Editor's note: This blog post is written by Alex Tolbert, founder of Bernard Health. Our healthcare system is broken partly because consumers don't know what anything costs. As patients become more proactive in making informed healthcare decisions, we all agree this should be fixed. But why is it so hard? Achieving price transparency in ...

More dermatological procedures, such as biopsies and excisions, are being done in primary care settings than ever before. With this in mind I want to give everyone some food for thought as to how they can more accurately read the pathology. As clinicians seeing patients, we have the advantage of talking to a patient, seeing their rashes and ...

I'm not a doctor basher. In fact I'm actually quite the contrary. Over the course of my career I have worked with some great docs. They have been encouraging, helpful and generally treated me as a peer. During my education I had physician preceptors and early in my career I had physician mentors. In my practice I have consulted with ...

So I go from working part-time as a nurse to not really working and just doing clinicals. My preceptors were pretty good about working with us regarding schedules, which was amazing because I have 2 kids and a crazy husband. This was more beneficial than I EVER realized! Now? I realize... Let's see... In my first three weeks, I've gotten ...

Tired of buying over the counter products that just don't work? So are patients! One of my passions for what I do is finding just the fix for someone -- something that will work and improve their condition. Pharmacy aisles and mall cosmetic counters are now flooded with an overwhelming quantity of products of varying ...

Wow! What a year this has been and with each opportunity and experience I have been able to share, I have the ADVANCE community to thank for helping me to grow and be a better professional. I have met so many wonderful people who continue to offer support and challenge me with my every day struggles as an NP working in corrections. Over the ...

Last week, NP & PA Student blogger Terry Clarke shared his concerns over the status of nursing. ''I am currently in a class called ‘Societal Forces' as a precursor to my first semester of advanced assessment in the Adult/Gero Primary Care Nurse Practitioner track. The teachers are passionate and well informed. The speakers are excellent, but ...

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 and pure and it does not impact how I treat them. If one of the inmates upsets the ...

  1. A patient presents with a new spot on the nose for 3 months. No history of skin cancer. I believe it's a BCC and path proves it's a SCC, WOW! 2. Ceruloderma, a drug-induced pigmentation secondary to Lupus medication.   3. ''Show and Tell:'' I love a zip lock bag attached to the chart on the door. This patient was proud of the ...

Q: Please describe the DNP role in your NP specialty. A: I will step up on my DNP soapbox once again to say that completing your DNP serves to open up a new way of thinking, a way to approach your practice. It is not an avenue for developing a new position or making more money. The DNP provides you with the tools and resources to ...