University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing Assistant Professor Natalie Baker, DNP, CRNP, GNP-BC, ANP-BC, has been named Chair of the Education Committee of the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA).The education committee is made up of educators throughout the country. Its mission is to provide geriatric learning resources to nurse practitioners and the committee has implemented a number of initiatives to advocate for geriatric health education.
In 2011 the team created a free toolkit for preceptors with evidence-based guidelines and other resources to utilize in their practice.The toolkit is revised annually to reflect the most current resources available to preceptors. This year the committee will also lead a task force to identify initiatives that will increase the pool of nurse practitioners with geriatric experience who are willing to precept nurse practitioner students.
GAPNA 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.
Baker has been a nurse practitioner for 24 years, focusing on caring for frail older adults in long-term care settings. She is actively involved in local and national organizations promoting evidence-based initiatives for this patient population. She is the coordinator of the adult/gerontology primary nurse practitioner specialty track in the UAB School of Nursing and maintains a clinical practice at a long-term care facility. In addition, Baker earned her bachelor's, master's, and doctor of nursing practice degrees from the UAB School of Nursing.
