OAAPN Voices

Advocacy, Access to Care & APRN Practice

What does legislative advocacy have to do with your everyday practice as an APRN? More than you might think!

Join host Christine Stahl as she talks with Summer Snyder and Mandi Cafasso, co-directors of OAAPN’s Government Relations Committee (GRC), about the ongoing effort to remove Ohio’s Standard Care Arrangement (SCA) requirement, why this legislation matters to APRNs across specialties and practice settings, and how reducing administrative barriers can improve patient access to care.

Our guests share practical ways APRNs can get involved—from responding to advocacy alerts and contacting legislators to sharing their experiences and building relationships with elected officials.

With a new General Assembly on the horizon, now is the time to make your voice heard. Advocacy is everyone’s responsibility, and together, we can help shape the future of advanced practice nursing in Ohio.

In a previous episode of OAAPN Voices, we explored Getting Involved: Where to Start in OAAPN. This episode takes the conversation a step further by exploring why getting involved matters.

Christine Stahl talks with Sarah Hunter, Toledo Chapter Leader, about her journey with OAAPN, the connections she's made through chapter involvement, and how stepping into leadership has shaped her professional journey.

Sarah shares her perspective on the value of getting involved, finding your place within the organization, and the impact APRNs can have when we work together.

Whether you're already engaged with OAAPN or wondering where you might fit, this conversation is a reminder that every journey starts with a first step.

Episode 5: Clinical Conversations | Hormone Replacement Therapy: Caring for Women Through Perimenopause and Menopause

Women are increasingly seeking care for symptoms they believe may be related to perimenopause or menopause, often asking, "Can you check my hormones?" As awareness grows, so do questions surrounding hormone therapy, symptom management, and the role of advanced practice providers in caring for women during this stage of life.

In this episode of Clinical Conversations, host Christine Stahl is joined by Deidre Arms, APRN-CNP, FNP-C, founder of Aspire Wellness Integrative Health, for a practical, evidence-based discussion on evaluating and managing women through the menopausal transition.

Together, they discuss:

• Why routine hormone testing is often unnecessary

• Recognizing the common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause

• Appropriate initial evaluation and differential diagnosis

• Current evidence surrounding hormone replacement therapy, including risks and benefits

• Which patients may be appropriate candidates for hormone therapy and when referral to a women's health or menopause specialist should be considered

• Practical clinical pearls that clinicians can immediately apply in practice

Whether you practice in primary care, women's health, internal medicine, or another clinical specialty, this conversation provides practical guidance to help you confidently care for women navigating perimenopause and menopause.

Clinical Conversations is an educational series within OAAPN Voices, bringing together subject matter experts to discuss timely clinical topics and share practical insights that advanced practice registered nurses can apply in everyday practice.

In this inaugural episode of Clinical Conversations, a new educational series within OAAPN Voices, host Christine Stahl is joined by Kelly Nolte, APRN-CNS, to discuss practical updates in lipid management and cardiovascular risk reduction.

Together, they explore today's approach to cardiovascular risk assessment, the role of ApoB and Lipoprotein(a) in refining patient risk, when coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring can help guide treatment decisions, and when clinicians should consider therapies beyond statins, including ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitors. They also discuss common misconceptions surrounding statin therapy and strategies for navigating conversations with hesitant patients.

Whether you practice in primary care, cardiology, internal medicine, endocrinology, or another clinical specialty, this concise conversation provides practical, evidence-based insights you can apply in everyday practice.

Clinical Conversations is a recurring series within OAAPN Voices, bringing together subject matter experts to discuss timely clinical topics that matter to advanced practice registered nurses.

In Episode 3 of OAAPN Voices, host Christine Stahl takes a deeper look at ways members can get involved within Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses.

Hear directly from leaders within the Education Committee, Government Relations Committee, and Communications Committee as they share how these groups support APRNs across Ohio and how members can begin getting involved. This episode also highlights the Key Person Program (KPP) and the important role relationship-building and engagement play in advancing the profession.

Whether you’re looking to grow professionally, connect with colleagues, or help shape the future of advanced practice nursing, this episode offers practical ways to take that first step.

House Bill 508 is currently moving through the legislative process in Ohio, and it represents a critical moment for APRNs across the state.

In this episode of OAAPN Voices, we sit down with Government Relations Co-Director Mandi Cafasso to break down what HB 508 is, where it stands, and what it could mean for your practice and your patients.

You’ll also hear key insights from Co-Director Summer Davis, highlighting what’s at stake and how APRNs can get involved.

This isn’t just about legislation — it’s about the future of advanced practice in Ohio.

Now is the time to stay informed, get engaged, and make your voice heard.

In our debut episode, we introduce OAAPN and the mission behind our work. Hear from OAAPN’s president as we explore the value of membership, opportunities to get involved, and how nurse practitioners across Ohio are shaping the future of care.