Nurse Practitioner Week 2023

Each year, we celebrate the week of November 15th as National Nurse Practitioner Week.  At this time, I would like to take the opportunity to highlight ways in which the nurse practitioner helps fill the healthcare needs of McCreary Countians.  McCreary County continues to be designated as an underserved healthcare provider shortage county.  Personally, I feel a combination of factors contribute to this healthcare provider shortage worsened by our inability to recruit and retain medical doctors.  However, it is not just medical doctors that are difficult to recruit.  Without our local citizens who become nurse practitioners and reside here, it would be difficult to recruit and retain the nurse practitioner, as well.

 Luckily,, online education and an increasing number of schools geared towards advanced nursing are now producing several local nurse practitioners.  Personally, I could not be more proud of each one of them.

In conversation with a lady who directs healthcare provider recruitment for a nearby regional hospital, she said of the problem we face in recruiting healthcare providers,

“The husband usually likes the outdoor opportunities of the area (McCreary), but the wife does not have the shopping and dining experiences she is accustomed to.  Neither of the two are satisfied with only having a public-school option and not having private or charter school options for their children.”

 Thankfully, our great Commonwealth of Kentucky has continued to pass legislation allowing the nurse practitioner to practice to the full extent of their education and clinical experience.  Without the nurse practitioner, McCreary County might have one medical doctor treating primary care patients on a daily basis.  Nurse practitioners are filling the gap in the primary care of McCreary County, and in my opinion, will continue to be the primary care provider of the present and the future.

Many times, the nurse practitioner has years of on-the-job experience as a registered nurse prior to becoming a nurse practitioner.  When I applied to nurse practitioner school, a minimum of two years of practicing as a registered nurse was required prior to submitting an application for acceptance.  Once becoming a nurse practitioner, a time of collaboration for a minimum of four years must exist between the newly graduated nurse practitioner and a medical doctor.  Once that time of collaboration is completed, the nurse practitioner can choose to terminate the collaborative agreement and prescribe both non scheduled and scheduled medications without the continued collaboration.

The four-year collaboration termination is new.  It was just this year that Kentucky Legislation passed the term limit of four years.  Previously, it was for an indefinite period of time.  Nurse practitioners have their own national provider identifiers, DEA numbers, and are independent of the medical doctor.  We treat common ailments, perform numerous procedures, and treat minor emergencies and chronic conditions alike.  Currently,  McCreary County has six primary care clinics all of which are either owned, directed, and/or staffed by a nurse practitioner. We-the nurse practitioners- are the primary care for McCreary County!

Thank you, McCreary County, for your continued confidence in the nurse practitioner.  This week, if you know a nurse practitioner, let them know just how much you appreciate them!   Covid-19 forced many seasoned practitioners into partial or full retirement and the ones left are definitely tired.   I am certain those remaining in practice will greatly appreciate your gratitude during this Nurse Practitioner Week 2023.