Provider-centered Practice for Dermatology Nurse Practitioners
As a new provider, I often reflect on the trajectory of my nursing career and the transition to being a nurse practitioner, in and outside of clinical practice. I ponder on what it means to be a nurse practitioner, what determines when you've officially made the transition, what it means to specialize, what defines expertise, and the limited thinking within nursing. Most importantly, I think about the lack of guidance on prioritizing our health, relationships, peace of mind, and dreams throughout our academic and clinical training. In this article, I encourage you to consider thinking about the benefits of provider-centered practice in addition to patient-centered care. If we don't make this transition, we will continue to see our colleagues leave an industry in which they invested so much of their time, a fleeting resource I fiercely protect.
~ 6 minute read
Provider-centered Practice for Dermatology Nurse Practitioners
In our clinical training, we learn about patient-centered care and the holistic care model. When I celebrated my NP anniversary a few months ago, I reflected on my biggest lesson over the last year: how important it is for us to understand provider-centered practice and support holistic lifestyles. Walk with me down memory lane as I describe the importance of provider-centered practice and how it leads to less burnout, higher employee retention, increased efficiency, more innovation, safer care, higher productivity, and better patient outcomes.
I thought about this topic for the last year, but I must give credit to Michelle Sullentrup, the CEO of myDermRecruiter, who inspired me to write about it here after she wrote on LinkedIn about the importance of finding an employer who understands the value in supporting and prioritizing the provider.
A New Way to Approach Care
Our entire life and identity cannot be about our clinical role - although this may be hard to conceptualize as a student or aspiring clinician. As students and trainees, the term patient-centered care is abundantly found in nursing textbooks and policies. It is a healthcare approach that prioritizes a patient's individual needs, values, preferences, and health goals, actively involving them in decision-making alongside their healthcare providers to create a customized care plan, rather than solely following a standardized treatment protocol.
However, I argue, this singular lens leaves out the safety, health, wellness, and freedom of the provider. Our working conditions are not always safe, our schedules do not always support optimal health, our wellness is delegated to employee assistance programs (that require time we don't have) and becomes of little concern when staffing is short, and our freedom is confined to the descriptions of non-complete clauses.
My realization after giving this industry my young adulthood? We cannot give everything to our patients if it means we'll have nothing left to give ourselves or our loved ones. Yet, this will happen if we are not intentional about setting boundaries, exploring other interests, advocating for ourselves, and acquiring business acumen. As an experienced clinician who entered this industry as a freshman in high school, I have learned how to navigate the complexities of being in the caring and compassionate business. I do not loose sleep over that. Instead, I contemplate how I can help my peers and the next generation live the life we imagined and not miss out on any of it. Recall the aforementioned definition and imagine if it related to us: a healthcare approach that prioritizes the clinician's individual needs, values, preferences, and health goals, actively involving them in decision-making alongside their healthcare employer to create a customized life, rather than solely following a standardized protocol. Maintaining the status quo, is like practicing with one eye closed.
The Solution
If everyone on the team is setup for success to fulfill their duties, patients will get everything they need. If we educate and empower our patients and their caregivers, then our patients will get the patient-centered care that is abundantly found in nursing textbooks. It's called a healthcare team for a reason. We need to support everyone on the team by giving them the tools they need to be successful, and foster community to support the provider personally and professionally. Currently, there are few to no resources on how to do the former. Because we are in the business of compassion and caring, and we operate at such a high level, often autonomously, I think it hasn't been a priority to love, like, and respect the clinician the way we have been engrained to do for patient - even when we become the patient.
This personal experience is one of the motivating factors behind starting the DMV Dermatology NP + PA Group and our sister group, DERM NPs + PAs of Atlanta: to foster community. It's so important that we have a good relationship with the people we work with. But, we can also benefit from knowing the providers outside of our clinical setting who live in our region. We need those additional support systems and spaces where we can refill our cup, and explore the layers of our identity.
Three Key Points About Creating Community
1. Community can be a safe space. It's okay to have everyone's number, grab a smoothie, attend a local event, and hang out without an agenda.
2. Give more than you take. When you show up to be in community, bring your talents and thoughts to the table. Use this opportunity to explore your creative side or learn a new skill or hobby unrelated to your day job.
3. Set realistic expectations. Our parents, partners, pastors, nursing schools, and employers can't give us everything we need. We need to stop selling and buying into this mindset. If everyone is doing what they are supposed to in a 24-hour period to care for their spiritual, mental, physical, and financial health, they don't have the time to do all the things for you. Just like we empower our patients, we need to empower ourselves and take responsibility for our needs. Our parents, partners, schools of nursing and medicine, and employers do a great job fulfilling their primary obligation as the owner/operator of their life and business. It's not fair to always expect them to go beyond that - they are people too with families and healthcare needs that require their attention.
