By Laura Lesley
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Associate Professor Natalie Baker, DNP, CRNP, GNP-BC, ANP-BC, GS-C, FAANP, is among the inaugural cohort of Distinguished Educators in Gerontological Nursing named by the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence (NHCGNE).
The Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing Program is a Hartford initiative aiming to recognize the leadership of nurse educators working with students, faculty, providers and older people living in diverse settings. Due to the rapidly growing older adult population, it is important to have well-prepared nurse educators who will prepare the future nurse workforce to care for an aging population.
Baker is among 33 educators recognized in the inaugural cohort.
“NHCGNE developed and validated seven core competencies for educators in gerontological nursing with the goal of promoting quality instruction in the care of older adults through a set of preferred skills exemplified by faculty teaching gerontological content,” Baker said. “The 33 educators recognized as Distinguished Educators in Gerontological Nursing demonstrated mastery of the seven core competencies and a professional commitment to teaching gerontological nursing education.”
In addition to receiving the Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing certificate, Baker was appointed to the expert panel that developed the seven core competencies.
Baker has also been named to a second term as secretary for the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA), which represents the interests of advanced practice nurses who work with older adults in a wide variety of practice settings. GAPNA also is the organization of choice for advanced practice nurses who want to pursue continuing education in gerontological care and who seek peer support from experienced clinicians.
“I am concerned about the dwindling geriatric workforce and have aligned with professional organizations that are seeking solutions to recruiting additional nurse practitioners interested in caring for this vulnerable population,” Baker said.
“When the Geriatric Nurse Practitioner (GNP) certification and academic curriculum were retired, GAPNA was instrumental in creating the Geriatric Specialist examination, Geriatric Specialist-Certified, for nurse practitioners with geriatric experience. This specialty recognition is the only national exam that validates nurse practitioners proficient in the delivery of care to older adults. I was honored to be one of the invited item writers for the exam and received the Geriatric Specialist-Certified distinction in early 2018,” Baker continued.
Additionally, Baker has been elected to a second term on the Alabama Board of Nursing in an advanced practice position. Her term will conclude in 2022.
In 2016, Baker received the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Advocate State Award of Excellence for Alabama and has been selected to receive this award again in 2019.
Baker is a three-time graduate of the UAB School of Nursing, earning her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctor of nursing practice degrees from the school.
