How do primary care concerns differ between an MD and an NP? Dr. Margaret Fitzgerald, Conference Chairperson for the National Conference for Nurse Practitioners (NCNP), explained it clearly during the opening session to the Spring 2018 NCNP:
“For example, when a patient presents with nausea, the MD wants to find out what caused it. The NP thinks ‘how can I make this patient feel better while we figure this out?’ We both have the same concerns, but our top priority differs.”
During last spring’s conference, my schedule allowed me to attend sessions from both the acute care and primary care tracks. I had the privilege to learn so much both in and out of my specialties of critical care and women’s health. Below are some highlights; some are pearls of information, as I’ve shared in the
past, but others are questions that generated discussion in the sessions. I think are good for us all to think about.
“The most important thing you can do for your health is sleep.”
Christine Kessler, MN, ANP-BC, CNS, BC-ADM, FAANP
Gut Microbiome: Implications for Health and Chronic Disease
“Ask patients what their acceptable level of pain is. Use that number as a pain target.”
Mary Ann Barnes-Daly, MS, RN, DC
Liberating the ICU Patient: Understanding the ABCDEF Bundle
“What is the dynamic modulator of oxygen delivery?”
Honey M. Jones, DNP, ACNP-BC
Acute/Emergent Care: Hemodynamics – It’s More than Just BP
“X-rays lag about 24 hours behind clinical presentation.”
Acute/Emergent Care: RRTs: Improving Outcomes Through Best Practice
Anne Dabrow Woods, DNP, RN, CRNP, ANP-BC, AGACNP-BC, FAAN
“Why is glucose monitoring in patients with acute ischemic stroke important?
Mindy Mason, MSN, RN, ACNP-BC
Acute/Emergent Care: Brain Attack? Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke
“The most common cause of painless jaundice is pancreatic heat tumor.
Bruce D. Askey, MS, ANP-BC
Evaluation of Abnormal Hepatic Enzymes
“Hirsutism is rare in Asian women. Think malignancy.”
Christine Kessler, MN, ANP-BC, CNS, BC-ADM, FAANP
Endocrine Zebras: Identifying Signs in Your Clinical Practice
Two of my favorite sessions – both new to me – were Using Essential Oils in Clinical Practice, a two-part workshop with Angela Golden, DNP, FNP-C, FAANP, and Making Healthcare TRANS-parent: Providing Culturally Sensitive Primary Care to the Transgender Patient, presented by Vanessa Pomarico-Denino, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP. Learning about these hot topics from experts in their respective fields was a privilege.
This conference was truly one I’ll never forget! In addition to all I learned, it was at this conference that I actually got to meet
Dr. Loretta Ford!
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