 Provided by Clinician 1
My vacation arrived...at last. Months had passed since the initial planning stages. Details nailed down. Final count-down finished. We were on our way to our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. About a 3 ½ hour trip overall, not including rest stops. Mapquest and Google had plotted out our routes with precision. I was finally taking a full week off of work...my first since February, 2009. The first few work days off were filled with household chores and packing...then came the trip south-ward.
I am an experienced Mom, travel-wise. Pack up things that will entertain the kids, so the adults will not gnash their teeth in the quest to get there. So I had road-trip games, books, etc. All to occupy (and hopefully enrich) their travels. We arrived safely...in one piece. Give me my glass of wine to celebrate.
In our quest to view our nation’s great beauty, we had planned out a few stops along the way. The Smithsonian museums were a sure thing. As was the International Spy Museum. Couldn’t make it to Arlington Cemetery, although I tried. We only had so much time to cram everything in within three full days.
Here’s the “rebirth” part...I watched the look on my boys’ faces as they discovered new concepts. New ideas overtaking previously “old” ones. Unlimited possibilities abounded.
And it occurred to me, among the greatness of the classics in art, science, space, and government...is this not what WE do as well? Forging forward, exploring new frontiers in today’s world, much like our predecessors of old? Are we Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants/Associates THAT much different in our quest to be recognized in the New World as we see it?
No, we really aren’t.
It is just up to us to promote our “new world” ideas (so-to-speak) to the masses. Show others what we do so well. Make our case to the world. Darn it...stand UP and speak to what we offer to everyone.
Even if we aren’t on a pedestal of glory in a museum.
Or in company of the White House at a special dinner.
We speak volumes to the people we see...and care for...everyday. THESE are the people we take care of all of the time.
Even if there is no glorious “rebirth” or ceremony…
We are individuals...and a collective at the same time. Do something with that knowledge, will you?
 Kim Spering is a family nurse practitioner who currently works at Brndjar Medical Associates, P.C., a family practice in Emmaus, PA. Her past experience includes the fields of medical/surgical ICU, open heart/trauma ICU, labor and delivery, nursing education, nursing supervision, and as a nurse practitioner in both family practice and OB/GYN settings. She currently serves as a NP preceptor for her graduate school alma mater, DeSales University, as well as for local baccalaureate programs. She is passionate about patient education and helping patients understand that they are ultimately responsible for their own health. She also firmly believes that the public needs to be educated on the value of NPs and PAs in meeting the health care needs of the next decade and beyond. In her free time, Kim enjoys family vacations with her optometrist husband, Mark, and her two sons, Matthew and Connor.
The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.
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