This is Part 1 of a two-part series.

In general, we have very little understanding of the jobs and roles of others’ workplaces, the specifics of their day to day duties, their qualifications and knowledge or the details of what they accomplish and their goals. 

This situation exists because we simply do not need to know these things, and they would be of very little relevance to our lives. 

But regarding nurse practitioners, a greater understanding and appreciation of their roles in our communities will serve to enhance and improve our treatment and our options, while reducing the stress placed upon our medical system and its practitioners. 

Our unknowingness, or ignorance, of the nature of the NP role limits our access to quality care by well-educated and trustworthy people in our midst. 

Nurse practitioners have said they are quite frustrated with this lack of appreciation of what they are prepared to investigate and treat. 

Nurse practitioners Krista Bodlan, Lindsay Damen, Holly Rolph and Brittani Jimson met with me at the West Elgin Community Health Centre, where they are employed, and we discussed their jobs, and what they would like the public to better understand about them. 

Krista has been employed at the centre for 22 years, having been a registered nurse for 18 years before upgrading to the NP position, beginning studies toward her master 14 years into her nursing career. 

Lindsay........

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