Cameron Duncan, PhD, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, CNE
Candidate for Nomination Council
Campaign Message:
My name is Cameron Duncan, PhD, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, CNE, and I am proud to be a NP!!! I have been a NP for 8 years and I could not have chosen a better profession. I am seeking your support to become a member of the Nominating Council. With this appointment, I hope to be able to support the organization and increase the visibility of NPs. Currently, members from Nevada do not have a strong presence on AANP committees or on the Executive Board. I hope to change this, which will allow me to demonstrate the importance of professional advocacy to my students. My hope is that I will be able to inspire my colleagues and students to get involved with their local NP organizations and AANP. Please vote for me to join the Nominating Council so I can continue my service to the organization and to the profession!
Current Professional Position
Dean of Nursing
Leadership Experience in the Past Three Years
Over the past 3 years I have had the opportunity to serve in multiple formal leadership roles, most of which I plan to continue to engage in over the next two years. First, I currently serve as the Dean of the Orvis School of Nursing at the University of Nevada, Reno. In this role, I am responsible for the oversight of the educational advancement of over 500 undergraduate and graduate nursing students, including five nurse practitioner programs. Additionally, I am responsible for the facilitation of growth and development of all faculty and staff within the school of nursing. I am also responsible for the financial management of the school of nursing including budget and philanthropic development activities. Next, I serve as the CEO of an independent-APRN practice in Reno, NV. I provide similar oversight over this interdisciplinary clinic including serving as the medical director, advancing partnerships with community organizations, and oversight and management of the financial stability of the organization. Lastly, I serve as the Vice President of the Nevada NP organization where I am responsible for legislative advocacy, recruitment to increase membership, and the coordination of continuing education activities across the state.
Biggest Challenge Facing Nurse Practitioners and How AANP Can Help
There are multiple challenges facing NPs in the delivery of healthcare including a lack of an efficient healthcare system and rising healthcare costs. However, I believe the biggest challenge we will face over the next decade are the many restrictions on NP practice from state to state. NPs are educated and trained to independently provide excellent care. Limitations on NP practice further limit the already disparate access to efficient healthcare. To address this, AANP must take a multi-faceted approach and pursue its mission, addressing practice, education, advocacy, and leadership. AANP must continue to identify barriers to practice and present solutions to solve them. This could be done by encouraging NPs to sit on state, regional and national boards. We have to advocate on behalf of the profession by increasing presence at the legislature of each individual state to eliminate laws that limit NPs from practicing at the full extent of their education and training. AANP should focus on educating the public, especially legislators, on the role, education, and preparedness of NPs. Lastly, the organization should continue to recruit new and maintain existing members to solidify the organization's leadership and serve as the voice of NPs across the country.
Example of Initiative or Outcome of Leadership
I possess multiple leadership and professional skills that I will bring to AANP. Some of these skills include effective verbal and written communication, purposeful listening, meticulous organization, excellent time management, and creative and innovative methods of thinking. My most outstanding outcome that occurred as a result of these skills was the development of a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program at the University of Nevada, Reno. Nevada ranks lowest in the nation in terms of access to mental health services. Because of this need, I led the charge to develop a master’s-level PMHNP program, which evolved to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing to a Doctor of Nursing Practice option. In the first cohort, four students were accepted into the program. As of 2022, 38 students are enrolled in the program, producing 16 graduates per year. This rapid program growth was achieved by partnering with local healthcare institutions, the NP state association, and the Rural Hospital Association to ensure we were preparing NPs to meet the unique demands of Nevada. To date, the program has a 100% pass rate on the American Nurses Credentialing Center certification exam and continues to increase student enrollment.
If Elected, I Propose to Advance the AANP Mission as Follows:
As the Dean of a school with five nurse practitioner tracks, I will mentor the next generation of NPs and carry out the AANP strategic plan by educating students about professional advocacy and encouraging them to become members of their local NP organizations and AANP. I also pledge to increase NP authority, leadership and expertise through collaboration with government and community organizations to increase the number of clinical opportunities for students in our DNP programs. This will increase the number of DNP-prepared NPs entering the workforce, specifically equipped to improve organizational competence and serve on regional, national and international task forces and committees. Through advocacy, I will execute AANPs strategic plan. I’ll continue my legislative work to reduce barriers to NP practice. Starting with grassroots activism, I can increase public knowledge of the NP role, including educating legislators about the challenges NPs face, and increase AANPs political presence and activity within the state government. As the current Vice President of NAPNA, AANP and NAPNA will have increased opportunities to collaborate to remove practice barriers and attain pay parity for NPs beyond Medicaid. NAPNA has made significant progress on pay parity in Nevada, and I commit to continuing that endeavor.