If you’re considering working with a Nurse Practitioner, you probably have a lot of questions. Here are some answers!
Your questions answered
Tag: Nurse Practitioner
A different kind of coming out
Disclosing a personal secret is always a daunting experience. So today I want to share some tips with you that might make the process a little bit easier. Whatever the secret, the tips still apply, so read on.
Even Keel Health needs a new home
Sadly, I had to leave Even Keel Health’s first home at the end of June. Many thanks to my colleague in mental health, Julie Clarke of julieclarketherapy.com, who welcomed me with open arms as I got started with my private practice.
Virtual technologies have their benefit but I sure miss face-to-face sessions as many of you do too. I’m not sure when we will get the “go ahead” to resume in-office sessions but I’m hopeful that it will be soon. With that in mind, I’m resuming my search for a great space and I’d like your help finding it.
I can imagine a few different scenarios. I’m sure there are many creative ideas out there but here are a few examples. I might be happy with…
- sharing an already existing professional office with one or a few other health practitioners
- getting together with kindred spirits and setting up a new space we find together
- setting up office by myself in someone’s unused space such as a small apartment in someone’s home ( I would need a private entrance )
- having an office space at an organisation where I could trade some of my services for space.
The “must have”
- I live on White Lake and I’d like to travel no more than 50 minutes to get to the office. In or near Almonte would be my favourite but I’d consider other places.
- With a practice focused on mental health and addiction, most of what I do can be done sitting in comfortable chairs, in a quiet, cozy space but I also need enough space to put up a portable massage table which I use as an exam bench when needed.
- The main room needs to be large enough to sit 4 people with enough space around to not feel crowded.
- Access to water in or near the room
- Access to a washroom
- Access to a waiting area
- Parking nearby
- Easily accessible for people with mobility restrictions
- Good mobile phone reception (I use Virgin i.e. Bell Network)
- I could use the space on at least 3 separate days, for up to 24 hours a week with some hours in late mornings, afternoons and early evenings
- Non-smoking space and minimal use of scented products
The “would be nice”
My time working as an outreach nurse prepared me to work out of a well organized backpack just about anywhere. However, given a choice, I prefer a well thought out space, engineered just right to help my people feel comfortable and safe, and help me be extra efficient and effective.
If you’ve got something that might be suitable, have some suggestions or would like to hear more about my vison for my next space – please contact me.
Nathalie
credit: Photo by Erda Estremera on Unsplash
Done with feeling off-kilter?
I don’t know about you but I’m ready to shift from surviving to thriving.
In the face of danger, our first response is often to run for our lives or to freeze. After the initial shock, we fight, we get busy dealing with the basic necessities of life. We function in survival mode. After a beat or two, or more, we then get into working the problem. Depending on our training and our past experience with traumatic events we go through the steps with varying speed and efficiency.
“Work the problem,” that’s one of my mantras these days. Repeating it to myself, keeps me from getting overwhelmed. Another good expression to remember is “two heads are better than one.” You may already know that I love puzzles, all kinds of puzzles. I’d like to help you with yours.
Too much stress can mess with your mental and physical health. Be brave! Be wise! Don’t wait! Get help!
Hire a nurse practitioner, a compassionate health puzzle solver. I’m here to help you get back on an even keel.
Need another reason? Looking after yourself well, will enable you to better look after those you love. It is the most worthwhile investment!
Currently, I’m using a health video conferencing platform. You can talk with me from the comfort of your home.
Running Scared?
Most people manage to tolerate high levels of stress for a little while but what happens when a little while turns into longer and then longer still?
Do you know how to keep your mind sharp and your body resilient while dealing with these highly stressful times? Do you know enough strategies to mitigate the effects of stress?
Before take off, travellers on airplanes are reminded that they should put on their own oxygen masks first and then help those requiring assistance. Making sure you remain at your best physically and mentally is not only wise, it is the best way of ensuring that you will be able to continue looking after your loved ones.
My psychologist and my physician have my back. Who’s got yours? I encourage you to get the help you need to look after yourself!
I’m using a health video conferencing platform. You can talk with me from the comfort of your home. You’ve got questions about how this works? Ask for a free introduction session.
Nathalie Héloïse Graveline, Nurse Practitioner
In-person versus remote counselling sessions
I’ve always preferred face-to-face communication and no doubt always will.
Another truth about me is that I’m a good problem solver. I am one of these people who respond to challenges by “working the problem.” I love solving puzzles, to break problems down into manageable bits and to find solutions for the parts, and eventually for the whole.
