Vanderbilt School of Nursing Associate Professor Leslie Hopkins, DNP, MSN’93, was elected to the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Board of Directors as a member-at-large for the 2023-2025 term.
Hopkins, director of Vanderbilt’s Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program, has been a member of NONPF since 1995 and, holds the group in high esteem for their educational opportunities.
“NONPF has served as a rich source of professional development for me as a nursing educator,” she said. “My membership has afforded me a wide range of opportunities. Most important, it has allowed me to grow my knowledge about educating the next generation of nurse practitioners while at the same time growing a professional network that includes colleagues from all over the country.”
NONPF supports nurse practitioners through education initiatives aimed at growing networks and developing new nursing competencies. The group also focuses on policy issues important to their members.
Hopkins received a bachelor of science in pre-nursing from Lipscomb University, a master of science in nursing from Vanderbilt and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Duke University. She specializes in adult primary care and currently practices at the Nurse Practitioner Faculty practice clinic in Mt Juliet providing primary care to adults of all ages. Her research interests include chronic disease management. Among her publications are a 2014 guide to urinary tract infections for clinicians in urgent care practices.
Hopkins views her involvement as a way of paying back the opportunities afforded her. ”As a board member at large, I hope to help shape the future of NP education as NONPF works to support educators as we establish new competencies, methods of evaluation and strategic partnerships,” she said.
She hopes others will join the group and benefit from the opportunities it can provide. Hopkins pointed out that being a part of the group can lead to a greater understanding of the history of nurse practitioner education and help develop education related to the complex issues facing NPs today.
“Nurse practitioners are key to the health and wellness of individuals, families and communities, and as educators, it is our responsibility to develop NPs who can meet that challenge. NONPF is key to this educational mission,” she explained.