If you've made it through NP school you know how tough it can be. For those of you who are current students, you've got so much being thrown at you, sometimes it's hard to take a breather. You may feel like you’re drowning in work, and have no idea how to keep afloat.

As you may know, the medical profession has high rates of burnout, higher than many other professions. Some studies estimate physician burnout at 50%, with nurses experiencing almost as high of levels of burnout as physicians! Studies also show that medical students and residents are burned out too. I have yet to come across a study related to NP burnout, but there is no doubt that NPs are burned out as well.

I'm sure you've heard in the media information on the importance of a meditation practice, and perhaps being more mindful. Now, most people are aware of what meditation is, but what exactly is mindfulness? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes mindfulness as "The practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis." Essentially this means that instead of racing through your day not knowing how you're feeling or what you're thinking, you begin to pay attention to your thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Most of the time we go through life, unaware of how we truly feel, or what exactly we're thinking. This leaves us disconnected from our body, and unaware of what is really happening internally.

If you think that you're being underpaid, chances are you probably are. Forbes wrote an article comparing the average salary for NPs for each state. You can access the article here. Just compare what you're making with the average salary list on Forbes to use as a comparison. It is important to note that Forbes did not group by speciality, so you'll have to take that into consideration. Unfortunately, I have many NP friends who are not receiving the compensation they desire or deserve and this is really a shame since they are taking such excellent care of their patients.

Unfinished charts, prescription refill requests, abnormal labs, and a line of patients waiting to be seen. Sound familiar? Unfortunately this is the reality for thousands of NPs across the nation. The complexities of the healthcare system coupled with the challenges of direct patient care can sometimes be overwhelming.

Recently I've been having conversations with people who are interested in a career as a nurse practitioner. Whether the person I'm speaking with is an RN or MA colleague, or someone who is looking to "switch careers", I get super pumped when having these conversations as there is so much opportunity within this field. From providing clinical patient care, to starting your own business, to being an agent for change, there are endless opportunities for nurse practitioners.

This post if for those of you who are not yet nurse practitioners. Perhaps you're considering the profession, or are already in the application process. Regardless of where you are, it's important to have a well-rounded application to better ensure acceptance into a program. I've recently had several conversations and have received a few emails about applying to NP school and the challenges that it poses. I realize that applying to NP school is stressful, and I'd like to offer you a few tips on how to successfully complete your applications. If you've purchased my book, "The Ultimate Nurse Practitioner Guidebook", you can also reference this as well as there is a whole chapter about how to get accepted into a nurse practitioner program.

In today's post I wanted to highlight for you the endless opportunities you will have once you become a nurse practitioner. Now, you may have become a nurse practitioner because you love being in the clinical setting while helping others. This is the reason why I got into nursing as I love helping people and enjoy being with my patients. Nonetheless I also enjoy variety in my work, and sometimes daily clinic life can become monotonous.

Recently I've seen numerous posts within NP groups and on social media about the "over saturation" of the NP market. Many people are having a hard time finding work, and some have been looking since they graduated almost a year ago! I'm sure this must be very discouraging, but for me, I haven't found getting hired to be an issue. If anything, I've found an abundance of NP positions available. So I'm sharing what I've learned from the market and have compiled several tips to help you if you're in search of a job.

Recently I've been getting a lot of emails about the job market. I hear you, you're frustrated trying to find a job that you'll enjoy, but not having much luck getting hired. If you haven't yet read last week's email, I encourage you to check it out as it offers many great tips on finding a job.

If you’re anything like me and love business, you also know that starting a business poses quite a few challenges. As both a nurse practitioner and business owner, I know from experience the many highs and lows which comes while trying to get a business off the ground. Below are a few tips to help you grow your business once you’ve gotten it off the ground.

Do you remember what is was like to be a brand new nurse practitioner? You just graduated from NP school, passed your boards, and you finally accepted that long awaited job offer. I imagine that you were both thrilled and scared at the same time. Excited to no longer have to attend long lectures coupled with hours of studying. But also fearful about no longer having your preceptor to consult with, and now your patients were ultimately under your care.

Finding a mentor is an important aspect to your success as a nurse practitioner, especially as a new graduate. You’ve entered into a brand new career and it’s important to have a mentor in your corner guiding and cheering you on.In this article I’ll be addressing several key points on how to find a mentor that’s the right fit for you. I say right fit because not all mentors are created equal, and it’s important to be able to determine who will best fit your needs. Below are a few questions to ask yourself when determining who should be a mentor.

Mentorship has always been, and continues to be, a large part of my success as a nurse practitioner. I truly believe that having a great mentor will allow you to succeed in numerous ways. In this article I’ll be discussing ways to maintain a good mentor/mentee relationship.

If you’re a new NP entrepreneur, chances are you will encounter a few bumps while starting your business. This isn’t something to be fearful of, as challenges in business are all part of the journey. However, each setback does provide room for growth, and oftentimes

I’ve loved business ever since I was a kid. Growing up I had a neighborhood friend whose dad sold Amway products. We used to play “business” where we’d pretend to be business owners with the packaged products, buying and selling them as if they were ours.

As a practicing family nurse practitioner, I often counsel my patients on a healthy diet and lifestyle. Regardless of the complaint that they present with, the conversation often digresses to their chronic medical problems, even if they are at the clinic for an acute sick visit. As a plant-based healthcare provider, I continuously advocate plant-based eating for all of my patients. I know just how beneficial veganism is for the body, and love sharing