“I have strong reservations against nurse practitioners.” This statement was one of the first things that came out of my physician’s mouth when I told her I was a pediatric nurse practitioner. I was her patient sitting on the exam table, fully clothed while she clicked away on a computer, […]
Recent Posts
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A Day in the Life of an NP: The Struggle for Understanding
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A Day in the Life of a Nurse Practitioner: An Unexpected Journey
When I graduated from my family practice nurse practitioner program, I had to “give back” two years of time to my employer in return for the monies advanced to me for my education. I studied family practice in school with the goal to work in that field upon graduation. However, […]
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A Day in the Life of an NP: Is there a Doctor or Nurse On-Board?
“Is there a doctor or nurse on-board?” That was the page I heard on an overnight, transcontinental flight during a trip back to my home town. Most passengers were fast asleep or resting soundly. The overhead page repeated, this time with more urgency, “A passenger is extremely ill.” I rose […]
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Health Insurance Guide for Locum Tenens Providers
People who obtain health insurance through an employer are limited to the plans their employer offers. Self-employed individuals, on the other hand, are free to choose the plan that best fits their situation. Self-employed individuals can also deduct 100 percent of their health insurance premiums paid during the year, with […]
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A Day in the Life of a PA: Orthopedic Surgery
I practice as a physician assistant with two busy orthopedic surgeons. We work as a team in order to get everything done and to provide high-quality care to all our patients. Every day contains a wide variety of work which keeps me on my toes. I love the operating room. […]
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NP Tips: 5 Steps to Finding the Perfect Collaborating Physician
The role and responsibilities of nurse practitioners (NPs) in the United States has continued to grow and evolve over the last 25 years. However, some states still require NPs to consult with a collaborating physician to practice. If you practice in a state that requires such an arrangement, selecting your […]
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Understanding the 6 Elements of PA Scope of Practice Laws
The following post applies to our old Physician Assistant scope of practice wheel. Information regarding state-specific laws may be out of date. To see our updated tool, please visit “PA Scope of Practice Laws.” Physician assistant jobs are expected to grow 20 percent in 2014, making it is one of […]
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8 Things You Should Know About Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants
Editor’s note: This blog post was originally published in 2014, and was updated in January 2021 to reflect the current career landscape of NPs and PAs. With the United States facing a physician shortage, especially in primary care, nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) are stepping up to provide […]
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Telepsychiatry: Potential Solution for Mental Health Shortage
The Wall Street Journal recently published an article detailing the shortage of mental health professionals in America, citing some troubling statistics. For example, between 2005 and 2010, the general population grew 4.7 percent, while the number of psychiatrists in the U.S. remained at around 38,000, according to the Association of […]
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How to Onboard Locum Tenens Providers
Every week, hundreds if not thousands of locum tenens physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants (PA) start new assignments. For most of them, it is a new facility in a new location that they know little about. Unfortunately, many healthcare organizations provide little or no orientation for locum tenens […]

