North Carolina First in Bariatric Nursing: Development of the First State Chapter of the National Association of Bariatric Nurses in North Carolina

Specialty nursing organizations, such as the National Association of Bariatric Nurses (NABN), provide a venue for the genesis of standardized practice, expectations of care and the dissemination of new knowledge. However, fostering involvement closer to the point-of-care is critical to ensuring successful outcomes for both patients and the nurses caring for them. State chapters of the National Association of Bariatric Nurses are a natural segue way to providing local resources and support to those caring for the unique needs of bariatric patients and their families. As with many types of care, local and regional differences can provide distinct opportunities and challenges for nurses and the patient care team. This article will describe the development of the first state chapter of the National Association of Bariatric Nurses and offer strategies and insight for further state chapter development.