Gretchen Moen received her undergraduate degrees from Normandale Community College and the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. She received her master’s of science degree from the University of Minnesota and was board certified as a pediatric nurse practitioner in 1995. She has been a full-time pediatric nurse practitioner in the Twin Cities for the past 13 years.
Gretchen founded Eagan Child and Family Care with another nurse practitioner in June 2005. As co-owner of the practice, she enjoys all aspects of pediatric care but has developed special skills and interests in the areas of asthma management, pediatric sports injury treatment and prevention, and adolescent health. She also developed a specialty in primary care mental health.
As an adjunct faculty member of the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Gretchen is a guest lecturer and preceptor for future nurse practitioners. She is also a member of the nurse practitioner Multistate Reimbursement Alliance working toward recognition and fair reimbursement for NPs across the nation.
Aaron Hartle graduated from Brigham Young University in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. He then immediately started school at the University of Utah, where he received his master’s degree in nursing in 2005, and became a family nurse practitioner.
He has been accepted to the George Washington University School of Health Sciences Doctor of Nursing Practice program starting Fall 2008. Aaron started his career at an urgent care clinic in Lehi, Utah, where he worked as a nurse practitioner and clinical director. In January 2008, he opened his own practice called Pace Clinic in Springville, Utah. The clinic focuses on treating acute illness and injury
After
Joseph Marra graduated high school, his uncle, a CRNA, suggested that he go to school to become a nurse anesthetist, make lots of money and use his brain instead of his back. So he started nursing school, and while studying for his associate’s degree, he worked two jobs: one as a carpenter and the other as a CNA. He knows what you are thinking: "Two ends of the spectrum!" Well, at the time when he started school, and in such a small town, not everyone was accepting of a male nurse. So he worked with his brain and his back for a while.
He continued on his nursing career step by step, first getting his AD then his BSN. Meanwhile he started hid own very successful construction company. In fact he just recently had to close the doors on that dream to focus more on the demands from health care. He found that after working in an emergency department as an RN, an NP could read x-rays and cast broken bones, suture lacerations, etc. He no longer wanted to be a CRNA just for the money!
He constantly needs to be challenged, and he’s very happy doing what he now does. Joseph knows that CRNAs’ jobs are demanding, but in a different way. His uncle describes it as "99% boredom and 1% panic." This was not the job he envisioned for himself, so he opted for the NP program and never looked back.
Joseph had two Urgent Care Centers (one in Altoona and one in Patton, Pa.), but after 2 years had to close one of them due to lack of help in his area. He advertised for an NP but was unsuccessful in finding anyone. Many PAs replied, but he tried to keep his practice and profession to NPs only. He unfortunately hired a DO who ended up having some personal problems that got in the way of his practice, and he had to let him go. He is also subcontracted through a local drug and alcohol detox, and rehab for H&Ps and sick calls. He’s very fortunate for his opportunities and would love to expand, but it is impossible to do it all himself. Joseph has recently been accepted into the DNP program at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, Pa. His first semester starts in August 2008.
Jill Rollet is the managing editor and online editor with ADVANCE for Nurse Practitioners.