Children's Hospital of Michigan Nurse Wins National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Award

Heather Bartlett, R.N., M.S.N., C.P.N.P., with the Division of Ambulatory Care and Adolescent Medicine at Children's Hospital of Michigan was awarded The Outstanding Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Preceptor Award at this year's National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners convention in Boston. The event was attended by more than 1,500 nursing professionals.

The Outstanding Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Preceptor Award was established by the Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Faculties to recognize a pediatric nurse practitioner preceptor who has made significant contributions to the education of pediatric nurse practitioners at the regional, national, or international level.

Ms. Bartlett has exemplified the role of pediatric nurse practitioner since 2000. Within the last three years alone, she has logged more than 1,500 hours with 17 students, providing clinical oversight and hands-on instruction for master’s level nurses preparing to become board certified nurse practitioners.

“This work keeps you real in your own practice; the students always keep me on my toes. I get to nurture others’ love of learning and interest in the latest research that should be incorporated into our practice,” she says, “Plus, I get to continue my own practice, focusing on direct patient care and child development, while helping prepare new nurse practitioner colleagues to come on board.” 

Ms. Bartlett has been with Children’s Hospital of Michigan since graduating from the University of Windsor with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in 1991. She worked on the 5th floor in general medicine and neurology for three years before transferring to the pediatric and adolescent clinic where she has been since, first as a staff nurse and then as a nurse practitioner since 1998.

Nurse practitioners play an increasingly important role in hospital work as health care changes place a greater emphasis on patient education and disease prevention within the context of patients’ and families’ whole needs.

“We fill a care gap in making sure patients learn how to take good care of themselves and have the know-how and resources to do so,” Ms. Bartlett says. 

Ms. Bartlett laughs as she recalls that as a teenager she had been adamant about never becoming a nurse or a teacher – her parents’ professions. Now, here she is, winner of a national award recognizing her accomplishments in both those careers. 

For further information on Children’s Hospital of Michigan, visit http://www.childrensdmc.org.