Real World NP

In this week's episode, I'm thrilled to share my conversation with Lauryn Williams, an extraordinary individual who has not only achieved greatness on the athletic track but also in the realm of financial planning. Lauryn's story is a powerful example of how discipline, dedication, and a willingness to learn can lead to success in multiple arenas of life. Her transition from an Olympic athlete to...

Welcome to our latest podcast episode, where I had the immense pleasure of sitting down with the incredible Dr. Omolara Uwemedimo.  Today's conversation is a testament to the power of resilience, innovation, and community in healthcare. Dr. Omolara shares her journey from being a pediatrician to founding two revolutionary organizations aimed at transforming healthcare for under-resourced comm...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Brooke Nielsen to explore a topic that is both  fascinating and incredibly relevant to our work as healthcare professionals—the Drama Triangle.  We've all seen it, whether we recognized it at the time or not. Those moments when interactions with colleagues or patients suddenly feel like a scene straight out of a play, with clear ro...

In this episode, I explore a crucial topic shaping healthcare today - caretaker fatigue. Join me as I delve into an enlightening conversation with my dear friend and Executive Coach, Catherine Wood.  Cat shares invaluable insights about balancing work-life commitments and the importance of recognizing and meeting our personal needs for sustainable career longevity.  Even if you feel like...

Are you a nurse practitioner feeling lost, uncertain, or unfulfilled in your career? This raw, honest, and needed conversation with Amanda Guarniere, the founder of Resume RX, explores: The career challenges NPs are facing Alternative career paths many NPs are considering Changing power dynamics between employers and employees How to think about career changes and honor YOURSELF in the process We...

In this video, I sit down with two incredible NP colleagues and friends, Kara and Heather, for a candid conversation about the rollercoaster ride of being a nurse practitioner. We delved deep into our shared experiences, tackling everything from the highs of fulfilling our calling to the challenges that can sometimes leave our compassionate hearts feeling a bit weary. Burnout, boundary setting, an...

I am thrilled to introduce you to Midge Bowers. Not only is Midge a Clinical Professor and Director of the cardiovascular specialty at Duke University School of Nursing, she practices as a nurse practitioner in a Heart Failure Access Clinic. She’s an expert in cardiology, a seasoned healthcare educator, and shares so much incredible knowledge in this jam-packed episode. In this episode, we covered...

This week, I have an episode for you that I think is even MORE important than the clinical knowledge that I share — navigating NP burnout. Meet Cait Donovan, an International Keynote Speaker, host of “Fried – The Burnout Podcast,” author of the book "The Bouncebackability Factor", and an acupuncturist with a master’s degree in Chinese medicine. Her creative burnout recovery solutions have been fea...

Whether you're a recent NP graduate or someone transitioning between specialties, this video will help ease that overwhelming feeling and help you discover your unique approach to practice. If you liked this post, also check out: Pillars of NP Practice Leukocytosis Case Study Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:22 - Purpose of the Episode 02:35 - Understanding Philosophies of Practice 04:23 - Evol...

If you’re a new NP grad making your way into practice, I think you’ll find today’s video super helpful. (And even if you’re not a new grad, it’s still worth the watch — both to understand what we’ve been through and to help us mentor students and new grads ourselves.) In this episode, I talk about the challenges new grads face — from sneaky imposter syndrome to the overwhelming clinical knowledge...

Welcome to our brand new podcast season! We're absolutely pumped to bring you a fresh wave of episodes that will be a game-changer for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) on their journey. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, we've got you covered. In this season, we're introducing some exciting changes behind the scenes to make your listening experience even more rewarding. Expect enhanced c...

Hello there, we are actually going to be taking a season break on the Real World NP Podcast. But don’t worry, we’re coming back! We’re taking some time to do some regrouping, work on some things behind the scenes, and get ready for a whole new season of episodes for you. If you want to be involved with us, in the meantime, myself and the Real World NP team, I definitely recommend that you head ove...

