_{Dr. Allison Peltier (pictured right) accepts AANP Advocate State Award for Excellence from AANP Region 8 director Dr. Maris Kidner}

Dr. Allison Peltier in the NDSU School of Nursing at Sanford Health in Bismarck was honored by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® as the recipient of the 2023 AANP Advocate State Award for Excellence in North Dakota. Peltier serves as an assistant professor of practice, helping educate future family nurse practitioners. She received the award at the AANP national conference in June in New Orleans.

According to the AANP, the prestigious award highlights the outstanding achievement of nurse practitioners such as Peltier. The award is given to a nurse practitioner in each state who demonstrates excellence in clinical practice and serves as an advocate on behalf of nurse practitioners and their patients.

Peltier helps educate graduate students pursuing their Doctor of Nursing Practice/Family Nurse Practitioner degrees. The need for nurse practitioners is expected to increase 45 percent through 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Dr. Peltier’s national recognition by AANP underscores her talent and dedication to prepare future skilled and compassionate nurse practitioners, which is a rapidly growing need, especially in rural communities,” said Charys Kunkel, director of nursing at NDSU School of Nursing at Sanford Health.

“I have had wonderful mentors and professionals who have had a big impact on my life and profession,” said Peltier. “These experiences have guided me to become involved in education and inspire future nurses and nurse practitioners.”

Her professional experience includes positions working in psychiatric and medical-surgical inpatient units, as well as in urgent care, and as a nurse practitioner with Indian Health Services and Student Health. In her current role as assistant professor, Peltier also coordinates students’ clinical experiences and mentors future nurse practitioners, many of whom will stay in North Dakota.

“My goal is to educate nurses to positively influence the health of individuals, families and communities,” said Peltier.

Peltier (DNP, APRN, FNP-C) is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Sigma Theta Tau, Phi Kappa Phi, North Dakota Nurse Practitioner Association, and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. She serves as a board member at large for the North Dakota Nurse Practitioner Association and is a member of the NDNPA Annual Pharmacology Conference Planning Committee. Her research interests include healthcare disparities, health promotion and disease prevention, as well as rural health and women’s health.

In 2022, Dr. Mykell Barnacle in NDSU’s nurse practitioner degree program also received the AANP award.

The NDSU School of Nursing provides bachelor’s and graduate nursing education at sites in Bismarck and Fargo, North Dakota. Programs are available for part- and full-time students, working professionals and those seeking online educational opportunities.

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners^® (AANP) is the largest professional membership organization for nurse practitioners of all specialties, representing the interests of the more than 121,000 licensed NPs in the U.S.

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