Region Director Candidate
Campaign Message
I am Dr. Irene W. Bean, nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, and founder of Serenity Health Care, PC. I bring 20+ years of experience in clinical practice, health policy, and entrepreneurship. I am committed to advancing the role of nurse practitioners and promoting healthcare equality. As Founder of the Tennessee Nurse Practitioner Association, I built membership initiatives, organized statewide conferences, and led policy efforts to address disparities in care. Currently, I serve as Regional Director and Board Member of the AANP, and I have contributed as Board Liaison to the DEI Committee, Awards Committee, and Conference Committee. I am honored to be recognized with the AANP State Award for Excellence and the State Advocate of Excellence Award. I bring proven leadership and commitment to strengthening our profession, expanding access, and ensuring our voices are heard. I ask for your support as Regional Director. Together, we can shape the future of healthcare.
Bio Sketch
Dr. Irene W. Bean is a nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, and founder of Serenity Health Care, PC, with over 20 years of experience in clinical practice, health policy, consulting, and entrepreneurship. She offers integrated medical and psychiatric services to reduce health disparities. Dr. Bean has presented at national healthcare conferences. She offers preceptorship. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Loyola University New Orleans, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification from Johns Hopkins University, and her Master of Science in Nursing from Tennessee State University. Dr. Bean is the founder of the Tennessee Nurse Practitioner Association, where she established membership initiatives, organized conferences, advanced efforts to address healthcare disparities, and developed committees focused on health policy reform. She serves as Regional Director and a member of the Board of Directors for AANP. She served as Board Liaison to the DEI Committee. Awards Committee, and Conference Committee. She is a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the National Academies of Practice, and the American Academy of Nursing. Her service includes leadership within TNNPA as the past Executive Director. She received multiple honors, including AANP s State Award for Excellence and the State Advocate of Excellence Award.
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?
The biggest challenges facing NPs in delivering healthcare are two-fold. Firstly, despite evidence that the NPs provide high-quality, safe, and cost-effective care, many states continue to restrict practice without collaboration with an MD. Overcoming legislative and policy barriers is critical in meeting patient needs. Secondly, equitable pay and reimbursement models are undervaluing NP services. AANP must be visible and advocate in NP states that don't allow FPA. AANP's collaborative voice for equitable pay is required. For NPs to practice to the fullest extent of their training, all states must use unified language and standards in full practice
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.
As the founder of the TN Nurse Practitioner Association, my mission is to empower NPs to advance accessible, person-centered, equitable, and high-quality health care for diverse communities through practice, education, advocacy, research, and leadership. I've served as Region Director, Board of Directors member, and State Liaison, and on various committees for AANP. I organized statewide conferences, Tennessee Health Policy Days, and membership events. I've presented at local and national conferences. As an NP entrepreneur clinic owner, I will bring to AANP commitment to advancing the NP role, my ability to build partnerships across diverse sectors, and proven experience in advocacy.
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?
One challenge I anticipate is balancing the demands of this role with my ongoing clinical and leadership commitments. I anticipate continuing my current plan in prioritizing tasks strategically, leveraging technology to stay organized, and delegating effectively within my teams. By doing so, I can remain fully engaged and ensure my contributions to AANP are both consistent and impactful.
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?
As a Region Director and board member of AANP, an organization charged with empowering all NPs to advance accessible, person-centered, equitable, high-quality health care for diverse communities through practice, education, advocacy, research, and leadership, I work diligently to advance these goals. As a member of the Board of Directors, my role is to set the strategic direction, focusing on practice, education, advocacy, research, and leadership. I ensure that AANP is highlighted through social media, speaking at local and national healthcare conferences, and my advocacy at health policy meetings and conferences.