Baker appointed to ABN by governor

Baker is one of two UAB ABN members representing advanced practice nursing.

natalie baker webUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham School of NursingAssistant Professor Natalie Baker, DNP, has been appointed to the Alabama Board of Nursing (ABN) by Gov. Robert Bentley to represent advanced practice nursing on the board. Her term began Jan. 1.

The ABN comprises 13 board members, each appointed by the governor for a four-year term. Baker is one of two members representing advanced practice nursing. Laura Wright, Ph.D., associate professor in the UAB School of Nursing, is the other.

The mission of the Alabama Board of Nursing is to safeguard and promote the health, safety and welfare of the public through licensing and approval of qualified individuals, and adopting and enforcing legal standards for nursing education and nursing practice.

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.