State Liaison Candidate
Campaign Message
As Connecticut State Liaison for AANP, I am committed to amplifying the voices of NPs throughout our state and advancing policies that enhance our ability to provide accessible, high-quality care. With over 17 years of clinical and academic experience, I understand the challenges Connecticut NPs face, including scope-of-practice limitations and educational barriers. I have successfully led initiatives to improve NP education, clinical readiness, and support for diverse students. If elected, I will actively engage with state leaders, healthcare organizations, and AANP members to advocate for full practice authority, pay equity, and increased funding for NP education and workforce development. I will foster collaboration among Connecticut NPs by sharing resources, promoting professional growth, and ensuring all voices are heard. Together, we can strengthen the NP workforce and improve health outcomes across Connecticut. I would be honored to serve and represent our vibrant NP community within AANP.
Bio Sketch
Alanna Kavanaugh, EdD(c), APRN, FNP-BC, CNE, CHSE, FCCP, FNYAM, FFNMRCSI, is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, educator, and transformational leader with over 17 years of clinical and academic experience. She holds a Master s degree from the University of Mount Saint Vincent and is currently completing her Doctorate in Nursing Education at Columbia University, Teachers College. She is a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians, the New York Academy of Medicine, and the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. During her tenure, as Assistant Dean of Graduate Nursing, Alanna led a remarkable increase in board certification pass rates from 11% to 100% (AANP, 2024). She designed and implemented an innovative, outcomes-driven remediation program and a reverse-mentorship peer teaching model, which have significantly enhanced student performance and practice readiness. Her research focuses on mentoring, competency-based education, student outcomes, simulation, student support, and pulmonary disease. She collaborates with the American Lung Association and the COPD Foundation and is currently co-editing and authoring a book on pulmonary disease for bedside nurses. A frequent presenter and published author, committed to advancing health equity, academic excellence, and the NP 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?
One of the biggest challenges facing NPs in the delivery of health care over the next decade is ensuring high-quality, consistent educational preparation, reduction in practice barriers and improvements in practice readiness. AANP must advocate for increased federal and state funding for NP education, similar to the support medical schools receive. This includes investment in clinical site development, faculty support, and standardized, competency-based curricula, which emphasize practice-ready graduates. Additionally, a reduction in outdated practice restrictions and pay parity.
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 a transformational leader and big-picture thinker, I developed a targeted remediation program for at-risk APRN students, resulting in clinically significant improvements in retention and clinical readiness among minority students. The program provided individualized academic support, clinical skill development, and culturally responsive mentoring. This initiative reflects my commitment to educational equity, system-level change, and empowering future NPs. At AANP, I bring a results-driven, inclusive leadership style focused on advancing practice readiness, supporting workforce diversity, and creating sustainable solutions that elevate the NP profession and the communities we serve.
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 is balancing the demands of this role with my existing professional and academic responsibilities. However, I am highly organized, prioritize effectively, and thrive in structured, goal-driven environments. I plan to manage this challenge by setting clear boundaries, leveraging time management strategies, and delegating tasks when appropriate. I am also committed to maintaining open communication and collaborating efficiently to ensure I meet all responsibilities. My passion for advancing the NP profession fuels my dedication, and I am confident in my ability to balance priorities while making a meaningful contribution to AANP.
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 elected, I will advance AANP s mission by championing equitable NP education, expanding practice-readiness initiatives, and advocating for funding that supports diverse students and clinical training access. I will leverage my experience in developing successful remediation programs to improve educational outcomes for underrepresented groups, helping build a more inclusive workforce. I will support policies that remove practice barriers and promote pay parity, while encouraging research that addresses health disparities. Through visionary, transformational leadership, I will work collaboratively to ensure that all NPs are empowered to deliver accessible, person-centered, high-quality care in every community they serve.