December 8th, 2017
Trafficking: Taking Care of Sarah
Alexandra Godfrey, BSc PT, MS PA-C
Sarah The neighbors called the police when they heard screaming. An officer discovered her hiding in a closet in a trailer. In the emergency room bay, I find Sarah naked except for a T-shirt. Her legs are drawn up, arms wrapped around her knees, head down. She looks severely malnourished, and her teeth are broken […]
September 1st, 2017
Obesity Counseling: Getting Real
Emily F. Moore, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC, CCRN
“Your BMI puts you in the obese category. You need to limit weight gain to 10 pounds this pregnancy.” As the obstetrician’s words sunk in, I was overcome with embarrassment. Sure, I knew I was overweight, but I was pregnant. And according to my BMI, I have been “obese” for years. But this was the first […]
July 26th, 2017
When a Child Receives Care at a non-Children’s Hospital
Emily F. Moore, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC, CCRN
In a recent post, I wrote about my niece’s episode of appendicitis. Another part of that story relates to her post-op course. When my sister first called asking my advice on whether or not her daughter needed to be treated, I didn’t specify where she should take her. She ended up going to a general […]
June 27th, 2017
Bring Back the Letter of Condolence
Harrison Reed, PA-C
I don’t remember the first time I watched someone die. I don’t remember the second or third time either. But I know it happened when I was 24 years old, and I know that, afterward, I went home, ate dinner, and went to sleep. The next morning I woke up, put on a clean pair […]
May 31st, 2017
Curing the Toxic Culture: First, Honor Thy Patient
Harrison Reed, PA-C
In March I wrote a blog post for In Practice that detailed some of the devastating effects of a toxic workplace culture. It’s worth a read, but the main points are easily summarized: abusive environments in medicine affect nearly every aspect of professional performance and hurt both businesses and patients. They lead to lower productivity, […]
May 11th, 2017
Leaving Against Medical Advice (AMA): A Clinician’s Dilemma
Alexandra Godfrey, BSc PT, MS PA-C
“You’ll have to sign out against medical advice (AMA) . Your blood pressure is high.” The ER physician stood in the doorway of my room. “What difference would it make now?” I asked. The doctor fiddled with the cuffs of his white coat, then glanced at his cell phone. I picked up my car keys. “High blood pressure is dangerous,” […]
March 8th, 2017
Planning for End-of-Life Care: Patients and Providers Working Together
Elizabeth Donahue, RN, MSN, NP-C
I was sitting alone in a parking lot last Tuesday, waiting to meet one of my undergraduate students and her nursing preceptor for a hospice home visit. Little did I know, sitting there in my car, that I would not make it to that visit; instead I was redirected by a phone call to the […]
November 30th, 2016
A Colicky Conundrum
Emily F. Moore, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC, CCRN
After my first baby, I always said that my second one was bound to be clingy, colicky, and skinny, as my first daughter was fat and happy. Aside from a few bursts of crying between 4 and 6 weeks of age, she was the perfect baby. My second daughter is now 3.5 months old. When she […]
November 16th, 2016
Before You Do Anything Else, Take a Deep Breath
Elizabeth Donahue, RN, MSN, NP-C
Exactly one week ago I arrived at my office in a stupor that it seemed even my favorite coffee shop could not fix. I had not slept more than two hours the night before, and on top of being tired, I was emotional. I had spent too much time in the wee hours of the […]
September 29th, 2016
Why I No Longer Tolerate Anti-Vaxxers
Emily F. Moore, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC, CCRN
One may ask why I am all of a sudden fixated on vaccines. I have always been a pro-vaxxer. In graduate school, I once prided myself for talking a whole family into getting vaccines. And I certainly have always promoted vaccines when practicing. But I used to think that the decision to vaccinate, although important, was […]
NP/PA Bloggers
Elizabeth Donahue, RN, MSN, NP‑C
Alexandra Godfrey, BSc PT, MS PA‑C
Emily F. Moore, RN, MSN, CPNP‑PC, CCRN
Advanced practice clinicians treating patients in a variety of settings and specialties
Learn more about In Practice: Reflections from NPs and PAs.
