James Dickens, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN
Candidate for Treasurer
Campaign Message:
Dear Colleagues,
I am CAPT (R) James L. Dickens and I am asking for your VOTE for AANP Treasurer. As a 20+ year, member of AANP, I have served in various leadership roles and possess a strong knowledge of day-to-day AANP operations. During the AANP and ACNP merger, I served as the AANP Foundation President and confidently navigated a complex, challenging merger process. I served as the Region 6 Director, member of the Nominations Council, Awards Committee, and the Conference Committee. If elected, I will do the following:
- Review financial reporting to ensure consistency with industry standards
- Advise the BoD on strategies which mitigate risk to the organization
- Enhance transparency with membership
It will be my honor to serve as your AANP Treasurer and I hope I can count on your VOTE. Thank you for your VOTE.
Sincerely,
CAPT (R) James L. Dickens, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN
Current Professional Position
Branch Chief/Manager, Survey Operations Group, Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services
Leadership Experience in the Past Three Years
- Past AANP Board of Directors, Region 6
- AANP Foundation President
- AANP Nominations Council Chair
- AANP Awards Committee
- AANP Conference Committee
- AANP DEI Committee
- AAN D&I Committee
- AAN Informatics and Technology Committee
- Texas NP Association Foundation Board Member
- Current AANP Fellow
- AAN Fellow
- AANP Conference Committee
- AANP DEI Committee Chair
- AAN D&I Committee
- AAN Informatics and Technology Committee
- DNPs of Color Advisory Committee
- Future AANP Treasurer, if elected
- AANP Conference Committee
- AANP DEI Committee
- AAN D&I Committee
- AAN Information and Technology Committee
Biggest Challenge Facing Nurse Practitioners and How AANP Can Help
The challenges are complex, the profession is resilient and committed to those we serve. One of the biggest challenges facing NPs in the delivery of health care is multi-factorial. The "Silver Tsunami", which refers to the Baby Boomer generation reaching retirement age, will impact the profession in several ways. Specifically, there will be increased demands on the system due to an aging population and many Nurse Practitioners will reach retirement age and exit the workforce. To further complicate matters, the COVID-19 pandemic left the health care profession with lasting impacts on the emotional health and well-being of many providers. Nurses serve as the pipeline of the NP profession and this directly impacts our future professional capabilities. According to AACN, "U.S. nursing schools turned away 91,938 qualified applications from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2021 due to an insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors, and budget constraints". To address such challenges, AANP should consider the following:
- Identify effective retention strategies and best practices to retain an experienced workforce
- Discover strategies which incentivize nursing educators to remain in profession
- Anticipate workforce trends and ensure strategic plans address member needs as nursing profession evolves
Example of Initiative or Outcome of Leadership
As a Commissioned Officer (Retired) of the United States Public Health Service, I have had the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills which will allow me to be successful in the role of AANP Treasurer. For example, in my current position as a Branch Chief Manager for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, I oversee a departmental budget of over $1.5 million dollars and am responsible for resource allocation, resource management, cost containment, internal controls, and identifying future funding needs. Additionally, I have experience in managing and monitoring multi-million dollar, federal grant funding within the Office of Minority Health to ensure federal laws are appropriately followed. Further, as the Officer in Charge of the Monrovia Medical Unit (MMU) in Liberia, I was solely responsible for the management, operation, safety and security of the MMU field hospital, a $50 million dollar U.S. Government asset. Lastly, I have extensive experience in organizational strategic planning within my various roles in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I am eager to apply my knowledge and skillset as the AANP Treasurer and will ensure sound financial decision-making and appropriate use of organizational resources to further the mission of AANP.
If Elected, I Propose to Advance the AANP Mission as Follows
If elected as AANP Treasurer, I will provide the financial stewardship for resource management and financial performance of the organization, thus supporting the strategic objective of "Management and stewardship of the organizational internal operations for optimal performance and sustainability." I will ensure financial reporting is timely and accurate and the Board has a clear and concise understanding of available resources in order to make sound financial decisions. Additionally, I will communicate with the AANP BoD to assist in creating a fiscally sound budget which directly supports the goals and objectives of the AANP Strategic Plan. I will explore opportunities to increase funding through grants, scholarships and other funding mechanisms for members. I will further promote public awareness of NPs (domestically and internationally) through a sustained, measured approach. As the Chair of the AANP DEI Committee, I will continue to bring awareness and highlight opportunities which address diversity, equity and inclusion as outlined in the strategic plan. It will be my privilege to serve as AANP Treasurer and support the Mission, Goals, and Objectives of this esteemed organization.