Reference: Thibodeau, J. & Hawkins, J. (1994). The Advanced Practice Nurse: Current Issues. 4^th ed. New York: Tiresias Press, Inc.

Historically, women have been nurses for eons of time and their stories have only been recorded sporadically. In our recent history, the first advanced practice nurses who have their experience written in books were sisters administering anesthesia at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1877 (1). Around the same time frame, Lillian Wald pioneered public health nursing and founded the Henry Street Settlement House. These nurses assumed the role of independent health care providers for the poor and sick. In the past few years, a few stout males have chosen nursing as their career and thankfully balanced the gender question.

Many people ask, "Are you a nurse or a practitioner—and if you are a practitioner, what do you practice???" Nurse Practitioners (NP’s) are registered nurses who have additional education with specialized training qualifying them to provide primary health care for the public. After formal education, the candidate must pass a national certification test to legally practice as a Nurse Practitioner-Certified. There are two national agencies that administer certification testing: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Nurses Credentialing Center. There are certification tests for different specialties such as neonatal, family, adult, geriatric, critical care, pediatric, psychiatric, nurse midwife, and nurse anesthetist. Some of the confusion about Nurse Practitioners may stem from the various names associated with them, such as advanced practice nurses, ARNP’s (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner), NP-C (Nurse Practitioner Certified), nurse clinicians, clinical nurse specialists, etc.!! Then there are the various educational levels: certified, BSN, MN, clinical specialist, Ph.D. No wonder people are confused. The important point to consider is that nurses are caring individuals who are capable of delivering excellent health care.

Scope of practice for Nurse Practitioners include health screening, physical assessment, diagnosis, treatment, continuity of care, health promotion, identification and mobilization of resources, health education and client advocacy.

The Healing Arts Center has nurse practitioners on staff whose goals are to promote whole person health through exploration of the spiritual/emotional/physical connection. Traditional (allopathic) medicine is the foundation of their education, and they integrate allopathic with many other healing methods which work. Since people are unique, integrated healing gives more options for therapy that meets the individual needs.

Special areas offered at the Healing Arts Center are:

• Nutritional assessment
• Fitness/weight assessment
• Longevity counseling
• Stress Reduction
• Women’s Health
• Well child exams

Nurse Practitioner Fran Collins looks  forward to assisting you in your quest for health and vitality.

Reference: Thibodeau, J. & Hawkins, J. (1994). The Advanced Practice Nurse: Current Issues. 4^th ed. New York: Tiresias Press, Inc.

[Top]

---