National Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Week, recognized Sept. 25-29, honors the skill and hard work of nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, physician assistants, and nurse midwives while raising awareness about their unique roles in health care.
APPs work with clinical teams to deliver exceptional care, drawing upon their skills, experience, and individual perspectives. These certified and licensed providers elevate the fields of medicine and nursing, helping ensure that our patients and communities receive safe, high-quality, and evidence-based care. APPs diagnose, treat, and manage illness; prescribe medication; perform a wide range of procedures; conduct clinical research; and so much more.
Health care and medicine is a field that requires continuous collaboration. At Heersink and UAB Medicine, we are all working toward the same goal: to provide better patient care and outcomes. If you work with an APP, take a moment next week to recognize and celebrate their contribution toward our shared mission.
10 ideas to kickstart your APP recognition plans
Here are some ideas to help recognize APPs during this special week:
Spotlights: Highlight APPs on social media or in department newsletters. Share their stories, achievements, and contributions.
Wellness initiatives: Organize wellness activities like yoga classes, meditation sessions, or stress-relief workshops.
Appreciation breakfast/lunch: Arrange a provided breakfast or lunch to express gratitude and appreciation.
Team-building activities: Organize team-building activities like escape rooms or outdoor adventures.
APP appreciation wall: Create a physical or virtual "APP Appreciation Wall" where people can post thank-you notes and messages of gratitude.
Swag: Design and distribute customized merchandise such as APP Week T-shirts, mugs, or badges to foster a sense of belonging and pride.
Public acknowledgment: Recognize APPs during grand rounds or other public forums where their contributions to patient care and education can be celebrated.
Future collaborative projects: Use APP Week as a platform to brainstorm and plan future collaborative research projects or initiatives.
Recognition awards: Create awards to acknowledge outstanding APPs for their contributions in areas like clinical excellence, teaching, research, and patient advocacy. This year, UAB Medicine leadership will announce the first winner of the newly created APP Champion Award during the celebration week.
A complimentary cup at GG’s Coffee Cart: In appreciation of the contributions made by UAB Medicine’s APPs and to help kick off the celebration week, APPEC and the APP Central Office are providing free cups of coffee on Monday, Sept. 25. All UAB Medicine APPs are encouraged to visit GG’s Coffee Cart in the first-floor atrium of the West Pavilion or the location on the second floor of The Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital, near the skybridge entrance to the parking deck.
Celebrating APP Week can strengthen the sense of community and collaboration among health care providers. Click here for a list of all the events the Advanced Practice Provider Executive Council has planned for APP Week.