A Nurse Practitioner's View

No, this has nothing to do with breast feeding. This post is really a non-healthcare topic but I just needed to vent. Back in the Winter , I blogged about my passion for technology and looked forward to the new iPad coming out. To preface, I have always been a PC guy and never really understood the whole Apple fascination. I had many PCs and was very comfortable troubleshooting any issues I had. Though, I did have many different of the iPod models and had purchased the 3G iPhone back in October 2008. Well, I did decide to purchase the 32 GB Wi-Fi iPad and hopped on board the Apple gravy train. I woke up early that Saturday in April and headed on down to wait in line at my local Apple store. Overall, I am happy with my purchase as I knew it wasn't really a replacement for any device that I'm currently already using. This for me was really a "nice to have" rather than "need to have" purchase. I do have an issue with the device which is known by Apple and the...

With Father's Day just around the corner, now is a great time to remind all men about prostate health and screenings. Follow the link to a video from the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Happy Father's Day to all Dad's out there!

Here is President Obama's speech to the American Nurses Association from 6/17/2010. He specifically refers to NPs by stating: Now, there is more work to do. And that's why today my administration is announcing a number of investments to expand the primary care workforce. This includes funding to allow students training part-time to become nurse practitioners to start training full-time. (Applause.) We want to speed up the process where folks go from the classroom into the exam room. And we’re going to provide resources for clinics run by registered nurses and nurse practitioners. (Applause.) More work to do indeed.

Here is an article from NY's Newsday about NP practice and the goal towards the elimination of statutory collaboration in New York. It's a fairly predictable piece with the typical opposition from the organized medicine playbook (How many times do we have to see "If they want to play doctor, they should go t o medical school" in print? Seriously). Nonetheless, thriving NP practices are mentioned and show the significant impact that NPs are making in the lives of patients and in the health care system. I will mention it again as I've done countless times in my blog: NPs do not want to replace physicians and are NOT looking to change scope of practice (The presence of a collaborative agreement or not will have no impact on the quality of care I deliver but not having one in place simply renders me unemployed). I do hope that the vocal opposition eventually understand this so that we may begin to deliver care that is truly patient centered. UPDATE: I did something ...

Nurse Walkout Highlights Conflict With Hospitals and Health Insurance Plans Ideally, all interests in the health care system should work together towards a common goal: the welfare of the patient. Unfortunately, nurses have been pitted against hospitals and the health insurance industry. The Obama administration's healthcare reform legislation will squeeze insurers and hospitals alike. Medicare payments to facilities are set to be cut over the next several years, and private health plans are set to follow suit. In order to prepare for these changes, many hospitals are looking for ways to maintain their margins. One of the most common methods is through staff cuts. Nurses, being on the front lines of providing health care services, are largely vulnerable. Nursing unions in Minnessota and other states are going on strike to protest staffing cuts. While they are certainly concerned about their own pay and benefits, some hospitals may take their cost cutting too far and put patients at...

Any “older” PhD students out there? This is my latest update in my quest for funding. Enjoy the humor of it all. As SNL host at the age of 88, Betty White proved she still has it; UConn Coach Calhoun, age 68, is going to get it (5 years and 13 million). So, it is with some cheek that I submit this treatise on aging in the world of academia. I mean, after all it is 2010; but a funny thing happened to me on the way to a fellowship. I am not a victim; I am an unabashed overachiever. I have no apologies for striving for more: more life, more liberty, and more happiness. The happiness for me comes in part from my family, a new “grand” coming in August, my work, my scholarship and my research. My work as a Nurse Practitioner is caring for the vulnerable aging, and the patients, families and communities suffering with dementia. My scholarship and research is from my new road to academia, specifically a Doctorate in Philosophy. My community knows I am striving to be a Doctor-Nurse...