New Grad NP : Ethics and Legal Issues

Challenging Patients in the Correctional Facility

Beverly Clayton — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:46:00 GMT

Over the past month I have had some very challenging patients. I will often question, why and how did someone end up here at the correctional facility? I believe it is better I do not know. Actually, it is none of my business; it keeps the care unbiased...(read more)

The Cost of Providing Care

Samantha Damren — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 15:17:00 GMT

I was going to write a blog about neuro-syphilis because I just recently treated a 29-year-old patient for this condition, however, on reflection it seems more apt to discuss the enormous financial costs associated with her care. That being said, neuro-syphilis...(read more)

Benefits of the Affordable Care Act

Beverly Clayton — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:01:00 GMT

"America has spoken" says Nick Cannon from America's Got Talent and the winner is: The American People! This is the feeling of many when the Supreme Court ruled that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is constitutional. Are the American...(read more)

Pain Patients

Elizabeth Huston — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:29:00 GMT

My contact with pain patients was extensive during my residency in Aurora, North Carolina, a coastal town of about 400, with a patient population compromising of retirees, commercial fisherman and above-ground miners from a phosphate mine. I knew from...(read more)

Prescribing for Mental Health

Samantha Damren — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT

In watching the practice of prescribing psychotropic medications I am very hesitant about my own prescriptive practices and keenly observant of other practitioners. I am acutely sensitive to the issue. It seems like every other patient I see, irrespective...(read more)

A Perfect Preceptorship

Beverly Clayton — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:51:00 GMT

In a previous post I wrote about my nervousness about precepting a graduate nurse. Even though I am adjunct faculty for a local college, and enjoy the experience immensely, I questioned whether I could offer her a satisfying experience. Could I provide...(read more)

When Your Biggest Fear as a Clinician Comes True

Wendy Rivard — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:46:00 GMT

As an NP, one of my biggest fears is missing something big. One of my biggest fears came true tonight. One of my patients, a 2-year-old that I have been seeing for over a year, went into the ED for a repeat visit. She has been having issues with constipation...(read more)

Healthy People 2020

Beverly Clayton — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:18:00 GMT

Health and Human Services Sec. Kathleen Sebelius announced the Healthy People 2020 initiative on Dec. 2. According to Chief Technology Officer Todd Park, "This milestone in disease prevention and health promotion creates an opportunity to leverage information...(read more)

Hospitals Rejecting NP Orders

Wendy Rivard — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:57:00 GMT

Once a nurse, always a nurse. I’ve written before about the troubles I have getting some hospitals to accept my orders for tests, obtaining results and making referrals to specialists. In these instances, I am asked who is my “supervising” physician....(read more)

Responsibility of Providing Healthcare

Wendy Rivard — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:52:00 GMT

A couple of weeks ago, while rounding on my newborns, I heard heart murmurs in 2 out of the three babies I saw. One of the murmurs sounded “transitional,” meaning that it was probably due to a PDA (patent ductus arteriosus) that hadn’t closed yet. I decided...(read more)

Stressful Precepting

Wendy Rivard — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 19:29:00 GMT

My student quit last week. I had a bad feeling from the very beginning. After the school contacted me with her information, I heard nothing from her. One day, suddenly, our office manager was bombarded with multiple messages from her. When I emailed my...(read more)