This spring, nurses will be the topic of a panel on abortion care for the first time at the National Abortion Federation’s Annual Conference. “While nurses play a critical role in providing reproductive health care services and performing essential duties in abortion service delivery, their contribution to ensuring women’s access is often overlooked,” notes Joyce Cappiello, Director of AAP’s ROE Consortium and panel moderator. “The speakers on the panel will do an excellent job highlighting that contribution. They bring real diversity in both the leadership roles they play in abortion care and also the settings in which they practice.”

The four panelists bring strong expertise in abortion care. Kate Gawler, LPN, is the Director of Abortion Services, Family Planning Association of Maine in Augusta.  Christine Walcott, RN, will discuss her experience around staffing concerns at Medical Gynecological Procedure Units in Boston.  Offering a window into nurse recruitment and retention in a rural community, Charisse Tuma-Meiers, LPN, comes to the panel as the Health Center Manager of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, Durango. Finally, Todd Buchacker RN and Regional Director of Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, Des Moines, will offer his experience around the uses of values clarification” techniques. “Given the relevant and influential audience at the conference,” explains Joyce, “the panel is a great opportunity to showcase the contributions of nurses and support their continued work around abortion care.”