The DMV Dermatology NP + PA Group and DERM NPs + PAs of Atlanta are my versions of community. We invite you to join us! Fostering community, navigating leadership, and role modeling the importance of holistic care for the provider is a great opportunity for a nursing student, a new clinician, experienced provider, or retired NP. Our greatest clinical skill is listening. I want you to experience what's it's like when a group of people do that for you.
The DMV Dermatology NP/PA Group!
We are a vibrant networking community for practicing and aspiring Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Associates (PAs) specializing in medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology within the DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area. We just started our first sister group: DERM NPs + PAs of Atlanta (join us on Facebook and Instagram).
Our Mission:
To increase access to dermatology education, mentorship, and professional development for practicing and student nurses, NPs, and PAs.
What We Offer:
- Education: Access to the latest dermatology resources and information.
- Mentorship: Guidance from experienced professionals in the field.
- Professional Development: Opportunities to advance your career through networking and educational events.
- Entrepreneurial Insights: Support and information for those looking to start or grow their own businesses.
Partnership with NPHub:
Students: Receive $100 off your clinical placement with NPHub! Just use the code "dmvderm" at checkout. Sign up here
Preceptors: Get paid for hosting students during their clinical placements. Interested? Register now to become a preceptor here
How We Communicate:
Join our private Facebook page where members share valuable information about patient care, professional and personal development, and entrepreneurial opportunities. You can also vote on and stay updated about in-person events.
Membership Requirements:
To gain access to our Facebook page and events, you must:
1. Answer all the membership questions.
2. Provide your medical license number for verification or proof of enrollment in a nursing, NP, or PA program if you're a student.
Dermatology NP + PA Group Events
-Quarterly In-Person Meet & Greets
Locations: Blacksburg, National Harbor, Richmond. Atlanta - coming soon!
-Monthly Virtual Grand Rounds - Starting January 2025
-We discuss case studies, disease processes, therapies, research, continuing education, professional development, practice guidelines, entrepreneurship, social media trends, and mentorship.
JOIN US HERE:
-RSVP for Events & Join the Email Notification List here
Michelle Sullentrup, CEO of myDermRecruiter, founded the company in 2014 with a clear vision: to create a recruitment firm exclusively dedicated to the field of Dermatology. Recognizing the unique needs of both candidates and clients in this specialty, Michelle set out to bridge the gap by offering tailored, high-quality recruitment services. Under her leadership, myDermRecruiter has grown to become the #1 Dermatology recruitment firm in the nation.
Michelle’s success stems from her unwavering commitment to ethics, confidentiality, and professionalism—values she has instilled in her entire team. Through personalized service and an in-depth understanding of the dermatology field, Michelle and her team have built a trusted platform that connects top-tier dermatology talent with practices across the country, delivering outstanding results for both providers and employers.
The Dermatology Education Foundation (DEF)
I learned about myDermRecruiter very early in my derm journey and have found their resources to be extremely valuable, especially the ones where they educate Dermatology Nurse Practitioners and our Physician Associate friends about compensation. Their support of Dermatology NPs and PAs extends into their partnership with the Dermatology Education Foundation (DEF). DEF is lead by Joe Gorelick, MSN, FNP-C; a highly experienced Nurse Practitioner specializing in medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology; who serves as the President. Part of the mission at DEF is to provide advanced dermatology training for Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants. They are known for their huge annual conference in Las Vegas, their partnership with Dr. Scott Boswell (the creator of Derm Boot Camp), and the Dermalorian Podcast and Webinars, to name a few. One of my most recommended resource has been a recording from their 2022 conference called, Contract Workshop: Understanding the Documents You Sign. The presentation was given by attorneys Nia Doaks, JD, MBA, and Tara M. Bright, JD. Esq.
I invite you to learn more and tell them I sent you!
Kimberly Madison, DNP, AGPCNP-BC
I am a nurse practitioner entrepreneur who specializes in dermatology nursing education and research with an emphasis on skin of color. I created this blog to share my journey as a source of motivation and as a blueprint, as you embark on your journey. Most importantly, I’m looking forward to increasing access to dermatology education and clinical training for aspiring and practicing nurse practitioners. I invite you to view the mission and vision statement on the homepage to see how we can best partner to make our dreams align.
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