So here I am at the National Conference for Nurse Practitioners; the conference for primary and acute care clinicians.  This year the conference is in the windy city, Chicago. Today was the first day of the conference and I have to say it didn't disappoint.  Eleen O'Grady's, PhD, RN, NP keynote address titled: Health Care Reform 2010: Taking Risks, Speaking Up, and Stepping Out, was truely inspirational.  She spoke about the opportunities for advanced practice nurses, especially nurse practitioners, with health care reform.  She challenged all the NP's in the audience to stretch outside their comfort zone and look at ways NPs can really make a difference. She cautioned the audience to fight the fights that really make a difference and to avoid the issues that aren't worth pursuing.  She spoke about the need for one unifying body which NPs and other advanced practice nurses can call as their own and can bring an influential voice to Capital Hill.  For the first time, it appears the federal government recognizes the value NPs and other advanced practice nurses can bring to healthcare reform.

If you are an NP looking for a combination primary care/acute care conference, then I recommend you attend NCNP 2011.