USAFNC

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Foreword: I have tried to search for this topic, but my searching has revealed nothing. I am a RN in the Air Force with only ICU experience, looking to continue my education to be either an NP or a CRNA. Recently I have been dealing with multiple medical questions from my father. My dad's medical issues and his financial/family situation have caused me to ask some questions of my own. My questions have to do with how I could be of service to people like my dad who cannot afford healthcare, if I decide to become a NP. Background: Here are some details to help you understand where my questions are coming from. *My dad is 51 years old, married, with 3 out of 7 (I know!) children still living at home *Evolving/growing list of his medical issues (uncontrolled DM2, sedentary lifestyle, abdominal obesity, OA of hands requiring daily medication with OTC NSAID's, ED) *Cannot afford health insurance *Makes enough money to be ineligible for Medicaid, but not enough to be able to afford out-of-pocket doctor visits or prescriptions Questions: 1.As an NP would I be able to help people like my dad by providing no/low cost basic primary care access? 2.Assuming that I would need to hold down a regular NP job to earn a living for my family, what kind of free-time should I expect to have for a project such as this? Weekends? One or two days? A few hours? Afterword: Admittedly, I have a very poor understanding about healthcare access in general and have no direct dealing with these types of issues. I am sure that there are many more questions that I should be asking in regards to the feasibility of such a project...but again I have zero knowledge of the primary care arena. Any guidance/suggestions you can give would be greatly appreciated!

Yes you definitely can. I know because I did. It is a rapidly growing trend. Look for hospitals that offer some sort of critical care training program. They are everywhere. Here are some questions to ask potential employers in regards to the type of training they offer for new grads seeking to work in Critical Care. *How is the program structured? Is the program "training program" or an "orientation". *How long is the training? I would be hesitant to sign on for training that is less than 6 months. *Will there be any classroom time? Instruction on hemodynamic monitoring, ecg interpretation, lecture covering disease processes commonly seen in critical care *Will you be assigned a dedicated preceptor? You should be aware that the quality of the training program will directly impact your confidence and your satisfaction with your job. Ultimately the biggest key to the success of a new grad in such a challenging environment is willingness to learn and they ability to always be willing to ask questions and ask for help. Hope that helps.