COVID-19 is on everyone’s mind, too much, for some.
Like everyone, I have my own list of worries. More than anything, I worry about the long term effects of this pandemic. I worry we might be treating this problem like a sprint and not a marathon. I worry we might be all so focussed on COVID-19, the virus, the pandemic and its immediate effect, that we might be neglecting other problems and in particular other health problems. I worry that people might not be looking after their whole health and might be neglecting to work at building resilience to deal with what is happening now and what remains to deal with ahead. Getting through this will require resilience and stamina.
This time is a time for interdependence. We need to get “OK” with leaning on each other. If you’ve never learned to do that, if all your life you’ve been programmed to rely on yourself and on yourself alone then now is the time to challenge that way of doing things.
I predict that it is those who are drawing on the necessary internal and external resources, those who are accepting help and who are offering help to others, who will fare the best.
The wise will use all the tools available, to not only survive but also thrive. In these times of social distancing, we are all looking for new ways of doing things. We are all looking for new ways to cope. If you are struggling to cope during these extra challenging times, know that you are not alone. Do not isolate in every sense of the word! Maintain social distancing, yes, but also reach out. Accept the help available so that you may thrive not only survive. If you have ways to help – help out! We’re in this together. If you don’t need help but wish to help let me know, let others know. Someone might just be looking for what you have to offer!
I’ve now got things setup to offer services by phone or via secure video (doxy.me). I’m working from home so I’ve expanded my hours of availability.
If you’ve considered mental health counselling and never had the time or the opportunity to get started, then now might be the right time.
If your are a frontline worker and would like some support, I’m here.
I’m here for you all.
Let me help you get back on an Even Keel.
Nathalie Héloïse Graveline
Nurse Practitioner
Even Keel Health
I’m so tired!
What is fatigue?
Fatigue is such a common complaint. It is one of those symptoms which is too often not getting proper attention.
Everyone has, from time to time, felt overtired. Feeling temporarily fatigued after working too hard for too long is easy to understand and typically resolved with getting proper rest. Most people know what to do about that kind of fatigue.
I want to discuss a different kind of fatigue — that unrelenting exhaustion, that “I’m so tired I could cry” kind of tiredness. I’m talking about the kind of fatigue which isn’t resolved by rest alone. That weariness which has developed over time and seems to sap your energy, your motivation, your concentration. The kind which has got you disconnecting for the world around you and has got you thinking that you are “not fit for human consumption.”
Fatigue has so many causes.
Lifestyle factors
There are many lifestyle factors contributing to fatigue, such as the adverse effects of alcohol, drugs and certain over the counter medications such as allergy medications or cold remedies. Too much physical exertion or, conversely, a lack of exercise are also common causes. The better understood cause of fatigue is, of course, is lack of sleep or a lack of recuperative sleep. Or then again maybe a lack of quality sleep is not that well understood. With our frenetic schedules today we have created a problem by neglecting the need for good sleep hygiene.
Health conditions
A great many health conditions also present with fatigue as one of their symptoms. I won’t list them all. I will draw your attention to the fact that sometimes we attribute fatigue to one cause and we might have missed the culprit, or more likely the combination of culprits.
Another thing to consider when assessing fatigue is that ironically, some of the medications used to treat certain medical conditions cause some fatigue. The intensity of this undesired effect varies widely from person to person. That’s why it is worthwhile to find out if a smaller dose or a change of medication is indicated for you. Going though life feeling fatigued all the time is not ok.
Being a Nurse Practitioner with a practice focussed on mental health and addiction problems, I cannot talk about fatigue without including the fact that many mental health problems present with fatigue. If you’ve experienced grief before, you’ll remember that bone deep fatigue. People who suffer with depression also experience fatigue. So do those with PTSD and anxiety disorders. Many of my patients recovering from opioid addiction started out with and continue to struggle with chronic pain. Chronic pain is almost always accompanied by fatigue.
Why am I writing about this? I know what it’s like. Fatigue is a difficult thing to tackle but I’m a puzzle solver. One of my former, long time patients called me her “health detective.” I hate knowing that many people are out there slugging their way through life feeling tired all the time. It doesn’t necessarily have to be that way. If you are tired of being tired and you’d like some help figuring out your fatigue puzzle, reach out. I’m here for you.
Do you have what you need to get back on an even keel?
Happy New Year Everyone!
