Partners in Practice

Healthcare practiced between the grocery store's pharmacy and produce section is becoming one of the largest sectors employing nurse practitioners in the United States. Since retail clinics see patients from the age of 1 to 100 most NPs are family nurse practitioners. Dr. Roger Green, division vice president of the western region of the Kroger grocery store system's Little Clinics, joins host Mimi Secor to talk about why such clinics are so popular among patients and NPs who work in this rapidly growing medical specialty.

Nurse practitioners can be found in all branches of the military. NPs are deployed to all areas of the globe, wherever there are soldiers— from war zones to humanitarian efforts. How does a career as a Navy NP differ from a civilian NP? Captain Linnea Axman, lead research administrator, project director and family nurse practitioner at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California, joins host Mimi Secor to talk about her career in the Navy, what role nurse practitioners have in the military and the opportunities the Navy offers to NPs.

In 1965, Dr. Loretta Ford, a pediatric nurse at the University of Colorado Medical Center, began to grow concerned about the patients in her community. She saw a need for improved healthcare delivery, especially in the growing number of rural and urban areas where primary pediatric physicians were lacking. Dr. Ford, renowned as the founder of the nurse practitioner field, joins host Mimi Secor to talk about the challenges and triumphs during the early years, and the state of the field in the 21st century.

Forty years ago, the title of "physician associate" was changed to "physician assistant." Now there is a strong grassroots effort amongst PAs to change the name back. On April 5, 2010, 50 leaders in the PA profession signed a letter declaring that the title "physician associate" better fits the role. Bob Blumm, immediate past president of the Association of Plastic Surgery Physician Assistants and a supporter of the letter, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to talk about why this change is critical to the profession, the implications it will have on the future and what needs to be done to make the change a reality.

A malpractice lawsuit is something all physician assistants want to avoid, but what do you do if you are sued by a patient? We'll explore the difference between malpractice for physicians and malpractice for PAs, and can a PA be qualified to testify in court as a legal expert? Dr. Jeffrey Nicholson, president of the American Academy of PAs in Legal Medicine, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to talk about the process of a lawsuit, common themes and mistakes in PA malpractice cases, and what to do if you make a mistake.

With more Americans due to become insured as a result of healthcare reform, nurse practitioners will be increasingly necessary to help make up for the shortage of primary care physicians. Residents of Massachusetts have been required to have health insurance since 2007. There, nurse practitioners have stepped in to meet the demand for primary care. Nurse practitioner Dr. Marie-Eileen Onieal, health policy expert and director of health services for the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, joins host Mimi Secor to look at the role NPs play in Massachusetts' healthcare system, and how this model can help reduce costs and improve patient care throughout the country.

Nurse practitioners play a critical role in American healthcare. Over half of NPs practice in primary care, but their role reaches into every medical specialty, dealing with a variety of complex person-oriented issues. Dr. Elayne DeSimone, clinical professor and director of the Post Master's Program at Stony Brook University School of Nursing in Long Island, New York, joins host Mimi Secor to talk about the skills and services NPs add to a medical practice. What prescribing rights do NPs have? Can a nurse practitioner have their own practice? Tune in for answers to common questions and some facts that may surprise you about the role of NPs.

Since 1990 the role of the nurse practitioner has become a vital part of healthcare in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. NPs have also given tirelessly their expertise in world crises like the earthquake in Haiti. Host Mimi Secor discusses with Dr. Joyce Pulcini, assistant professor at Boston College Connell School of Nursing, the roles that NPs play in different countries and her ground breaking research that looks at the overall impact nurse practitioners have on the medical community worldwide.

Since the University of Colorado graduated the first nurse practitioners in 1965, the educational requirements to enter the field have changed as the healthcare system has changed. Now, in order to keep nurse practitioners' skill sets current and to stay in step with physicians, pharmacists, and other practitioners in evidence-based practice, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing is recommending a doctorate degree be required for new NPs. Dr. Joyce Pulcini, an associate professor at Boston College Connell School of Nursing, joins host Mimi Secor to talk about the trends and changes coming to higher learning for nurse practitioners.

Since 1990 the role of the nurse practitioner has become a vital part of healthcare in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. NPs have also given tirelessly their expertise in world crises like the earthquake in Haiti. Host Mimi Secor discusses with Dr. Joyce Pulcini, assistant professor at Boston College Connell School of Nursing, the roles that NPs play in different countries and her ground breaking research that looks at the overall impact nurse practitioners have on the medical community worldwide.