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 ...

Have you visited our blogs lately? Last week, new NPs and nurse veterans battled on the value of floor experience. Our NP & PA Student blogger Terry Clarke, currently enrolled in a fast track NP program, expressed his views on what experienced nurses have going for them and what they still have to learn. Here are a few of the comments your ...

There was a disturbing incident that occurred a few weeks ago. I also look at this experience as an eye-opener for me. I have long come to this realization, but it was never more evident than when the incident happened. First, let me start off by stating, prior to my opportunity to work in corrections, I was judgmental and biased and I ...

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 ...

Costs for healthcare are rising. There is not a revelation in this statement, but as providers, we have to be mindful of the dollars we use because it affects raises. My former mentor would drive that home for me. When I would order a test, she would ask, ''Will that test change your treatment plan?'' And if I responded with ''no'' then she ...

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, ...

If you're not chatting with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, ''like'', ''follow'' and ''connect'' with us and start sharing in the conversations! If you are, keep following and spread the word! This week, our social media sites exploded with great comments from our readers. Here are some of the highlights, copied verbatim and without ...

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 ...