Featured Practice Question

What is the best way to re-enter the nurse practitioner profession after a multiyear experience gap due to family priorities?

There is no standard re-entry process to follow. It may be a good idea to meet with the NP program faculty at the nearest school and discuss your preparation and readiness for practice. The faculty may have recommendations on skills and knowledge refresh. If you haven’t worked as an RN, you may have difficulty finding a job unless you are able to get into a residency program. Finally, it is very important that you maintain current knowledge in your area of expertise, so belonging to the state NP associations and attending educational conferences is important. Good luck!

Featured Legal Question

What do I do if there is suspicion that my patient may be abusing his controlled medications: zolpidem, lorazepam, hydrocodone? The patient has a history of not following up with the recommended treatments, and often asking for medications earlier. The patient does follow up in office when the refill depends on them coming in to be seen.

You discharge the patient. This is a non-compliant (adherent new terminology) patient who will only get you into trouble. If the patient will not come in for refills, you give the patient enough for a month and tell her/him that s/he needs to seek another provider who may meet the patient’s needs better. Otherwise, you are the one who will get in trouble, not the patient.

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