 Provided by Clinician 1
I’ve had many opportunities outside of the workplace to use my skills as a Nurse Practitioner. Usually, they occur at one of my sons’ baseball or soccer games. In fact, one of the previous coaches called me the “nurse Mom” due to the fact that at EVERY game, I was either running out to the field or ministering to hurt players on the bench. I treated everything from the usual bruises and sprains to a dislocated shoulder. Par for the course.
What has surprised me over the years is the LACK of response by other medical providers. I KNOW for a fact that on my own youngest son’s team, that there are TWO physicians who are parents to one child. Indeed, one is a pediatrician. Not ONCE has this person offered to help, nor even inquired about the status of any injured child...even when on our OWN team.
So...OK, playing Devil’s Advocate...one might be held liable for one’s actions outside of the office. Or maybe one doesn’t want to be a “provider” outside of normal business hours.
C’mon...this is Little League, with KIDS who are injured, for goodness sake! Good Samaritan rules apply, anyway. My insurance covers issues out-of-office, just in case…
I reflected today that, several times, as I ran up to the injured child, I’ve been asked if I’m a nurse. NO ONE has ever asked if I’m a doctor. NEVER. It wouldn’t be unusual, now, would it? I mean, how many women are physicians? However, I just calmly state that I am a Nurse Practitioner and assess the child. Of course, throwing around terms like “medial malleolus” and “supraspinatus tendon” as I assess the injury doesn’t hurt, either. Any “doubting Thomases” quiet down rather quickly at those words. (smile)
Most of the time, parents and children are grateful for the assessment, advice, and treatment. I only remember that once, in the case of the catcher with a dislocated shoulder, I had to FIRMLY tell his mother that, YES, his shoulder was dislocated. YES, she needed to get him to an ER immediately.
I found out later that she poo-poohed my advice and took him home...till he was sobbing in such pain that she relented...and she was subsequently berated by an ER physician for not bringing him in sooner. I wasn’t as much vindicated for my correct assessment as I was annoyed that she hadn’t listened to me in the first place and let her son suffer needlessly…
I think of these moments as ways to not only help kids that need it, but ways to educate the public about our role. Have these people heard of NPs before? Did they realize what we do? Maybe they did...or not.
How about we think of these times as “teaching moments” for the public. Because...whether it’s baseball, football, soccer, softball, cheerleading, lacrosse, etc...we’re going to be there, cheering on our kids. We can also step up and be there when others WON’T (physician or not)...and show what we can do as advanced practice clinicians.
So...take the challenge. Step up to the plate at YOUR next opportunity. I think you may be glad that you offered your services. I certainly think that the kids will be happy that you did.
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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| Kim Spering |
on 28 Jun 2011 at 9:21 am |
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Excellent point, and I agree. I would rather someone with experience step in. Kind of like having an EMT deliver a baby for a woman in labor rather than the specialist who hasn't seen one since internship. (smile)
In my observation above, one of the docs is a pediatrician...well-versed in child injuries. It just surprises me when people don't even stand up to see if someone is OK.
So, yes, please...let all of us stand up if ready and able...at the very least, assess the situation, and show what we NPs and PAs can do. |
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| Ellen (Nashville, TN) |
on 27 Jun 2011 at 9:55 pm |
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| It occurs to me that the physicians whose sons are on your son's team may well be specialists, not general practitioners and if so, you, as an experienced FNP may have more experience and hence, more comfort with these sorts of injuries than they do! We know best what we do every day. It may be that they care but haven't done ortho since their 4th year of med school, if then. I remember when in the 70's my brother stepped on a live coal and burned his foot. As my uncle, a retired ENT, approached him he cried, "Nooo I need a doctor, a REAL one!" Sometimes that's going to be an experienced nurse practitioner or PA! We do best what we do every day no matter the alphabet soup behind our names. |
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