An International Member’s Experience Joining GAPNA
By Claudia K.Y. Lai
America leads the world in developing specialty knowledge in nursing. As an international member, I often think about how I could introduce my peers in Asia to learn more about advanced practice nursing in the United States. I have been a GAPNA member since 2011, based on my background as a clinical nurse specialist in gerontological nursing - previously accredited by the ANCC. Despite being in academia and currently not in active clinical practice, I thoroughly enjoy participating in various GAPNA activities. In recent years, I have become more engaged in GAPNA by joining the Research Committee. It is heart-warming to be so well received by members of the Committee. I have made friends and collaborators since. Online platforms help sustain collaboration not only among members within the United States, but also across the international date line. This Committee’s solidarity and comradeship – always willing to help each other and support GAPNA’s mission and activities – never failed to inspire me. Committed members have produced webinars on a couple of research topics and rendered these webinars freely available on the GAPNA website (e.g., https://www.gapna.org/about/news/2024-annual-conference-calls-abstracts ). Abstract submitters welcomed these endeavors, aimed at promoting research writing and dissemination at GAPNA’s annual conferences. I am glad to share that the committed members of this group have agreed to continue to produce more webinars on research-related topics.
My recent attempt to promote GAPNA in the Asia-Pacific region included inviting a GAPNA Board Member to give a lecture and speak with my students at Shandong University, China, in an online class. I have also spoken to the Hong Kong Academy of Gerontology Nursing about GAPNA, hoping that they would become as interested as I am. Indeed, they are impressed by the work of GAPNA and would like to learn more about the Association. Yet, nursing shortages have impacted all aspects of our professional lives. My peers in Hong Kong feel that they are already stretched too thin to become involved in an international organization. It has not been easy, of course. The time difference between time zones means that an evening meeting of committees (EST) will mean early morning for us who reside in Asia. Still, I can speak from personal experience that when there is a will, there is a way. I hope that my fellow specialist nurses in Hong Kong will slowly visualize the benefit of becoming engaged with GAPNA and experience first-hand how global exchanges can foster understanding among advanced practice nurses, and promote quality patient care around the world.
Claudia K.Y. Lai, PhD, RN, FHKCERN, FHKCGN, FAAN
Research Committee Member
claudia.lai@connect.polyu.hk