The Mississippi RN - June 2018

Page 6 • Mississippi RN June, July, August 2018
Rebecca Cagle, PhD, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Director, Council on Advanced Practice
Several events of late have prompted me to
reflect on professionalism in nursing and advanced
practice nursing. Whether one is a new graduate
from an advanced practice program or a seasoned
nurse practitioner, I ask each this question: do you
have a career resolution to develop and maintain
professionalism throughout your career? Is it in your
five year plan? Often while in nursing school we develop
plans, be they individual or business. Sometimes once
the goal of graduation, certification and licensure has
been obtained, the long term plan gets set aside for
being thankful for a NP job and learning the tasks to
survive in this health care business. As requirements
for certification and indeed licensure are changing,
and with additional certification requirements varying,
one can become bewildered and confused. Has anyone
had the experience of finding out too late their basic
Report from Council on Advanced Practice
Do You Have Professionalism as a Career Resolution?
Rebecca Cagle, PhD,
FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
life support credential has expired and you cannot work until it is current? With
all you were keeping up with, you simply missed the basics. Has anyone received
an unfavorable patient and family satisfaction survey report to realize that despite
your skill and knowledge, you were not perceived as professional or caring to a
patient or family?
Hands Only CPR
Hattiesburg Clinic, Laerdal, and the Mississippi Nurses’ Association hosted
a Hands Only CPR event for the public at Hattiesburg Clinic on April 10th.
Attendees encouraged each other as they learned how to successfully administer
Hands Only CPR. We extend our sincere appreciation to instructors Paul
Thompson, RN with Laerdal and Sandi Arnold, MSN, RN with Hattiesburg
Clinic.
A conversation I had this week with a man who was quite satisfied with his
new PCP, a nurse practitioner, reminded me of the importance of presence and
professionalism, caring for and caring about our patients. He mentioned that he
had not really had a PCP since his doctor had left the primary care setting for
a practice as a hospitalist. He had gotten very sick during the winter and had
need for a PCP. He selected a local NP, whom he did not know, but she was from
his area. As he put it “she is the only provider I may ever need.” He described
how competently she had assessed and treated him with appropriate diagnostic
tests and medications. She even called to see if he was improving the next day.
He felt that his health was cared for, but also that he as an individual was cared
about as a person. I beamed with pride for our discipline as this was a former
student of mine of years past. She was still keeping the common touch and was
linked with her purpose many years after becoming a NP. She was the ultimate
professional by keeping professionalism in the focus, along with CEUs and skills
competencies.
Consider taking a moment to sit down, reflect, and look at several areas in
the next five years. The areas will naturally include requirements for licensure
and certification, but also areas of career job goals, overall professional goal, and
professional service to patients and fellow health care providers, be it medical
mission trips or academic/mentoring roles. The one thing we know for certain
is that we cannot do everything all the time or at the same time necessarily. We
need to look at the season that we are in and the season we want to reach that
is our preferred one. We must find a way to keep ourselves connected to our
inner purpose of serving our patients. I have of late given up television and social
media as a distraction to keeping myself balanced, focused, and on task. I am not
suggesting that you should do this. You know what you need to be healthy.
Professionalism can be improved through many avenues. Professional
development through membership, service in a particular office locally, statewide,
or even nationally can help us remain connected to the cause. What is your
plan to give back and serve? We can all serve through membership in MNA. We
may also consider running for office. Might you want to be a local MNA officer
in preparation to becoming a state wide board member for MNA? Likewise
presenting your knowledge and expertise to fellow NPs to obtain those CE hours
can be a goal. Sometimes we have a need for a particular CE offering that we
don’t have locally, but what can we do to make that CE happen? MNA is always
working to meet the needs of the NPs in all nursing roles. Let us know your need
and we will make an effort to schedule your requested topic.
Lastly, on a rather personal note, I lost a family member and mentor this past
month. She was my Aunt Jo. She was a nurse. She was my first nurse to work with
as a NP in the clinic. At the age of 43 with six children, she went to LPN school.
She graduated third in her class and made a perfect score on her boards. She was
the epitome of nursing for as long as she worked. She was born to be a nurse,
some might say. She always kept her patient as her focus. She advocated for the
patient and simply did her job. She helped all that she could for as long as she
could. She always looked and acted professionally.
She was the most practical and professional nurse that I have known. I am
who I am because of who she was. She used her talents and abilities despite
challenges to make the world a better place for those about her. Thank you Joyce
Ann Stephens, LPN for being professional and caring for and about people. Can
the same be said of us? Do we inspire others to our profession because we are
professional nurse practitioners?
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