The Georgia Nurses Association hired GNA Past President Richard Lamphier to serve as its Peer Assistance Program (GNA-PAP) executive director.

A dedicated GNA-PAP facilitator for many years, Richard’s passion for helping peers, his track-record of service in GNA, and his insight into the disease of substance use disorder in nurses, make him an invaluable asset for the growing and strengthening of the program, and for increasing awareness about it among nurses, and nursing and healthcare institutions.

“I look forward to expanding and bringing an awareness of the program to the Nurses of Georgia,” he stated. “The position adds an opportunity to work on prevention and bring an educational component to healthcare systems and schools of nursing.”

The Georgia Nurses Association Peer Assistance Program (GNA-PAP), previously named the Georgia Nurses Association Nurse Advocate Program, is a collaborative effort with the Georgia Board of Nursing (the Board) and GNA. Established in 1981, the program is staffed with volunteer nurses who are committed to support other nurses living with the disease of substance use disorder. Georgia was the first state in the nation to acknowledge the need to treat, to support and to retain nurses with substance abuse disorder as members of the nursing profession.

For assistance through the GNA-PAP, call 800-462-9627 or 404-325-8807. Or via e-mail at [email protected]. For urgent support, please contact GNA-PAP Chair-Elect Barbara Austin, RN, MN at 404-754-7989.