In today's healthcare environment access to affordable care is challenging "we have forecasted that the U.S. population will grow from 285 million in 2000 to 325 million in 2010 and that it will reach 345 million in 2020" (Cooper, Getzen, Mckee & Laud, 2002, p. 146). This population increase must either be met with an increase in the number of physicians willing to do primary care or by allowing qualified Nurse Practitioners to fill this role. "We have a major shortage of primary-care doctors in this country, as anyone who has had a minor ailment can attest. Getting a timely appointment with a family doctor is rare, and when you can, the wait times are often horrendous. Talk about a niche waiting to be filled" (Sloane, 2007, p.31). This niche is what advanced practice nurses advocate for.
My mentor is Deanna Tolman DNP FNP-BC. Mrs. Tolman is an active advocate for the nursing profession. She received her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Columbia University in New York City and completed a project delineating an avenue for providing quality affordable health care to an entire community. Mrs. Tolman is the proprietor of Head2Toe Health care, a nurse managed clinic that serves the Denver metro area out of Aurora, CO. Her passion for nursing and personal experiences has created the framework for her practice.
Cooper, R., Getzen, T., McKee, H., & Laud, P. (2002). Economic and demographic trends signal an impending physician shortage.
Health Affairs, 21, 140-154.
Sloane, T. (2007). Another turf war. Modern Healthcare, pp. 31-31, from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=25971012&site=ehost-live
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