Careers & Training


By Rosalyn Demaree


NPs find wildly ranging duties, wildly interesting careers


■ Adding “practitioner” to her title didn’t make Carolyn Harris forget her roots. Harris, RN, RNP, a nurse practitioner,


says she and her colleagues are valuable because they’re able to pay attention to the whole patient. “That’s the heart of nursing,” said Harris, who works with patients at Hendricks Regional Health’s Partners in Care Clinic. Harris has a collaborative agreement with


Dr. David Stopperich, who sees patients at the clinic weekly — but she is the primary provider, serving about 15 patients each day. She offers preventive health services, chronic disease management and acute illness control for patients of all ages. Her practice reaches far beyond her stethoscope. “In lots of ways, I’m like a social worker,”


Harris said. She connects patients who are eligible for Medicaid or are uninsured with free or low-cost community and medical resources. Available resources typically include township trustees, specialized health programs and drug manufacturers’ discount programs. “Of course, anything free takes


paperwork,” she said, and she helps patients navigate through piles of it.


Not a job for everyone | Her patients notice what she does for them, Harris said. She recalls one couple, both in their 60s, who came to get their hypertension under control. The pair had emigrated from Vietnam as young adults. The wife was a stay-at-home mom; the husband lost his job before their appointment. Harris took


Career at a glance Open positions: 2,869 nationally; 93 in Indiana.


Number of NPs: 140,000 nationwide; about 9,000 in Indiana.


Pay range: $68,554 to $86,694.


Typical settings: Family practice, pediatrics, geriatrics, psychiatric health, in-patient hospital services.


Primary functions: Assess conditions, diagnose illness, establish care plans, prescribe medicines, order and interpret diagnostic tests, educate patients about wellness.


Credentialing: Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.


Sources: salary.com, nurse-practitioner. jobs.net, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.


It’s a 3-peat.


www.hancockregional.org 801 N. State Street, Greenfield, IN 46140 EOE


We couldn’t have done it without your hard work and dedication.


With three consecutive wins in Indiana’s Best Places toWork, it’s no secret that Hancock Regional Hospital boasts the best nurses in the business.We want to thank you, our nurses, for our consistent winning streak. We are cur- rently accepting applications from


Nurse Practioners and Seasoned RNs Formore information or to apply online, visit the Careers section of ourwebsite:


IS-5797880


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