It’s hard not to worry about malpractice when you’re taking on new levels of responsibility as a new nurse practitioner. Irnise Williams is not only a health law lawyer, she now focuses on the education and legal work to help prevent malpractice cases in the first place. AAAAAND she’s a nurse herself! Still taking care of patients as a covid float nurse while also running her legal practice, she’s...

One of the biggest fears I hear from new nurse practitioners and students is not knowing the answers when you're in the room with a patient. In this video, I'll tell you the many reasons why this is actually okay (and why we should probably even celebrate it), and the simple strategies I use to handle it. Leave me a comment below, what is a strategy that you use to handle these situations? Or, wha...

If you're feeling like you don't know enough, and still have to see patients with ortho complaints (especially in telemedicine) -- here are the "hacks" of primary care ortho management. You'll learn: The main 4 steps to managing almost all ortho complaints in primary care The top red flags overarching most ortho complaints How to triage ortho complaints When to send to ortho (and what to do first)...

As a new nurse practitioner, I used to find shoulder pain pretty overwhelming. While you can *see* all the musculoskeletal structures and how they work together, there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface and dealing with orthopedics can require a real depth of knowledge.  But I’m going to help give you a jump start on that! In this week’s video, I’m taking a high-level view of diagnosin...

Atopic dermatitis may not be the most glamorous topic in medicine, but you've got an enormous opportunity to change lives for the better in primary care. It can feel frustrating for both the patients and providers when they keep coming back without getting any better. I got to chat with a pediatric dermatologist and added a TON of clinical pearls to my arsenal of "real world" NP knowledge-- which...

Walking into an examination room and seeing a patient hunched over with labored breathing, audible wheezing, and an oxygen tank can be intimidating for any nurse practitioner. And if you’re a nurse practitioner in primary care, it is essential to understand the management of COPD exacerbations to provide the best care you can to patients. COPD exacerbation can look scary, but the management is fai...

Some people feel really uncomfortable talking about anything that has to do with reproductive health. Some of these people are patients, and some of them are healthcare professionals. Are you one of them? If you thought that you might be off the hook because you work in primary care - you’re not. It’s a part of taking care of the entire patient. When you know and understand your patients’ goals fo...

It’s easy to think the worst when your patient mentions abnormal bleeding. It can mean so many things! Context is everything for the patient with abnormal uterine bleeding. Their age, their history, when it started, how long it lasted, their other diagnoses, even their other medications. These are all factors to consider in the patient with abnormal uterine bleeding, and will point you in a starti...

Burnout is a hot topic in all aspects of healthcare. You might be thinking that it’s something that affects other people. You might think it’s something that impacts Nurse Practitioners who are more established in their careers. You might think it’s one of the last things that you need to think about as a new grad Nurse Practitioner. Until you start to experience symptoms of burnout.  This we...

Have you ever wondered how best to manage your patients with pulmonary diagnoses? How much steroid use is too much for these patients? What happens after you refer your patients to pulmonology? How do we bridge the gap between primary care and pulmonology?   You gave us all the questions that you have for pulmonology – and we have answers. In this high yield interview, we will go over the ans...

Have you had to give a patient bad news? Did you feel prepared or scared? It is a necessary part of being a Nurse Practitioner, and it’s always going to be challenging, but it is better if you are prepared.   Not all bad news is created the same. In some cases, bad news is life changing information, but in other cases, it might be life limiting information. What we might consider serious news...

Diabetes might be one of the most challenging chronic conditions to manage. It definitely requires a lot of partnership between provider and patient; you may find yourself spending more time with your diabetic patient than any other group of patients in your practice. We talked with Nurse Practitioner and Registered Dietitian, Meghan Kavanaugh, about her work with diabetic patients. The interview...

As a nurse practitioner in primary care, there are SO many things I’ve wanted to ask a cardiology nurse practitioner. This week, I had the lovely pleasure of interviewing Scott Pasquale, FNP and cardiology nurse practitioner, with questions from the RWNP community.  In this episode, we covered: What cardiologists wish primary care providers knew A breakdown of common cardiovascular tests, how...