, and I use an equity lens when vetting candidates.
Identify one major challenge that could impact your ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the position you are seeking. How do you plan to manage this challenge to be successful?
I have applied for this position in the past and, at that time, did have challenges in successfully fulfilling the responsibilities. I was willing to make changes to eliminate those challenges, and I am now in an even better position to accept new responsibilities. I value the role AANP plays in national healthcare and the NP community, and I would like to have a bigger role in that. I am currently the chair of the NPO and have a chair-elect who is willing to step into the chair position should I be elected to this position.
AANP’s mission is to empower all NPs to advance accessible, person-centered, equitable, high-quality health care for diverse communities through practice, education, advocacy, research, and leadership. If elected, how do you propose to advance AANP's mission and strategic plan?
My personal mission and goals align well with the mission of AANP, and as I mentioned previously, I am eager to take on a more significant role within AANP. My experience will help the nomination council vet candidates for board and committee positions that bring the skills and expertise needed to lead the organization as they shape healthcare and NP practice that is patient-centered and equitable. Creating a collaborative and inclusive organizational leadership will be key to maintaining the stated mission, and I possess the necessary competencies to help make that environment.