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
Even Keel Health 