Legislative Update: Waiting is the Hardest Part

    Right now we are waiting. And waiting. And waiting.

Resolutions and recognitions are the main happenings on the chambers' floors right now. (The Texas Constitution prohibits pretty much anything else non emergent or non budget related for the first 60 days.) 

The good news is Donna Howard presented a resolution to honor nurse practitioners: HR 218 ( http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HR218). So did Cecil Bell: HR 459 (http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HR459). 

We are moving in a forward direction, but we're not quite there. In the next couple of weeks  committees will roll up their sleeves and get down to business. Bills will be filed and negotiations will start. 

This is clutch time. We MUST answer the calls to action. Petitions, phone calls, Facebook, Twitter. You're on social media taking a quiz about something asinine anyway. Make it productive!

The BEST site to keep you up to date on everything: https://texasnp.site-ym.com/?84LegSession

If you are not involved with TNP (Texas Nurse Practitioners), I highly encourage you to check them out. Here you will find information regarding Round the Capital dates: https://ntnp.enpnetwork.com/nurse-practitioner-news/59891-tnp-round-the-capitol-dates-for-2015-legislative-session I'll post more on this later!

Please comment and feel free to email me! You can follow me on Twitter @RN2Practitioner - I tweet daily!

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Don't be Stupid, Cupid

Have no idea what to get your nurse on this most pointless of all holidays? The following 3 items are things any nurse (fellas you're included!) would love to receive this Valentine's Day.

 

#1 Calf compression sleeves

These are not your grandmother's white compression hose. They are unisex, require less washing because they don't cover your feet, and are great for running/training. I love my sleeves. So do my feet.

#2 Wine/Whiskey of the Month Club

If I have to go into detail on this one, you clearly are not on the same page as your partner. They are probably going to dump you after Valentine's Day. Don't say I didn't warn you!

#3 Subscription to a pricey electronic clinical resource, like Uptodate or Epocrates.

Many schools and larger organizations provide access for students and staff. Double check first!

Hope you have a Happy Valentine's Day!



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Let me clear my throat

When I tell people I'm in nurse practitioner (NP) school I receive all kinds of responses. "So you're going to be a physician's assistant?" "Don't have enough letters behind your name already?" And my all time favorite: "Will you go back and get your RN (registered nurse)?" Drives. Me. Crazy. Even though the majority of these responses come from my grandmother's generation, there is without a doubt a lot of confusion and misinformation floating out there regarding advance practice nurses (APRNs). Especially within the medical community. So in the famous words of DJ Kool, let me clear my throat.

In a nut shell an NP is an APRN qualified to provide a range of both primary and acute health care services such as diagnosing,  treating medical conditions, and writing prescriptions. APRN scope of practice varies by state, which I think is why there is so much confusion, but I digress.  Educational requirements include a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), post-master's, or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). A PhD is another option, but these nurses focus more on research than clinical practice. There are several specialties available to NPs: acute care, adult, family, gerontology, neonatal, pediatric, psychiatric/mental health, and women's health.

There are four types of APRNs: NPs, clinical nurse specialists (CNS), nurse-midwives, and nurse anesthetists (CRNA). Think of APRN as an umbrella term. Clear as mud? Check out http://www.graduatenursingedu.org/aprn-definition. The site covers everything APRN.

I hope this clarifies things a little bit. Thank you for stopping by! Feel free to comment. And be sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @RN2Practitioner #nursemeetspractitioner!

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Welcome

Hello and welcome to my blog! My name is Laura and I am a nurse practitioner student in Austin, Texas. I intend this space to chronicle the adventures and misadventures of my journey from registered nurse to family nurse practitioner. Balancing school and work and something I believe others refer to as a personal life are just a few of the things you will find here. I also hope to connect with you to share information, experiences, and ideas to better serve  patients and advance the nursing profession.