Alabama NAPNAP

Dear Alabama NAPNAP Members,

February is often celebrated as the month of love, a time that highlights the importance of relationships, connection, and caring for one another. In our profession, these values extend far beyond a single month. They underpin the way we care for patients, support families, and stand alongside our colleagues. With recent conversations about nurses circulating in the media, I am reminded how vital our professional relationships truly are. We continue to advocate not only for those we serve, but also for each other, and I am proud to be part of a chapter that embodies such unity and strength.

As we look ahead, we are excited for the upcoming National NAPNAP Conference in Pittsburgh this March. This event is always a highlight, and our Alabama chapter will again be strongly represented. Please join me in celebrating our fellow Alabama NAPNAP members who will be presenting from the podium this year:

• Sherita Etheridge and Heather Hyde will share "From Clues to Conclusions: Developing Diagnostic Reasoning Skills in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Students"
• Felesia Bowen will co-present "Your Child Does Not Look Like They Have It: The Overlooked Diagnosis of Thalassemia"
• Staci Simmons will present "Holding On to Hope: The Patient and Provider Journey Through Prolonged Hospitalization While Awaiting Pediatric Heart Transplantation"

Before closing, I am excited to share that our annual chapter grant opportunity will be announced soon. These grants are designed to support pediatric-focused APRN projects that foster innovation, education, or community engagement. As we prepare to open the application window, I encourage you to begin thinking about areas in your practice or community where a project could make a meaningful impact, whether it’s addressing a clinical gap, launching an educational initiative, or developing a resource that supports child health and wellness. More details are coming soon, so stay tuned!

Thank you for the care, advocacy, and compassion you bring to your work each day. I am grateful to serve alongside each of you.

With gratitude,

Staci A. Simmons

President, Alabama Chapter of NAPNAP

House Bill 32 proposes important updates to Alabama’s child passenger safety laws, bringing them closer to current evidence‑based standards. The bill would revise the age and weight requirements for rear‑facing, forward‑facing, and booster seats—for example, extending rear‑facing protection to at least age two or 35 pounds and increasing forward‑facing requirements up to age five or 65 pounds. It would also increase penalties for violations to reinforce the importance of using appropriate restraints for Alabama’s youngest passengers.

You can find resources here, including legislator contact information and a sample email to help guide your outreach. Please take a moment to contact your legislator and encourage their support of this important child safety legislation.

As an added incentive, Alabama NAPNAP will donate to Safe Kids Alabama each time a chapter member takes action on this issue. Let us know when you reach out to your legislator so we can track our chapter’s impact and support child passenger safety in Alabama!

This month, we're proud to feature Rebekah Sims! Find out more on Instagram and Facebook!

Interested in being featured in our monthly member spotlight?
We’d love to highlight your work and celebrate you! Let us know at napnap.al@gmail.com.

Have a good idea or question? Reach out to us at napnap.al@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you!