Journey to Retail Health
I have been a nurse longer than I was a person. I grew up in a nursing home, lived there and was "taking pulses” when I was 4 years old. I have practiced nursing since I started nursing school at age 18. I am now 57, so if my math is right that is 39 years. I would not know how to not be a nurse. I tried.
In 1986 I became a theology student and was ordained 4 years later in the Presbyterian Church, USA after getting my MDiv degree. I worked at a great hospital for a year as a chaplain but continued to be a nurse all that time to make a living. Finally, I returned to nursing so I had just one job. About 10 years later, after a year off to recover from an illness, I went to computer school to be a techie. Got certified as one, didn't like it and got back into nursing. In 2005, I graduated with a master's in science and was certified as FNP-BC.
I think I've done just about everything a nurse can do, except assist in surgery (can't stand still long enough) and deliver babies or give general anesthesia (pass gas). I was there when ICUs started. I was there before Pediatric ICUs. I remember the first Swanz-Ganz caths. I had to beg on bended knee to get an oncology surgeon to put in a central line for chemo patients. I feel as if I have been through the wars. Having held the hands of many dying people and being there for their families as nurse and chaplain, I still wonder where we go. One second you feel a presence then you don't. As an FNP I certainly have to keep that in mind.
Now I'm out here again. A Retail NP. Why do I have to get there before the kinks are worked out of stuff? Retail nursing is a great gig and a massive opportunity for nurses (and PAs) to educate, prevent and teach wellness. It fills a niche that helps out ERs and doctors, too. (Why are they so scared of us??) And as for helping out patients, just look at our stats.
But there are kinks. How will the company work with you, are you a professional or just the cog in a big wheel? How do we turn people away who don't have the money to see us? How far is our scope of practice and who sets our limits? My belief is that the only way we can have a say in how our practices work is by speaking out. And doing something wild and crazy, like standing together for our profession and our patients. As an NP, I am not a doctor. When I need the help of one, I'll let them know. I'm a nurse with some advanced knowledge of medicine. As such I know when to consult and I have no ego about it. “When in doubt, refer it out" is a good model and more physicians should follow it. Legally, the doctors have the field. My question is if someone made them the boss of me, someone can and should be taught the difference between Nursing and Medicine.