Utah Nurse Practitioners

09/22/2026

📣 Get involved with UNP!

Nominations and self-nominations are now open for UNP Board and Committee positions!

We’re looking for members who are ready to get involved, share their voice, and help shape the future of Utah Nurse Practitioners.

Open positions:
• President-Elect
• Secretary
• Legislative Board Seat
• Technology Board Seat
• Nominations Committee
• Awards Committee

Know someone who would be a great fit? Nominate them! Interested in getting more involved yourself? Self-nominations are encouraged!

🔗 Submit a nomination: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeIMNE8V2WuS-pkXXqhGLwSNss0ksUn7dufjmIO-MuiuMT97g/viewform

Questions? Reach out to [email protected]

📅 Nominations close October 15.

Help us continue building a strong, engaged NP community across Utah.

09/14/2026

This is a MUST-ATTEND conference to see what your practice may face during the legislative session. Register now!

You are invited to the combined UNP and UNA Fall Advocacy Conference this Friday, September 18 from 9-1130 am. This is a virtual conference that will keep you abreast of current Interim Session...

09/10/2026

📣 Join us for the 2026 Fall Advocacy Conference!

Utah Nurse Practitioners and the Utah Nurses Association are teaming up for a morning focused on advocacy, policy, and strengthening the voice of nurses and APRNs in Utah.

💻 Virtual Conference
📅 Friday, September 18
⏰ 9:00–11:00 AM

Whether you’re new to advocacy or already engaged in policy work, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the issues affecting our profession and how you can help make a difference.

🩺 Your voice matters. Join us and help shape the future of nursing in Utah!

🔗 Register today at UNP.org

08/28/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Clifton, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CCHP-A, CCHP-CP, FAANP, the 2026 AANP State Award for Outstanding Contributions recipient for Utah!

The AANP State Award for Outstanding Contributions recognizes individuals who demonstrate excellence in advancing the nurse practitioner role through practice, education, advocacy, research, and leadership (PEARL) — areas Dr. Clifton has championed throughout her career.

With more than 35 years of nursing experience, Dr. Clifton has made a lasting impact through clinical practice, education, leadership, and service. A nationally recognized leader in juvenile correctional health, she has provided primary care to justice-involved youth since 2005 while educating and mentoring future nurse practitioners at the University of Utah College of Nursing. She currently serves as Associate Dean of Practice and Community Collaboration.

Her commitment to improving access to high-quality care, advancing the NP profession, and serving vulnerable communities exemplifies the very best of nurse practitioner practice and leadership.

Utah Nurse Practitioners is proud to celebrate Dr. Clifton and this well-deserved recognition. Congratulations, Dr. Clifton! 👏💙

08/19/2026

Go to unp.org for registration information. This is the virtual conference you never knew you NEEDED!

Your Legislative Committee has been busy during the summer trying to protect APRN practice while focusing on patient safety. This virtual conference will be an advocacy bootcamp that will inform...

08/12/2026

Congratulations to UNP member Kimberlee Bayless, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP!

Kim has been selected by ASRA Pain Medicine to receive the 2026 Advanced Practice and Nursing Award, recognizing her significant contributions to the field of pain medicine.

Kim serves as Director of the Transitional Pain Service at the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City and is an adjunct instructor at the University of Utah School of Medicine. She also gives back to Utah’s NP community as a member of UNP’s Legislative Committee and co-chair of the Utah Nurse Practitioner Pharmacology Conference.

We are proud to have Kim as part of the UNP community and thrilled to see her leadership, expertise, and dedication recognized nationally. Congratulations, Kim! 👏💙

🔗 Read more about Kim and the award: https://www.newswise.com/articles/kimberlee-bayless-receives-2026-advanced-practice-and-nursing-award

07/22/2026

🌟Member Spotlight: David Cowley, NP‑C, is a dedicated hematology/oncology nurse practitioner with more than 13 years of experience caring for patients facing complex diagnoses. A graduate of Graceland University’s MSN/NP program, David is passionate about the intricacies of oncology management and stays deeply engaged in emerging treatments and medication advancements. His clinical interests include urgent care, emergency medicine, and medical oncology, where he thrives in fast‑paced, high‑impact environments.

David also contributes to the broader medical community through service on several Intermountain Health boards and leadership as the APP Lead for Medical Oncology in the Desert Region. We’re proud to have David as part of the UNP community! 💙

07/08/2026

A big thank you to UNP members Melissa Hinton and Heidi Vawdrey for sharing their photos from the AANP Conference! 📸

We love seeing Utah nurse practitioners connecting, learning, and representing our profession together. Thank you for helping us celebrate our incredible NP community!

Heidi had this to say about her experience: “I went to AANP for the first time and it was a great experience! One of the things that really stood out to me is something that Wendy Wright said in the closing session that you can learn about diabetes on zoom, but when you don't come to these live conferences, you're missing out on tremendous opportunities to network. I really enjoyed the conversations at the end of each presentation that I had with nurse practitioners from all over the country. As a clinic owner, there were several sessions that were were really excellent for me to refine my business and legal practices. I also went to some sessions that had great clinical pearls. It was also really fun to connect with former students, and other nurse practitioner colleagues from Utah. I will definitely be back.”

07/02/2026

Did you attend the AANP Conference last week? We’d love to see your experience!

📸 Send us your favorite photos for a chance to be featured on UNP’s social media. Whether you attended sessions, connected with colleagues, explored the exhibit hall, or celebrated with fellow NPs, we want to share your highlights with our community.

Send your photos to us—we can’t wait to feature you!

06/23/2026

Are you at the AANP Conference this week?! Join AANP Region 8 for an unforgettable evening of networking, neon lights & vintage Vegas fun!