State Liaison Candidate
Campaign Message
I am passionate about advancing our profession through education, advocacy, and collaboration. I believe in empowering NPs to thoughtfully lead change by strengthening our profession, providing better access to health care, and championing healthier communities.
Bio Sketch
Dr. Jerilynn Spring is a Regional Clinical Educator for a National Outpatient Infusion Company. Her 20 years of practice experience includes infusion services, endocrinology and family practice. She serves as adjunct faculty for the MSN and DNP program at Indiana Wesleyan University. Her academic career includes earning her BSN from Indiana Wesleyan University, MSN from Oakland University, and DNP from Ball State University. Dr. Spring has been a regular contributor to the MICNP state conference, speaking on various topics including diabetes, biologic therapy and leadership topics. Jerilynn volunteers with Global Partners Health Network, a partnership of healthcare professionals engaging in global medical ministries. She was recently appointed as Partnership Coordinator for the hospital project with Kamakwie Wesleyan Hospital in Sierra Leone West Africa where she coordinates annual CME conferences and leads medical teams abroad.
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?
NPs will face many challenges in delivering health care primarily focused on restrictive scope of practice regulation. Regulatory barriers limit NPs ability to practice to the fullest extent of their education and expertise which will impede access to care. The AANP is advocating for change on the national platform. I believe that this process could be more successful with better recruitment of NPs as well as consistent and clear support from our other medical colleagues. This, in part, can be accomplished by optimizing these efforts at the state level and better development of partnerships with state NP organizations.
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.
Advanced communication, collaboration and clinical excellence are some of the leadership and professional skills I hold. In my current role, I lead policy development, focusing on medication policy and implementation in our multistate infusion centers. I have advocated for more detailed clinical practice policies and open communication platforms with clinical staff, which has led to improved clinical practice as well as employee satisfaction.
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?
Although I have spoken for our state NP conference many times, I do not have any significant ongoing relationship with them. This may impact my ability to collaborate and communicate with them. I would like to reach out to my current NP connections as well as the MICNP leadership to try to build stronger connection for future collaboration.
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 sweet spot has always been mentoring, specifically with student and new NPs. I would like to help promote AANP as an opportunity for professional growth and leadership, therefore advancing each NP individually and as a profession. This will promise to move the profession forward toward full practice.