Recently I've been having conversations with people who are interested in a career as a nurse practitioner. Whether the person I'm speaking with is an RN or MA colleague, or someone who is looking to "switch careers", I get super pumped when having these conversations as there is so much opportunity within this field. From providing clinical patient care, to starting your own business, to being an agent for change, there are endless opportunities for nurse practitioners.

Unfinished charts, prescription refill requests, abnormal labs, and a line of patients waiting to be seen. Sound familiar? Unfortunately this is the reality for thousands of NPs across the nation. The complexities of the healthcare system coupled with the challenges of direct patient care can sometimes be overwhelming.

If you think that you're being underpaid, chances are you probably are.

I've recently been asking myself if I'm living a life that's in alignment with my inner beliefs, also known as my truths. It's been something that I think about often, and I wanted to share this concept with you as I think that living a life that is in alignment with your truth is incredibly important to living a fulfilled life. Now, you may be wondering, what exactly does it mean to live my truth?

Yes it's that time of year again. Whether you love it or you dread it, the holidays have arrived. For some this may mean a time of stress. Perhaps you're scrambling to finish finals, or maybe you don't know what to buy for your medical assistant or nurse. Or you could even be in the middle of big life changes, and awaiting what the near year and new decade brings.

I'm sure you've heard in the media information on the importance of a meditation practice, and perhaps being more mindful. Now, most people are aware of what meditation is, but what exactly is mindfulness?

As you may know, the medical profession has high rates of burnout, higher than many other professions. Some studies estimate physician burnout at 50%, with nurses experiencing almost as high of levels of burnout as physicians! Studies also show that medical students and residents are burned out too. I have yet to come across a study related to NP burnout, but there is no doubt that NPs are burned out as well.

As you've seen in the news, the coronavirus has made its way around the world. Unfortunately there have been many deaths, and thousands more have become severely ill. The virus has caused an upheaval in the daily life of millions of people in multiple countries, and there doesn't seem to be an end to this in the near future.

If you've made it through NP school you know how tough it can be. For those of you who are current students, you've got so much being thrown at you, sometimes it's hard to take a breather. You may feel like you’re drowning in work, and have no idea how to keep afloat.

As a vegan, you’re most likely spending a large part of your time amongst non-vegans. This is especially true in the workplace. Depending on where you work, your co-workers may be very supportive of your vegan choices, and even interested in learning more about how they can become a vegan. Or, they may not want to hear anything about veganism, and be repulsed by the idea of a diet devoid of animal products.