Northeast Tennessee Nurse Practitioners Association

In February 1984, nurse practitioners from the Tri-Cities Tennessee area met to discuss issues, protocols, impending legislation, peer review, and how to increase public awareness of the role of nurse practitioners. This group decided on the focus of meetings and continued to meet every couple of months for about two years. During this time period, many issues regarding NP practice were being looked at by the Tennessee legislators. NPs were allowed to write prescriptions, but were restricted to a site approved by the Primary Care Advisory Board. This board consisted mainly of physicians and NP protocols were mailed to and approved by that group.

In April 1992, the local nurse practitioners reconvened and began the group that is now known as the Northeast Tennessee Nurse Practitioner Association (NETNPA). The focus of the group was to share professional information and experiences, discuss issues, socialize and provide educational programs. At this time the Tennessee Nurses Association (TNA) was looking at legislation lifting the site restriction for prescription writing, formularies, and rules for nurse practitioner physician supervision.

Initially, the NETNPA met every other month. Interest from NPs in the organization, coupled with developing support from pharmaceutical companies, enabled the group to move toward regular monthly meetings. In 1993, the NETNPA group initiated annual membership dues. Nurse practitioner students are welcome to become members of this professional organization and reduced membership dues has encouraged their participation.

The first official newsletter was mailed in May1995. By-laws were patterned after the by-laws for the TNA Advanced Practice Council Operative Rules and adopted in June 1995. In the fall of 2001, the NETNPA began offering an annual conference for NPs and PAs in the East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia area. The conference provided expert and timely educational opportunities for primary care and specialty practitioners and offered continuing education credits for participation.

In 2013, the NETNPA Scholarship was established to help future nurse pratitioner students in their educational pursuits.

The NETNPA provides annual monetary support to the TN-PAC in their efforts to advocate for nurse practitioners and the quality care that unrestricted scope of practice can offer to the patients they serve.

The current monthly meetings of the NETNPA focus upon educational topics of interest and recent developments in healthcare delivery options available to patients. 

The NETNPA is a professional organization for advanced practice nurses, nurse practitioner students, and any other allied health professionals who support nurse practitioners.