State Liaison Candidate
Campaign Message
With over 25 years in nursing and 18 years as a Nurse Practitioner (NP), I offer experience as an Assistant Adjunct Professor at UCLA Joe C. Wen School of Nursing and clinical experience at Memorial Care Miller Childrens' & Womens' Hospital, Long Beach, Magnet Recognized. My leadership includes presenting on pediatric orthopedic care and health equity, with a strong foundation in evidence-based practice and community engagement. My mission is to empower NPs and NP students to be proud of their work while advancing accessible, person-centered, equitable, and high-quality care for diverse communities through practice, education. advocacy, research, and leadership. I believe we are stronger together when we lift one another & lead with collaboration. If I am re-elected California State Liaison, I will continue to advocate, collaborate, engage, and promote equity to strengthen the NP profession and advance care. Vote for leadership with experience, vision, and heart.
Bio Sketch
Dr. Carol Lynn Cunningham, DNP,RN, FNP-C is an Assistant Adjunct Professor at the UCLA Joe C. Wen School of Nursing and a Family Nurse Practitioner in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Memorial Care Miller Childrens' & Womens' Hospital in Long Beach, California. With 18 years of NP experience, and a total of 26 years of nursing experience, she integrates clinical practice, education, advocacy, research, and volunteer service. Her scholarly work includes her presentation on the "Effect of Virtual Reality as a Distraction Technique During Pin and/or Cast Removal" locally and internationally. She collaborates with public health nurses during Scoliosis Awareness Month, delivering interactive, evidence-based presentations to advance engagement, awareness, and patient-centered care. Dr. Cunningham served as the California State Liaison for 2024-2026.
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 the delivery of health care over the next decade include workforce shortages, recruitment, and retention in underserved areas. AANP continuously provides opportunities at annual conferences such as the "Health Policy" and "Annual Conference." As the California State Liasion for 2024-2026, I observe and engage with all the NPs and student NPs who are genuinely dedicated to optimizing care for patients. AANP's support with NP week, is an example of how NPs educate the public about our contributions in health care. AANP continues to provide resources, and I am so grateful to implement.
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 am a collaborative and innovative Family Nurse Practitioner in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery and full-time faculty as an Assistant Adjunct Professor at UCLA Joe C. Wen School of Nursing. With over 17 years of pediatric orthopedic and emergency care experience, I have collaborated with a wide range of teams. As the first FNP invited to present at a Physician Quarterly Meeting, I presented on pediatric upper extremity injuries. For Scoliosis Awareness Month, I educated over 50 public health nurses at the Long Beach Unified School District. Both received excellent evaluations, reflecting my interprofessional collaboration and clinical practice.
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 major challenge that could impact my ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the position is balancing my professional commitments with my responsibilities as a wife, mother to two busy teenage sons. Between teaching, clinical practice, leadership roles, and my family's active schedules, effective time management is essential. I plan to stay organized with structured calendars, prioritize tasks, and set clear boundaries between work and home. By involving my husband and children in planning and maintaining open communication, I can balance both worlds and remain fully engaged and successful in this role.
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?
If re-elected, I will advance AANP's mission by promoting NP-led, person-centered care that is accessible, equitable, and high-quality for diverse communities. I will advocate for policies expanding NP practice authority, support culturally responsive education, and foster inititiatives that address health disparities. Through mentorship, professional development, and evidence-based resources, I will empower NPs and NP students to excel in practice, education, advocacy, research, and leadership. My focus will be translating AANP's strategic plan into measurable outcomes that enhance patient care and strengthen the NP profession.