Editor’s Note: A Web quality photograph of Edward Gruber is available on the Web at nursing.wsu.edu/people/gruber.htm .
SPOKANE, Wash. — Edward Gruber, a clinical professor and graduate program coordinator at the Intercollegiate College of Nursing/Washington State University College of Nursing, in Spokane, becomes president of the American College of Nurse Practitioners this week, during the organization’s annual Nurse Practitioner Summit in Washington, D.C.
Gruber was elected to serve a three-year term in February 2001. For the past year, Gruber as served as vice president/president-elect for the ACNP.
“During the next 12 months, I’ll be working to unite and leverage the work of nurse practitioners and their organizations, to promote the creation of a national nurse practitioner database and to advocate the elimination of barriers to the practice” said Gruber.
The ACNP represents more than 40,000 nurses through a three-tier membership of individual, state and national affiliates. The ACNP focuses on political and professional advocacy for nurse practitioners. Gruber has been an active member of the ACNP since 1995.
Gruber joined the Intercollegiate College of Nursing in January 2000 from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where he was the co-coordinator of a family nurse practitioner program.
“The issues affecting the nursing profession beyond our geographic focus are important indicators of what will ultimately reach our part of the country,” said Dorothy Detlor, dean of the Intercollegiate College of Nursing/WSU College of Nursing. “Having Ed at the helm of a national nursing organization helps our college keep a pulse on the national issues and the professional pursuits our faculty and students can achieve.”
In addition to teaching two graduate level courses at the college, Gruber serves as the graduate program coordinator, advising many of the 145 advanced degree students. Two days per week, Gruber is the “sick call” FNP at the college’s nurse-managed People’s Clinic West, located on the College of Nursing campus, which sees about 65 community college students per week.
Prior to beginning his career in nursing education, Gruber completed a 20-year career as a nurse officer in the U.S. Air Force, holding positions on medical surgical nursing units, in nursing service administration and as a nurse practitioner. He retired in 1984 at the rank of lieutenant colonel.
