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 that experience that even if I never found a job as an NP, I would not choose to do pain ...

I attended at cozy talk about HIV prevention and treatment earlier this year at the suggestion of my mentor. The expert presiding over the talk was a local expert in HIV management, thus it was an opportunity I did not care to miss. During the discussion he started to reference recent study data suggesting the use of antiretroviral ...

Recently our group was consulted in the care of a patient newly diagnosed with HIV. This patient presented to the hospital via the ED with altered mental status. A lumbar puncture was performed and the cerebrospinal fluid was sent off to the microlab for cultures. About 48 hours later, it was positive for Cryptococcus. An HIV test ...

It's just my opinion, but I think HIV tests are vastly under-utilized. Many patients whom I had the privilege of treating discovered they contracted HIV only after exhaustive and expensive tests were conducted to investigate their persistent flu-like symptoms, respiratory distress or an etiologically indistinct anemia. One patient in ...

My new position affords me the opportunity to provide care and management of patients living with HIV.  Living is the operative verb. Gone are the days of taking at least 17 pills PO q 24 hours. Patients in the United States, diagnosed with HIV, that commence Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) and are medication compliant, will more likely ...

STD screens and treatment are a bread-and-butter public health service. Screenings are usually handled by enhanced-role RNs trained in speculum exams, collecting cultures and wet mounts, though not performing Pap smears. Because our enhanced role RN is the lead nurse for the entire clinic, I do the STD screens when she's covering other ...

Since the beginning of the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic, the public has relied on retail clinic practitioners to provide education, guidance, testing, assurance and treatment. The media is playing a vital role in keeping the public updated; however, I am not sure if this is helpful or harmful. The public is hearing with only half an ear, only ...

While working in a retail clinic, I have identified the following tools as essential for building a successful, thriving clinic: word of mouth, positive perception and community awareness. It is my experience that although company marketing is necessary, word of mouth is a valuable tool for growing a retail clinic. I have witnessed a large ...

Over the past couple of days, there has been pandemonium in our community. Shortly after announcement of the 1st local probable case of H1N1, our community went into a downward spiral of panic. Several school closings contributed to mass hysteria … face mask, hand sanitizer and grocery items quickly left store shelves. It’s like Swine Flu ...

This last year had its challenges and it’s wonders. I hope to see 2009 surpass the past in wonders and our challenges are less dramatic and violent. Happy Peaceful New Year. Retail health care is very busy this time of year. With the stresses of the economy, Christmas and life in general, viruses have had a happy time. I can almost see those ...