Meet Chris Porter, FNP

Specialty:  Family Practice.
Now Living in: West Seattle, WA
How long on the Board: Since January 2012.

Current work place and position: Chris Porter Medical, owner

Brief work history: Three Tree ID 2006-2011, Highline Medical Group 2005-2006, Dallas Transplant Institute 2002-2005, NP: 10 years and RN: 20 Years

Why you chose your specialty: I chose Family because no patient exist by him or herself. Their families are closely connected, not on good terms, or non-traditional. It is the best way to understand they people that I take care of is to take care of their families. Infectious Disease (ID) has interested me since they early days of HIV infection. Humans are some of the most resilient beings on the plant and yet a single virion or bacterium, 1/1,000,000,000 of our size, has the ability to sicken and cause mortality. There is nothing else in our environment that can exert such devastation and lethality in such a short period of time that is not man made.

Why you volunteered for the BOD: I have decided to volunteer for the BOD because to complain about healthcare is helpful and to discuss with peers, the problem or issues of the profession is nice, but change and leadership require that someone standup and state: what are we going to do about it. I plan to do just that. Leadership is not a contest but direction. I know that I have some experience and leadership that will provide this organization with the direction for the goals it has set. Stepping up and getting elected is only the beginning.

What you most care about regarding NPs: I care most that NPs have a say in health care. I care that our voices are heard. I care that we argue about the merits of good sound healthcare and not who has the most educate to provide it. I care that every nurse that desires to become an NP has a profession open and ready to accept them. I care most that there are NP available to that patients will always have that choice.

Your hopes for AUWS: I hope that AUWS remains the leading voice for ARNPs in Washington and that we become the organization of choice for professional affiliation. My hope that when ARNPs are mentioned or thought of in the state of Washington, AUWS comes to mind. My hope is that governing bodies that have issues of practice and care or standards will always seek consultation from AUWS. My hope is that no Nurse Practitioner will see their practice as complete unless they are a member of AUWS.