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 ...

There are six different physicians in my practice and thus, six different philosophical approaches to disease treatment and management. As a new NP, this can be somewhat frustrating. Some days I wish medicine and nursing were a bit more algorithmic. But alas, it ain't like baking a cake, so here's to finding the silver lining. Six ...

My new collaborative physician started two weeks ago, and while I was missing my former collaborative physician, I was glad the company found someone to replace her. One of the concerns regarding my company is no inclusion of the interview process. When I considered leaving this company, I wanted to assist in filling my upcoming vacancy. I was ...

There are several divisions to the medical department at the correctional facility, and for the most part, everyone works collaboratively. There is the medical team consisting of myself, my collaborative physician and our nurse, an LPN. Also, there are nurses, an RN and LPN, who distribute the medication, perform physicals, administer TB testing, ...

I believe the word ''no'' is very powerful and can be used in many ways. ''No'' can be used as a safety mechanism. For example, ''No, you cannot mix Plavix and omeprazole,'' or, ''No, I don't believe that is a nodule, but a fatty tumor, which is normal.'' In those types of contexts, the word ''no'' is not difficult. But as a new NP in a new ...

On my first day working the clinic alone, I saw 19 patients, half of whom were primary care patients and the others a combination of family planning, child health, and STDs. The nurses were amazed and very pleasantly surprised. Given that the PA who was fired saw seven to eight patients a day, and often left the clinic without notice, anyone ...

When it comes to resumes, more is less -- less effectiveness that is. I have noticed that when it comes to creating a resume, most people just can't seem to say enough about themselves. They continue to add more and more content. The vast majority of resumes that I review are far too long and much too wordy. I'm not entirely sure why this ...

What I most enjoy about the clinic in Aurora is its leisurely pace and the luxury of time with each patient — time to go beyond social niceties and actually learn something about them, time to delve into other factors that might mitigate the presenting complaint, time for more than the cursory patient instruction. My preceptor can never be accused ...

By Renee Dahring, MSN, NP If you read my blog regularly, you know that I often write about the importance of a clear, concise resume that contains all the critical elements employers want to see. That is your responsibility as a job seeker. If employers don't find the information they need in your resume, they won't call you. This week I will ...