The Eleanor Crowder Bjoring Center for Nursing Historical Inquiry
University of Virginia School of Nursing P.O. Box 800782 Charlottesville, Virginia 22908-0782 mailto:nurs-hxc@virginia.edu URL: http://www.nursing.virginia.edu/cnhi/
Eric Drongowski
Repository
The Eleanor Crowder Bjoring Center for Nursing Historical Inquiry
Identification
2022-090
Title
Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association Collection. 1983-2011
Full professional papers of this organization, active donations; ECBCNHI is official repository. Collection highlights founding
and growth of the organization from an informal collaborative group through incorporation in 1983 and expansion into GAPNA
in 2009. Materials include lobbying initiatives, development of standards of care, training and certification programs, and
funding.
University of Virginia School of Nursing, Eleanor Crowder Bjoring Center for Nursing Historical Inquiry, Gerontological Advanced
Practice Nursing Association Collection.
Mountain States Health Corporation (MSHC), originally a participant in the regional medical programs were given a grant from
the WK Kellogg Foundation to facilitate the training of 25 nursing home staff RNs to become GNPs and serve in nursing homes
which were deemed medically underserved. From 1976-1979, this pilot program created GNPs from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana
and Wyoming[…]This early effort was so successful that the Kellogg Foundation was willing to invest 2 million additional dollars
to arrange for the education and placement of 85 GNPs in the 11 western states. -Priscilla Ebersole, (n.d.) "Additional Info
Re GNP Genesis"
The Gerontological Advanced Practice Nursing Association (GAPNA) Collection documents the transformation of a relatively small
collaborative group into a national coalition, active in politics, strategic professional development and innovative health
care. The Western Conference of Geriatric Nurse Practitioners was formed by these early GNPs, and incorporated in 1983. It
was renamed the National Conference of Geriatric Nurse Practitioners in 1984 and became the Gerontological Advance Practice
Nurses Association in 2009. Committee efforts include the evolution of lobbying initiatives as well as the development of
detailed professional standards and training. The organization focuses on inquiry into best practices, training and certification,
development and validation of funding streams and professional contributions to medicine.
Administrative papers, testing and educational materials, convention records, photographs and manuscripts reveal the effort
and effectiveness of geriatric nurse practitioners in promoting and developing their professional roles. Memos, minutes, faxes,
postcards, personal notes and formal letters, brochures, postcards, advertisements, tests and manuals reflect communication
and marketing initiatives of the organization. The collection also contains foldered papers, binders, books, film, DVDs/CDs,
flash drives, objects(pins, ribbons, envelopes), newspaper clipping, surveys, manuals, photographs, manuscripts, brochures,
photocopied articles, newsletters. Topics include research, strategic planning, scope of practice, finance, continuing education,
chapter formation, and development, resources, accreditation, philosophy, publication, legislation, development of NP profession
and more.
The collection has been arranged into eight series, reflecting the administrative structure and activities of the organization:
SERIES 1, BOARD MINUTES, PROPOSALS, NOTES AND REPORTS;
SERIES 2, CORRESPONDENCE, MANUSCRIPTS, CLIPPINGS, BROCHURES AND NOTES;
SERIES 3, CHAPTER PAPERS;
SERIES 4, CONVENTION PAPERS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND PUBLICATIONS;
SERIES 5, FINANCIAL RECORDS;
SERIES 6, COMMITTEE REPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE AND NOTES;
SERIES 7, PUBLICATIONS;
SERIES 8, FOUNDING RECORDS AND INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY.
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