Published: May 29, 2007 01:51 pm      

Compassion in Action

Nurse Practitioners

Somerset — “Nurse practitioners are becoming more and more accepted as providers of medical care,” said nurse practitioner Venda Kelley with Lake Cumberland Medical Associates and president of the Kentucky Coalition of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives (KCNPNM).

One breakthrough for nurse practitioners all across the state happened just this year as a bill was passed that granted prescriptive authority to nurse practitioners for controlled substances.

Passage of Senate Bill 65 amended the Kentucky Nurse Practice Act (KRS Chapter 314) to grant ARNPs authority to prescribe scheduled drugs (with certain limitations).

Nurse practitioner Sally McGeehan, who works at Family Allergy and Asthma, remembers when another breakthrough came within the last 10 years when nurse practitioners received prescriptive privileges here in Kentucky for the first time.

That is what really spurred the movement for nurse practitioners, she said. Prior to that, McGeehan, who became a nurse practitioner in 1977, said they had to have doctors sign off on their prescriptions. Nurse practitioners were not used in Kentucky nearly as frequently as they are now.

“It’s been a very positive movement as our legitimacy has been established and safety has been proven (over the last few years),” said McGeehan, noting she has seen the resistance going away as everyone realizes there aren’t enough providers.

On an average day, Kelley said she sees patients with acute illnesses such as sore throats and bronchitis. She also sees patients with injuries such as lacerations, fractures and sprains, does follow-ups and gives instructions to patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension. She gives physicals, wellness checks, pap smears, orders

X-rays and lab tests, and makes referrals to specialists when needed.

McGeehan said she decided after working at a hospital in the cardiac intensive care unit in Washington, D.C., that she felt she would rather work with the preventive side of medicine. That is when she decided to go back to school to become a nurse practitioner. She attended Vanderbilt University.

“I’m a communicator. I wanted to take care of people and have a relationship,” said McGeehan, who remarked that often nurse practitioners deal with preventive measures, whereas doctors oftentimes have to be focused more on treating the disease process.

For Kelley, she felt it was time to upgrade her skills and utilize her education in a different setting, after serving as a registered nurse for over 20 years.

After graduating in 2000 from the University of Illinois Family Nurse Practitioner Program, Kelley began working as a nurse practitioner.

“Nurse practitioners originally started to serve areas that were underserved,” said McGeehan, “and were often a lifeline for underserved areas.”

McGeehan added that nurse practitioners are very independent, working well with or without a doctor beside them.

However, Kelley said she believes the general public and other healthcare providers still do not fully understand the role of the nurse practitioner.

“We have advanced education and certification in management of health conditions and practice in all types of medical settings. We are qualified to manage most common illnesses and injuries and provide education for healthy living,” said Kelley.

“One of the sayings we like to use is, ‘nurse practitioners care and cure,’ meaning we can independently order and interpret diagnostic tests, diagnose acute and chronic illness, prescribe medication and manage a patient’s care.”

Kelley said she knows of approximately 10 nurse practitioners in the Somerset area and several more in surrounding towns such as Science Hill and Stanford.

McGeehan, a Somerset native, previously worked in several locations throughout the United States, including Columbia, Mo., where she helped train nurse practitioners and family practice doctors to go into rural areas together; South Pacific American Samoa for six months; San Diego, where she trained future nurse practitioners and Navy nurses who were being upscaled in their practice. She also practiced at Kaiser Permanente, a large practice that is now a widely-known nationwide HMO, before returning to Kentucky in 1989. She found work in her field by commuting to Columbia, Ky. for 11 years, prior to coming to Family Allergy and Asthma Associates in Somerset.

“Caring for people and helping them feel better has made my life better,” said McGeehan. “... I think it’s a privilege when people

come to me in need and

just share. I have a chance to counsel and be an encouragement.”





National Nurse Practitioner Week: November 6-12

“Providing Care for Kentucky’s Health

and Tomorrow’s Future”

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) account for almost 1,700 health care providers in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. To be licensed in Kentucky, the NP must have a masters degree and a hold a National Certification. This certification comes after sitting for an examination given by an organization approved by the Kentucky Board of Nursing. NPs have devoted a minimum of six years of educational preparation in order to be called a Nurse Practitioner. Additionally, NPs are required to maintain both practice requirements and continuing education requirements to maintain their license and certification.

Nurse Practitioners provide comprehensive care in many practice settings. They can be found in primary care clinics, rural health clinics, private practice, hospitals, and long term care facilities. NP services include: physical exams, diagnosing and treating acute and chronic illness, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, and providing preventive health care. Nurse Practitioners counsel individuals on prevention of illness and the promotion of health and well-being. The Nurse Practitioner is committed to providing evidence-based care, assuring care that relies on well-documented research by experts. Many studies have documented that individuals are very satisfied with the care they receive from Nurse Practitioners and return to the NP for continuing care.

Lastly, Nurse Practitioners can be found not only providing healthcare in many settings, but also working to enrich their communities. NPs can be found participating in humanitarian efforts, conducting research and teaching at universities. Please join your community in celebrating the 41st year of the NP profession and continued enhancement of healthcare for Kentuckians.

Michael Wayne Rager, MSN, RNP, ARNP, BC, Public Relations Committee Chair, KCNPNM, Venda Kelley, MSN, ARNP, BC, President KCNPNM