WSNA CNE

Louise Kaplan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in nursing from Simmons College, her Master of Nursing with preparation as a family nurse practitioner (FNP) from the University of Washington and her Ph.D. in health policy from Brandeis University.  She became a FNP in 1981 and has extensive clinical experience including 15 years of practice in a rural clinic.  She has over 20 years of experience as an educator, has worked in several policy positions including service as a pro team member of the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission.  She has conducted research, published and presented on Washington State's advanced registered nurse practitioners related to prescriptive authority and workforce issues and other topics. She is co-editor with Dr. Marie Annette Brown of a book on prescribing for advanced practice registered nurses. Dr. Kaplan has extensive experience in legislative and policy activities that includes having served on the WSNA Legislative and Health Policy Council.  She   currently chairs the legislative committee of ARNPs United of Washington State. She has been honored with the WSNA Nurse Researcher of the Year award, inducted into the WSNA Hall of Fame and inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and American Academy of Nursing.