One of my plans for the next year is to set some new ground work with new information. If you’ve read my blog before, you might know that I feel strongly about the value of working near home, for personal and environmental benefits. Of course, not everyone is able to do this. But I want to work near home while contributing to the welfare of my community. That’s why I’ve created Even Keel Health, my private Nurse Practitioner practice.
So far, there aren’t many Nurse Practitioners in private practice. A private practice brings its own sort of challenges. One of which, is dealing with a provincial health care system which hasn’t yet made the requisite infrastructure changes to allow NPs to bill the Province for the health services they provide to its citizens.
In Ontario, Nurse Practitioners have been providing health care in various communities and settings for more than 45 years. So we are not exactly new. However, our scope of practice and where we practice our profession is in constant evolution as is all of healthcare. This might, in part, explain why so many people are unclear about what we do and what we don’t do.
A friend recently told me that someone vehemently argued with her that Nurse Practitioners only prescribe medications under the supervision of a physician. That isn’t so.
Her story, however, served to reaffirm in me the belief that more needs to be done to dispel misinformation about NPs. Is misinformation keeping patients and providers from finding each other?
You know what they say about those who assume. When you assume you make an ass of u and me. Please forgive the sassiness and consider this: I sure would love for people to feel comfortable to ask more questions about NPs. I would love it if people informed themselves instead of making assumptions. And I would love it if those who are misinformed stopped spreading inaccurate information.
This reflection led me to consider whether or not I am guilty of the same. Am I making assumptions about what health services, people in my community need?
Recently, I wrote a blog post titled Lead By Example! I encouraged people to behave as they would like others to behave. So here I am, putting that advice into practice.
I am aware of some of the gaps in the health services available in my region. I have taken some steps to inform myself about what is available and what is missing but I would really like to hear more about your experience seeking and accessing health services offered in this region.
Your answers to the survey will help me better understand what you are looking for and inform the choices I will make about how to best serve my community.
Please take 5 minutes to speak up via this survey. I am genuinely interested in learning and making informed decisions about how to best use my skills, knowledge and experience while serving my community. Spread the word the more answers the better! Answer now ! This will only be available until February 10 2020.
Nathalie Héloïse Graveline
Lead by example!
Living by one’s core values can be a difficult thing to do. To help me live by mine, I have some mantras which guide and motivate me to stay on my chosen path.
“Lead by example” is one such mantra which was added to my repertoire when I was in my teens and active with the sea cadets.
As a nurse practitioner, I often find myself in a position to provide advice, to expect others to follow my instructions. Most of the advice I offer is well received and some is no doubt, hard to follow.
How do I know that? I know because from time to time, when I find myself in a difficult situation I think to myself: “what would I advise my self, if I were my patient?”
If I have sound advice for my self then I know that I must try to follow it. I know I do, especially if I also want to be able to feel authentic the next time I advise someone else to do the same.
My experiences and the empathy I feel for my patients, fuels the compassion I can show to them as they take those difficult steps toward a steadier and happier self.
As a leader, a supervisor, a parent are you leading by example? Are you following your own advice or are you living your life with two rule books: one for others and one for yourself?
If you’d like help with that, reach out ! I’m here to help you.
To discover some of my other helpful mantras come back soon. 😉
Nathalie
Happy Nurse Practitioner Week!
I want to take a moment to celebrate my Nurse Practitioner colleagues. This week is National NP week. A good time to take a breath and recognize the valuable contributions of these amazing healthcare providers.
Some people say Nurse Practitioners are “fairly new.” Really!? How long do you have to be around to no longer be fairly new? I guess everything is relative. Still, did you know that we’ve had nurse practitioners providing care in Canada for nearly 50 years? At first, we saw most of them working in remote and rural areas but now we’re in acute care hospitals, family health teams, community health centres, Physicians’ offices, NP-Led clinics, private practice and many other places where health care is needed.
My post graduate nursing education has prepared me to expand my scope of practice and allowed me to really grow as a nurse. I love that as an NP we can diagnose illnesses, order & interpret diagnostic tests, refer to other health care professionals and specialists, provide counselling and education, provide treatment, prescribe all medications and manage chronic diseases.
I, personally, feel most passionate about helping people recover from mental health and addiction problems. I feel strongly about integrating my patients’ mental health and or addiction problems within their overall health care plan. My mission : to get you back on an even keel.
Please join me in celebrating the Nurse Practitioners in your life.
Learn more about the 3,700 Nurse Practitioners in Ontario at NPAO.org
Learn more about Nathalie Héloïse Graveline, Nurse Practitioner at EvenKeelHealth.ca
Photo by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash
Even Keel Health 