University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Assistant Professor Natalie Baker, DNP, has been named chair of the education committee of the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association.
The education committee comprises provides geriatric learning resources to nurse practitioners and advocates for geriatric health education.
In 2011 the team created a free toolkit for preceptors with evidence-based guidelines and other resources to use in their practice. The toolkit is revised annually to reflect the most current resources available. This year the committee will lead a task force to identify initiatives to 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 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, who has been a nurse practitioner for 24 years, focuses on caring for frail, older adults in long-term care settings and is involved in organizations promoting evidence-based initiatives for them. She coordinates 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.
Baker earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctor of nursing practice degrees from the UAB School of Nursing.