You At Your Best

By kaREN RICE One career path open to aspiring nurses is that of a nurse practitioner. NPs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRN). The responsibilities of an NP are greater than that of a registered nurse, and as a result, there are additional education requirements for one to become an NP. What do NPs do? NPs perform many tasks that people may think can be performed solely by doctors. For example, NPs can prescribe medications, examine patients, make diagnoses, and even provide treatment. If those tasks sound like the responsibilities of a physician, that's because they're similar. Mary Daniel, a Nurse Practitioner at Mercy Primary Care Clinic in Centerton notes that Advanced Practice nursing is a field many nurses choose in order to expand their role and capabilities as a nurse. "It is not to 'become a doctor,'" she adds. "We each have role in healthcare." In fact, some NPs, depending on the laws in their state, do not have to work under the supervision of a doctor. That is not the case in Arkansas, Mary points out. "In Arkansas, we are required to have a collaborative agreement with a physician to prescribe," she says. "I truly appreciate the support I have with my collaborating physicians." The growing reliance on NPs is evident in the career outlooks for these highly trained professionals. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections for NPs is even better than that for registered nurses, with estimates suggesting the employment of advanced practice registered nurses will increase by 26 percent between 2018 and 2028. The education requirements for NPs are much greater than those for RNs and other roles within the field of nursing. All NPs must complete a master's or doctoral degree program and have advanced clinical training beyond their initial professional RN preparation. But healthcare is all about teamwork, Mary emphasizes. "I appreciate the role of physicians, other advance practice providers (APRN, PA's, clinical staff ), nurses (RN, LPN, MA), respiratory therapists, PT/OT/ST, lab, radiology technicians, clerical staff, management, pharmacy staff, custodial workers, pastoral care, emergency personal, dietary, social workers, educators and everyone that has a role. It is important for everyone to do their part, know their value, and trust their team." What is a nurse practitioner? sUNDay, aPRIL 26, 2020 | May - #THaNkaNURsE NWaDG.COM/yOUaTyOURBEsT | yOU aT yOUR BEsT | 6 Honoring a special nurse By DR. DUsTIN RICHaRDs WOLFPaCk HEaRING CLINIC I can name many influences in my journey, but today I am thinking about my mother, Moey Mauney. She recently retired as a registered nurse (RN) after working over 20 years in the Little Rock area near where I was born and raised. As the youngest of 5 children, I had just started grade school when my mother made the decision to go to nursing school. She continued to work late hours on the side to support us financially. As you might imagine, money was tight, and she was stretched to the limit. I vividly remember the hard work she put in with a goal that she was going to meet no matter what. When she finished school and became a nurse, the stress didn't let up. She worked 60+ hour weeks to provide for us and pay back her student loans. Furthermore, her attitude toward nursing was not just a paycheck. She was passionate and was recognized multiple times for her quality of work as an RN. And if you have any nurses in your family, you know how high the demands are. To this day, I've never seen any work as hard as my mother did. We have her to thank for our work ethic. From day one, we promised that Wolfpack Hearing Clinic would be known for only the highest quality of service in hearing healthcare. We're grateful for our awards. But our staff is in mutual agreement that the recognition only adds to the pressure to improve. We are so grateful to our nurses, especially during this current health crisis.Like my mother, we can never become complacent, because more and more people now depend on us for the ongoing care that better hearing requires. sPONsOR CONTENT Located in East Fayetteville 2630 E Citizens Dr. #7 (479) 957-9300 wolfpackhearing.com Our patients succeed. You will, too! Best of Northwest Arkansas the

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