The NP Dude

First off, I want to apologize for not posting for awhile.  I consider this a “rebuilding year” and am currently rebuilding my immune system!  That being said, after 3 days of fevers I am feeling human again and am ready to get back at it. Today I explain how I was wrong in my view of addiction and how I have learned how it really works.  I give the basic pathophysiology of the addict brain and why this is important for all nurses to understand our patients.  I also give some information as to why buprenorphine is not so scary and should not be viewed as crutch to rehabilitation.  If you like this show, leave a comment below, like my Facebook page, and don’t forget to share!  You can also listen to all my podcasts on iTunes.

Today I give my recommendations of how to get that dream job you have been working so hard for!  This show comes as a response to numerous Facebook posts from new grads regarding how to interview, what questions to ask, and what questions will be ask of you.  These are my recommendations from my personal experiences in almost 20 years as an interviewee and interviewer.  Keep in mind these are my suggestions and I have had significant success in landing jobs.  If you have questions, other ideas, or feel I missed something, I want to hear about it.  Leave a comment below or on my Facebook page, email me at Jeff@TheNPDude.com, and like and share the page.  Don’t forget to keep the ideas coming and have a listen on iTunes!

As a result of some confusion about employee status, today I breakdown the differences between being an employee at will, a contract employee, and contractor.  I also give my take on developing your cost as a contractor and some things to think about before starting negotiation.  Keep those questions and comments coming, email me ideas at Jeff@TheNPDude.com, and don’t forget to like and share my page on Facebook.  Check me out on iTunes and remember to tell your nursing friends to have a listen and get in touch with me if they have an idea for a show!

Lucky number 13…we are on a roll!  Today I talk about contract termination before the term is up, expand and attempt to clarify more about tail coverage insurance policies, and try to put to bed that old classic debate about exempt versus non-exempt employee status.  Keep the questions and comments coming and let me know what you want to hear about.  Post comments to this page, comment on my Facebook page, or email me at Jeff@TheNPDude.com!  Don’t forget to like, follow, and share my Facebook page and this page!

I had a ton of requests to clarify the types of malpractice insurance so here you go!  I did not get into the nitty gritty language of the policies because I didn’t want people dosing off (we’ll save that for another show) but I spend some time explaining the difference between types of policies including tail coverage and how they work.  I also give basic cost ranges for Nurse Practitioner malpractice policies and what I have and would do.  What discussion about insurance would be complete without some good old fashioned legalese…well I aim to please but instead of trying to confuse you I shed some light on what statute of limitations are and why you should care about them. If you like the show, like and follow my Facebook page, share the page and show post, and keep spreading the word!  I am always looking for ideas, questions, and comments to give Nurse Practitioners a voice…so keep the emails coming to Jeff@TheNPDude.com, comment below, or comment on the Facebook page.  Oh, and don’t forget you can find me on iTunes!

Have you heard people say you can’t work as an RN once you have completed your APRN education or become licensed as an advanced practice nurse?  Yeah…me too!  Today I clear this up a bit and answer the question.  I also give my take on the Ohio Board of Nursing’s new continuing education rules.  Have a listen, leave me some comments, questions, or ideas to discuss on future shows.  Email me at Jeff@TheNPDude.com, comment on the Facebook page, and like and share often!  Don’t forget to find me on iTunes!

Today’s show is a direct result from a post on one of the Facebook groups I follow and is my attempt to clarify the muddy waters of end-of-life legal documentation.  This is good information for everyone and not just healthcare providers, so all you non-medical people should have a listen too!  As always, this is not legal advice and you should speak with your attorney about your specific needs but knowing what you are talking about can save you time and money.  Today I give the differences between a last will and testament, living will, durable power of attorney (DPOA) and do not resuscitate (DNR) orders.  There is a lot I did not cover in the show but this gives a starting point for understanding what questions should be asked when doing your own end-of-life planning, as well as, what advice you could give your patients as a provider.  Feel free to email me questions, comments, or show ideas at Jeff@TheNPDude.com.  You can also comment below or on the Facebook page and don’t forget to like and share often!

Today is a hodgepodge of info that has been rattling around in my head and I take the opportunity to let it fall out!  I give my perspective as an attorney and FNP as to how and negotiate payment structure when you are the first APRN in a group or facility.  I also provide my opinion on the new Ohio HB 216 changes with respect to the CTP/CTP-E being eliminated and how I am handling externship hours (for now!).  Lastly, I give some reasons why you should care about CARA, the new Comprehensive Addiction and Rehabilitation Act. If you don’t agree with my opinions, let me know!  I want to your feedback.  Please leave comments below or on the Facebook page.  You can also email me comments, questions, or show topics you want to hear at jeff@TheNPDude.com.  Thanks for listening!

Today is an opinion day!  I give the basics of insurance, how it applies to health insurance, and my views on the Affordable Care Act.  I also break out the old crystal ball and give my predictions of what is in store for all of us.  If I challenge your views…I want to hear about it!  Email me at jeff@TheNPDude.com, leave comments below, or comment on the Facebook page.  I am looking for feedback so let me have it!  I also have gotten The NP Dude added to iTunes to hopefully make it a little easier for you to listen.  Keep the ideas coming, don’t forget to like and share the Facebook page, and have a great weekend!

One of the most frequently ask questions I am seeing is about ways to get student loans paid by someone else.  Well, today I cover the main Federal loan mitigation plans out there!  Note, I do not get into the state level plans available, or negotiating with your employer directly, but those should also be explored on a case by case basis.  I do give some basic, functional differences between loan repayment and loan forgiveness, as well as, some of the big picture requirements for each.  This should help provide some guidance as to whether a plan is available to you and whether it is worth the commitment required.  I also have some links below, as mentioned in the audio, to help get you in the right direction. Loan Repayment Programs:  NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program can be found at https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loansscholarships/nursecorps/lrp NHSC https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/loanrepaymentprogram.html Loan Forgiveness Program:  https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/understand/plans I would love to hear from someone who has participated in these programs and get their experience…so please leave comments below, email me at jeff@TheNPDude.com, or comment on the Facebook page.  Don’t forget to like and share my Facebook page!

Today I discuss what tort liability means and give some basic legal definitions that will benefit any professional.  What and when is a duty owed?  What is a legal harm?  What is the standard of care, who establishes it and how to know if you are safe as a professional?  Well tune and have a listen!  In this discussion I focus on just the legal standard for a malpractice claim and do not get into malpractice insurance issues, which will definitely be a future show!  Please respond in the comments below or email me at jeff@TheNPDude.com and don’t forget to like and share my Facebook page!

On this episode of the NP Dude, I touch on my credentialing experience and some basic information about obtaining your NPI, the CAQH application, and organizing your professional information to make the process easier.  This is good primer for MSN students who are about to be done and will be entering the NP job market soon.  Please have a listen and provide comments below, email me at jeff@thenpdude.com, or comment on the Facebook page.  Don’t forget to like and share me with your friends and keep the show ideas coming!

On this episode of The NP Dude I give some basic information about what the main parts of the contract are and what some of the sticking points can be in negotiation. I spend some time on non-compete agreements and my opinions of them, as well as, how you can use different parts of the agreement to negotiate.  Bear in mind this podcast does not provide legal advice, only my opinion, and as always, if you are unsure of what you are reading you should seek legal council. There is a ton that can be said about this topic so this show is only a brief overview of some of the more important topics.  Don’t forget to like and share this if you found it helpful and please leave feedback in the comments!

Today I give advice and answer questions from Facebook regarding when to start your first job search, what is the functional difference between certification exams and why I chose AANP, as well as, whether acute care experience is beneficial during your MSN program or helps in getting that first job.   I also have a story about something that happened today at work and how I handled it to educate people about our profession.  This was a fun podcast to make!  Don’t forget to like my Facebook page and leave a comment or question for discussion!

Today I spend a couple minutes to discuss my view on how to find a good clinical site and how I did it.  Remember to chime in on Facebook, the comments below or email me at jeff@thenpdude.com!